How to Determine You Have a Rat Problem at Home

There are a number of people who dislike cold weather. Apart from the fact that they have to deal with power outages and high heating bills, there's also the risk for a rodent infestation in the property. As a matter of fact, the National Pest Management Association conducted a study where they discovered that 45 percent of infestations typically occur during fall or winter season.

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 With the cold season lasting a few more months, it is likely that rats will be looking for a new home they can use as source for shelter, food and water. As a homeowner, you have to know how to identify if you have a rat problem at your home. But how do you know for sure? Here are some things that will indicate you have a rat infestation or a risk for one:

Droppings

One of the best ways you can determine there are rats in your home is when you find their droppings. These droppings resemble pellets with a size between 3-6 mm long. You can usually find them in your kitchen cabinets, pantries, under sinks, along baseboards, on top of wall beams and inside cardboard boxes that have been chewed.

Mice have been known to produce over 50 droppings a day so if you spot any of these in your home, you should know that there is an infestation. These droppings are actually considered hazardous to your health as they carry harmful bacteria that could transmit serious diseases. If you find one at home, make sure to use protective gloves when you dispose them so you do not get contaminated by any disease they carry.

Nests

Rodents usually use shredded paper products, packing materials, fabrics, cotton and wall insulation as materials for their nests. They like to hide their nests in dark, secluded areas where there is very little chance their homes will be disturbed. If you spot any of these materials spread out in your home for no apparent reason, it could be an indication that a rat has built his own nest in your home.

Gnaw Marks

To gain access to food and water, mice love to gnaw their way through just about any type of material they can chew on, even lead pipes and plastic. There are even some types of mice that like to gnaw on your electrical wirings hidden behind your walls. This leads to a potential threat for a fire, which explains why it's necessary to be on the lookout for rodents in your home.

Weird Noises

If you've been hearing weird noises in your walls particularly during nighttime, it could be an indication that you have a rodent problem in your home. These noises may be brought about by a family of rodents scurrying around your home. To avoid being seen, they use the walls to travel through your attic. The attic is one area that rodents love to build nests in because they are dark, secluded and undisturbed areas in the home. If you store any family heirlooms in your attic, make sure you use plastic containers instead of cardboard boxes to store them.

Track Marks

Another indication you have rats in your home is when you spot dirt or dark grease marks along your floorboards and walls. This is typically the case when these marks trail to one area in your home because of their oily fur. Whenever mice leave their nest to search for food, they'll leave behind these marks. Make sure to check out for these.

Rodents

If you happen to see a mouse in your home, it could mean that there are already a number of rodents in your property. This is because mice are prolific breeders. Every three weeks, a female house mouse may give birth to six new offsprings. This means they can conceive up to 35 rats per year. And this is just one mouse. Imagine if the other female mice breed at the same time.

If you spot any of these signs, it could indicate that you have a rodent infestation in your home. Make sure to call a professional pest control company right away so that they can get rid of the problem for you. Not only are rodents a nuisance to your home, they are also a health hazard. And since they can quickly multiply, you expose yourself and your family to more health risks. They could also be the cause of a fire in your home, causing you more damage than you could imagine. So the moment you spot one of these signs, make sure to look for a professional pest control company right away.

Written by BugOut Pest Control & Lawn Care. BugOut Pest Control & Lawn Care offers the best service for pest control inColumbia, MO.

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Heating and Cooling- Take Care of Your Home or Business

Heating and cooling largely contribute to your energy needs and budget whether at home or in business.  It is important to get it right to also help you save money.  Choosing the correct heating and cooling system is not easy.  Answering several questions can, however, point you in the right direction.  For example, does the air in your home or business need to be heated and cooled or should you check if there are issues in air movement and distribution?  Additionally, how big an area do you need the heating and cooling for?  Lastly, should you opt for an inbuilt or portable system?  Once you can answer all these questions accurately, you are on course for choosing a heating and cooling system suitable to meet your needs.  Getting the services of a qualified professional will also help you answer these questions correctly. 

heat pumps-image:pixabay.com

There are several types of heating and cooling options one can choose from.  Based on the type of fuel used, one can choose from gas, oil and electric heating and cooling systems.  The efficiency of a given system given your heating and cooling needs will help you settle on the one that suits you best.  Energy efficiency is the ratio of the amount of energy put into an appliance and the amount of energy that leaves the appliance as heat. Efficiency is an important factor since it determines the cost of your heating bill. The unit size you settle for is also very important. Bigger does not necessarily mean better.  Before settling on a given system, you need to calculate the amount of heating and cooling you need.  This will prevent you from paying for a larger unit than necessary.  It also prevents you from using more energy than what is needed to heat and cool a certain area, maximizing on capacity usage.

The two main types of heating systems are radiant and convection systems.   Convection heating refers to heating the air temperature, normally with the assistance of a fan, that distributes the heated air.  Convection heaters are suitable for well insulated areas, not exposed to draughts, such as large areas in your home, hotels, function centres and offices.  Radiant heating on the other hand directly heats up surfaces, leading to an intense and toasty quality of heating.  It is ideal for large and draughty areas with high ceilings such as hallways, halls, restaurants, workshops and showrooms. Radiant heaters are excellent for selective heating of high traffic areas.

