Revised 6/13/19

 

Carpenter Ants are usually large black ants; but sometimes can be a combination of red-and-black ants. The customer may see coarse sawdust (frass) on the flooring, etc. Swarming occurs much like termites in the late spring and early summer. They can vary in size – most winged Carpenter Ants are ¾ to 1 inch in length (and black). They are considered a wood-destroying insect because they tunnel through wood – but they do not actually consume the wood.

 

However, because Carpenter ants can cause extensive damage to a structure, quick action is essential upon detection. Most often, Carpenter Ants cut galleries into moist or decaying wood to create passageways and nesting sites, and they can ultimately damage the look and stability of your homes wooden components if left untreated, so at the first sighting it’s wise to take action.

 

Ask the customer if they have recently had moisture problems. Inspect to uncover the nest – possibly in damp areas. Carpenter Ants can forage up to 150 feet from the house. Look at tree limbs resting on the house, hummingbird feeders and crawl spaces. Look for frass, sawdust and Styrofoam insulation coming out of holes. Apply material to the Carpenter Ant nest, which can sometimes very hard to find.

 

The customer should be advised to maintain proper drainage away from the structure home because Carpenter Ants usually seek moist areas. In addition, inform the customer to repair any cracks to foundations which provide easy access to the home for Carpenter Ants and Termites.

 

The Carpenter Ant Cleanout starts by doing a complete and thorough walk-through inspection, ensuring that all birds and birdcages are removed, ensuring that any fish tank recirculating pump is turned off and that all fish and reptile tanks are covered. Inside, we treat along windowsills, baseboards, doorframes, underneath sinks, in between any appliances, and in other areas dictated below. Outside, we treat along the perimeter of the home, and around windows, doors, cracks and crevices.

 

The Carpenter Ant Cleanout is an initial treatment used to create a hygienic and pest free environment, and forms the basis for future Home Shield Service visits. During the Cleanout, the main focus lies on the elimination of existing ant populations. But if routinely treated, it also provides a continuous protective barrier against these pests – it helps keep them from coming back since the majority of them come from the outside.

 

 

6 STEPS OF SERVICE

 

Following the 6 Steps of Service:

• Meet the homeowner or tenant and listen to any concerns.

• Inform the customer of your general inspection and treatment plans.

• Let them know what you expect to be treating for and what the scope of services moving forward will include.

• Explain what they can expect from the treatment.

 

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SERVICE INSTRUCTIONS

 

Inspection:

• Inspect the entire inside, looking for harborage areas and ant access points.

• Inspect any areas that could provide conducive conditions to ant activity.

• Determine where the ants are entering the structure and why they may be doing so.

• Inspect all areas of the structure, including attics, crawlspaces, exterior foundations, basements, etc.

 

Approved Product List:

• Inside treatment: Suspend; Tempo; Temprid (sometimes); Nygard

• Crack & Crevice treatment: PT Phantom II

• Baiting treatment: MaxForce TC; Advion

• Dusting treatment: Alpine; Drione

• Outside treatment: Talstar; Termidor; Drione; Alpine

 

Baiting, Dusting, etc.:

• Provide a Crack & Crevice treatment on the inside and outside of cabinets in the kitchen and bathrooms, around installed dishwashers and in enclosed stove hinges.

• Provide a Baiting treatment inside the cabinetry of the kitchen, all bathrooms and basement as necessary (small bait placements to be positioned in out-of-the-way locations as required).

• Place stand-alone bait stations as required.

• Provide an Electrical Dusting treatment in kitchen wall outlets and switch plates around the counter and cabinetry areas.

• Apply dust to any accessible void and seal small openings.

• Dust voids under sinks and treat plumbing line penetration points.

• Remove interior spider webs when encountered (if the Cleanout is being used as the Initial treatment for the Home Shield Service).

 

Interior Treatment:

• Start at the main door and move to the right with B&G. Treat entrance ways and other critical points – base boards either side of the doors for 10 feet, and cracks found around windows and door frames.

• Kitchen area – treat base boards, pull out bottom of stove, treat behind refrigerator, open cabinets below sink and visually inspect as required.

• Continue around inside of home to the right – do not treat the entire base board but visually inspect.

• Bathrooms – treat all baseboards as discussed above, treat under sinks and inside cabinets.

• Continue to the right until back to main door.

• Basements – treat all baseboards and ceiling joists if exposed. If a finished basement, treat same as the main floor.

• Upstairs – treat all finished upper floors same as the main floor.

• Garages – treat all baseboards as discussed above and treat ceiling as required with hand sprayer.

 

Outside Treatment:

• Examine for wasps and other pests living outside (if the Cleanout is being used as the Initial treatment for the Home Shield Service).

• Rake back mulch and leaves to search for pests.

• Determine the impact plants may have on pests around the structure.

• Seal all small entry ways into the structure.

• Web all entry ways and areas close to entrances, as well as all other visible webs on the first level (if the Cleanout is being used as the Initial treatment for the Home Shield Service).

• Treat with hand or back-pack sprayer all windows and door entrances, and ceiling areas of porches.

• Treat entry ways where plumbing and electrical enter the structure.

• With back-pack sprayer or tank sprayer hose, treat outside of the house with a band of 3-4 feet out and 2-3 feet up the side of house.

 

Other Notes:

• Prior to conducting any inspection or treatment, ensure all equipment and materials are available for job completion.

• Carpenter ants can forage for food up to 150 feet from a structure.

• While providing treatment, examine for termites and other pests living outside to recommend other A-1 services.

 

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6 STEPS OF SERVICE (continued)

 

Continuing to follow the 6 Steps of Service:

• Let the customer know what was found and what was done. If the customer is not available, leave a “Door Hanger” with written notes specifying what was found, what was done, and any recommendations deemed necessary.

• Inform the customer what to expect over the next few days, weeks, months, etc. Set clear expectations for upcoming visits.

• Ask the customer: “Do you have any other Pest Control needs I can take care of today?”

• If the customer does NOT already have a Home Shield service, ask them, “May I tell you about our routine service for continuous pest protection for your family?”

• Ask the customer, “If you feel that I provided you with good service today, I’d like to invite you to give us a positive online review – we’ll make it very easy for you.”

 

 

NO WARRANTY – 1-Time Service

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