No Obligation, Free Home Evaluation

There are many aspects to maintaining a healthy, safe, well-maintained home. It's not an easy job to keep the air filters changed, HVAC system checked twice per year, windows cleaned, lawn mowed, etc. I hate to add another item to your long to-do list... but it is important to have your home inspected by well trained professionals for pests and termites. Reach out and we'll coordinate a time that's convenient for you for a no-obligation, free home evaluation.

A Free Home Evaluation consists of a thorough look from a trained professional under, around, and inside your home. We're looking for visible termite activity, termite damage, water and moisture damage, evidence of pests, conditions conducive for future problems, and the condition of vents and ductwork.We provide a written report and upon request we'll provide an estimate for termite protection, pest control, mole control, mosquitoes, and fire ant yard treatments.

Join Us for a Green Remodel Home Tour

The Home Builders Association Green Building Council hosts the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Green Remodel Tour

 

When:         Wed., Feb. 23rd @ 12:30 - 1:30 PM         

Location:   123 Clarendon Avenue, Nashville, TN 37205
                       
Who Should Attend?: Homeowners, Builders, Real Estate Agents

To register for the tour, please contact the Middle Tennessee Chapter of the Home Builder's Association at:  [email protected]

Tour: Attendees will tour the home of Ward Cammack, one of the only NAHB Certified Green Remodel Homes in Middle Tennessee. The tour will consist of a 45 minute, four (4) stop tour that highlights the NAHB Green Remodel Program and Process, GeoThermal, Green Marketing from the realtors perspective and green interior upgrades.


About the Program: The NAHB Green Remodel Program can be applied to homes built before 1980. It is designed to demonstrate that during a remodel or renovation, at least a 20% reduction in energy and water usage is achieved. Additionally, the program emphasizes indoor air quality improvements. The Cammack household achieved an impressive 64% reduction in energy usage by upgrading the insulation and lighting packages and installing a geothermal heating and cooling system.

All-American Pest Control supports Green Building in Middle Tennessee. Erin Richardson serves as the HBA Green Building Council President. All-American Pest Control is an annual sponsor. 24% of all New Construction homes in Davidson and Williamson County were certified Green in 2010. All-American Pest Control offers three exceptional green services including Green Choice Pest Control, the Sentricon Termite Colony Elimination System, and Bora Care.

If you would like to sign up for a Free Home Evaluation, click here.

 

 

Termite Prevention Tips

Wow! There is a lot of really bad information about termites on the internet. I just did a quick search to see what is out there before writing this post and it's frustrating to me to read all the fear-based, scare tactics that companies use. 

Yes, termites are a concern and termites are difficult if nearly impossible for a do-it-yourselfer to tackle. That's why people like me are in business- we're here to help protect your home. But, no, you don't need to fear that your home is in imminent serious danger and you don't need to make a quick, fear based decision.

Here are three simple guidelines to help reduce risk of termites...

1) Keep Moisture Away from Your Home First and foremost, if you notice a water leak, moist door frames, soft wood, or standing water... don't delay, fix the problem.

2) Get rid of scrapwood, firewood, and old stumps around your home Check under your house to see if your builder left old 2X4s underneath your house, grind old tree stumps, and don't stack firewood directly on the ground. 

3) Have your house inspected regularly - at least once a year. It's a fact that there are termite colonies foraging in every acre in Tennessee. Regular inspections by a trained professional will help to detect potential problems early on. 

If you have more questions, give me a call or shoot me an email. 

All-American's Green Termite Protection To learn more about the Sentricon Termite Colony Elimination System, click here. 

Requiring only a few grams of bait (the size of a sugar packet), Sentricon is so effective that it has been recognized as a Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award winner for environmental responsibility! To schedule a free home evaluation, Give us a call!

More Pesky Pest Info from All-American:

HELP! I have termites!

Won't the termite go in between the stations and eat my house?

Won't the termites go in between the bait stations and eat my house?

This is a question I get asked all the time.  For years and years the only way to try and prevent termites from munching away at your home was a liquid chemical treatment-- then came Sentricon. In 1995, Dow AgroSciences introduced a revolutionary way to treat for and prevent termites. No more pumping hundreds of gallons of chemical in and around your home! With Sentricon, termites can be eliminated by placing monitoring/baiting devices every 10 feet around the perimeter of the structure. Common sense would say that a tiny little termite could easily by-pass the stations and get to your home for a nice, tasty dinner-- I get this concern all the time. It's a valid concern. Here's a quick drawing to illustrate the concern...

So, how does it work?  Well, Sentricon works with the natural biology and feeding patterns of the termites. If termites are in or around your home, they are going to run into the stations. 

Termites are blind and are constantly foraging for new food sources. Their natural patterns and behaviors aid in their survival as a colony and ultimately a species. One key behavior that ensures a high likelihood that termites find adequate food sources is related to their foraging patterns. Sentricon takes advantage of these foraging patterns to monitor, bait, and eliminate termite colonies from in and around your home.

Here's how it works... first of all, the queen termite is at the heart of the action.  Worker termites go out in search for food in a pattern that could be described as sun rays.  Here's a drawing:

The second aspect of the pattern is a tree like approach. From the radial pattern, termites then branch out like tree branches.  This behavior allows termites to be very effective in finding food to feed the colony. Here what it could look like...

So what do all these drawing mean to you and protecting your home?  It means that due to the biology and behavior of termites, the idea that a termite will bypass a station to get to your home is a myth. If termites are in or around your home Sentricon will monitor, bait and eliminate the termite colony. From our real world, real small business results... most of the time, Sentricon detects a colony way before any visual evidence appears in a home. It works! 

Help! I have termites!

Termites do cause a lot of damage in Middle Tennessee to what is many times our biggest investment, our home.  But, this damage doesn't happen over night... please know... you have time to do your research, look for a local, reputable company, and feel good about the investment you're making to protect your home.

It's disturbing... I get a phone call at least once a month from a homeowner terrified because they have found or have been told that they have termites by another company.  For instance, just last week, I lady called and you could tell in her voice she was stressed, afraid her house was damaged, and unsure of herself that she would make a good decision.  After asking her a few questions, I learned that another pest/termite company in the area found signs of termites in her crawlspace, over-exaggerated the problem, and told her that if she didn't do something immediately that her home was in trouble. Now, finding termites in Middle Tennessee is not unusual... actually it is very likely as there are an average of 25 termite colonies per acre in this area.  However, what bothers me day after day is how this termite salesperson used fear and manipulation.

Don't fall into this trap, do your research:

1. Ask your friends and family for referrals
2. Ask the inspector/sales person to show you the signs of termite activity
3. If you do feel comfortable with the evidence, have another company take a look
4. Ask if they saw any signs of moisture problems that may have contributed to the termite activity (moisture problems should be addressed for a termite treatment to work effectively)
5. Ask questions about the company and the owners of the company
6. Find out if your home qualifies for a termite damage repair agreement
7. Find out if you will need to retreat your home in the future, when, and an average cost
8. If you don't feel comfortable, get a second or third estimate

Termite are small and can cause a lot of damage... but there is no reason to rush into a decision. It is a good decision to invest in quality termite treatments and on-going protection. It is equally important to know that you have time to make the best decision you can about a termite treatment for your home.