Heat pumps provide a constant, even temperature all year round by taking heat that is already in the air outside and bringing it indoors.  Ducted air conditioning works best with large environments by heating, cooling, filtering and cleaning the air.  Fixed fan heaters can be fixed into a wall cavity or mounted in a wall.  Off-peak heaters are thermostatically controlled heaters that store up heat, releasing it at times that suit you best. Panel heaters, on the other hand, are both radiant and convection thermostatically controlled heaters in one with no moving fan allowing for gentle air circulation.  Ceiling and underfloor heaters are silent and draught-free heaters located above the ceiling and below the floor respectively.  They are both thermostatically controlled and are virtually maintenance free upon installation.  Portable heaters are mobile and provide heat where you need them to.  They can be either convection or radiant heaters and require no wiring or upgrading.  Space heaters are convection heaters that slowly warm the air until it fills the entire room.  They work best in well insulated areas.   Spot heaters are radiant heaters that ideal for large and draughty areas with high ceilings. 

Written by the staff of Controlled AireHeating and Cooling in Moberly, MO.

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5 Benefits of Metal Roofing

Your home's roofing is one of the most important parts of your house. It is your first shield against different elements such as rain, heat and snow. This is why choosing the right roofing for your home is very crucial.

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A metal roof is a popular choice among practical and smart homeowners. Below are five advantages of metal roofing, and why you should make the switch now.

1.    Durability and longer life expectancy

Metal roofs are known to last for 20 to 50 years. Other roofing materials like asphalt, wood and tiles only last for 20 years or less because they deteriorate easily when exposed to different harmful weather elements. Metal roofs are more resistant to rain, snow, UV rays, fire, insects and mildew, making it last longer than other kinds of roofing.

2.    Boosts your home's energy efficiency

The increasing energy bills and the growing threat of global warming are some problems that most homeowners face nowadays. Your home's roofing is one way to address these issues. Metal roofing can reflect the sun's heat away from your home, keeping a comfortable temperature inside throughout the day. This would mean you could minimize your need for air conditioning, allowing you to save energy and lower energy bills.

3.    Ease of installation and minimal roof maintenance

Metal roofs are made of lightweight materials, so you won't have to spend a lot on the supporting structure. They usually come in wide vertical panels or several shingles sections, which can be installed easily by a professional roofer. Unlike other kinds of roofing, it would only take one or two days to install the entire metal roofing.

Aside from fast and easy installation process, metal roofs require little to no maintenance, saving you hundreds of dollars from maintenance costs. All you have to do is to hose the roof down occasionally and it will be good as new.

4.    Provides better protection

Provided that it is installed properly, metal roofing is virtually impenetrable to snow and rain. This is due to their interlocking design and the metal's slippery and hard surface. Aside from protecting your home from the harsh weather, metal roofs are the most resistant to fire because they are noncombustible.

5.    Increase your home's curb appeal

Modern metal roofs are available in a wide variety of styles and colors. Some metal roofs are even made to mimic the look of asphalt shingles, cedar shakes or clay tiles. Because of the versatility in design, metal roofs can complement almost any architectural styles and match varying preferences of homeowners.

So, if you want a roof that would not only look good from the outside, but would also help you save money in the long run, a metal roof is perfect for you. Contact your local roofing experts to switch to metal roofing now!

Written by Enrich Construction, the best service for roofingin Columbia, MO.

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4 Reasons Parents Need to Stop Moaning About Their Kids Online

People are free to write just about anything that they want because of the freedom of speech amendment to the United States Constitution. They can moan and make other electronic noises of displeasure if they so desire. They can share their opinions as long as they are not violent or perverse. They may voice an unfavorable opinion on social media about anyone who is in their lives or used to be in their lives, including their children. However, doing such a thing could be unwise. Here's why:

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A Majority of Children Frequent Social Media

Nowadays, the majority of children frequent social media sites like Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and so forth. They start using these sites as early as six years old in some cases. Therefore, an intelligent little kid may find himself or herself wandering on mommy's or daddy's Facebook only to find negative information. In some ways, reading something negative about yourself is worse than eavesdropping on a phone conversation or listening at the door or the wall. With over 1.8 billion active monthly users on Facebook, your child will find a way to get on the site. Words can be quite a sword, whether they are in the Bible, on an 8.5" x 11" piece of paper or on some tweet text.

It Can Cause Tension in the Home

A kid who reads negative information about themselves on social media may keep silent because of the nature of the discovery. However, that will not stop tension from developing. The child may become very upset that the parent talked about him or her in a way that was less than perfect. It may cause a lot of uneasiness between family members within the home, and the home environment could become hostile instead of loving.

It Could Cause a Breach of Trust

In a worst-case scenario, the child could feel as though the parent breached their trust severely. The child may choose to deal with the breach by not talking to the parent. Even if communication continues, it may be altered. It may be cold and distant. The biggest reason that the child will feel hurt is that the parent didn't give them a chance to fix anything. You should always take your issues up with the other person before you discuss them on social media. The other person may offer a solution, apology or some other resolution.

It Could Cause Hate Campaigns

Finally, the social media blast may end up causing a hate campaign, even though that is not what you intended to occur. If your child has done something horrendous, other people will read about it, and such people may chastise your child. That chastisement may cause a large amount of guilt on your child and make matters worse than they were originally.

It isn't a crime to post about your affairs on social media. Some people see it as an outlet or a plea for assistance or advice from their "friends." However, social media posts can end up being harmful. Therefore, a parent must think everything through thoroughly before you post it.

Author : Adam Joseph

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