Our Blog

Difference Between Dry-Wood Termites and Subterranean Termites

It does not matter what kind of termites you’ve got in your house. A termite infestation can quickly prove damaging. The reason for this is that termites eat non-stop. They will keep eating wood 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.  

A colony can rapidly grow and cause major damage to your property if left ignored. Thus, you’ve got to conduct a routine inspection from a reliable termite control company to determine and eliminate termites as soon as possible.  

Several types of termites can be found in your house. The most common ones are dry-wood termites and subterranean termites. Knowing what kind of termites that you have in your house can help you develop the ideal termite treatment Aliso Viejo plan.  

Dry-Wood Termites 

Dry-wood termites don’t build their colonies in the ground. They can live everywhere, as long as there is dry wood. That is why they’re called “dry-wood” termites. Also, they don’t require much water. Thus, they don’t have to travel through mud tubes. That is why dry-wood termites are more difficult to spot. Since they don’t require much water, they can easily build nests in more areas of your house.  

There is a high possibility that you will see dry-wood termites in window frames, trim, and wooden frames. Aside from that, you can commonly find them in the attic. They usually eat the wood from the inside out. They tend to leave behind the wood’s exterior layer. Thus, you might assume that the wood is whole until you knock on it and realize it’s hollow.  

Luckily, dry-wood termites do not have big colonies. They usually gather in insolated pieces of wood. However, you could have several colonies of dry-wood termites in your house.  

Subterranean Termites 

The biggest difference between dry-wood termites and subterranean termites is that this type of termites builds their colonies in the ground. They create tunnels in the ground that connect their nests to their source of food. They can live in the ground under your crawl space or home’s foundation.  

In general, subterranean termites are more damaging for your house compared to dry-wood termites. The reason for this is that they build big colonies. Subterranean termites can rapidly produce a colony of around 1 million termites. Every member of its colony will eat wood. This can be extremely catastrophic for your house.  

Typically, this type of termite is no longer than 1cm. They’ve got no eyes and have a white body. The queen can be up to 10cm long. The king is typically a bit bigger. During her lifetime, the queen can produce millions of termites. She can also live for more than 10 years.  

How to Handle a Termite Infestation 

Once you see a termite in your house, you need to act right away. You don’t have to identify what type of termites you’ve got on your property. All you need to do is to hire a reliable pest control company. These professionals will conduct an inspection and create the best termite treatment plan for your home.  

Odd Noises from Your Refrigerator

The regular running sounds of a fridge are so accustomed that they blend into the background. Because of this, it can be a bit startling to hear loud noises coming from your refrigerator.  

So, why is your fridge making weird sounds? Well, there are a lot of reasons this can happen. Oftentimes, one malfunctioning component can lead to a whole lot of sounds.  

Today, we’re going to share with you some of the most common failures in fridge components that are typically responsible for odd fridge noises.  

If you think your fridge is making weird sounds, don’t hesitate to hire a refrigerator repair Rancho Santa Margarita technician for help. 

Malfunctioning Water Inlet Valve 

Typically, water inlet valve issues are responsible for a fridge making knocking sounds. For those who don’t know, the water inlet valve closes and opens to enable water from your home’s supply to enter the fridge for ice and water production.  

The valve’s interior can become clogged by sediment or minerals over time. Perhaps the problem is the electrical controls. When this occurs, the valve might produce a knocking noise as it runs. You might also notice limited production in ice and water. 

 A Problem in the Fan Motor 

Is your fridge producing squealing sounds when it operates? This can be because of a motor problem in the condenser or evaporator fans. The purpose of these fans is to cool refrigerant as it flows across different components of the fridge. Finding which fan is faulty varies on the location of the noise.  

  • Fridge Will Not Cool 

The fridge can’t keep its temperature or feels warm inside. 

  • Condenser Fan 

Sound is coming from behind or below the fridge. 

  • Evaporator Fan 

Noises become louder when you open the fridge’s door.  

To figure out if it is blocked or if the motor has other issues, you need to inspect both fans. Though you can remove the item that is blocking the fan to get rid of the sound, a failed motor or a damaged fan blade means you have to replace the fan. 

Loose Drain Pan 

Oftentimes, a loud vibrating sound in the fridge can often be attributed to a loose drain pan. The purpose of the fan is to gather any condensation from the defrost system. Typically, you can find it under the fridge.  

If the pan is loose, it might loudly vibrate if the refrigerator operates. You can get rid of the noise by simply tightening the hardware of the pan.  

If you notice at least one of these odd sounds, don’t hesitate to hire a technician for help. 

Regular Fridge Sounds 

While modern refrigerators run more quietly compared to older models, they aren’t silent. Almost every fridge creates a variety of sounds during its daily operation. 

Regular fridge operating sounds include: 

  • Hammering or Thumping 

This happens if you’re the fridge is filling the waterline.  

  • Grinding or Squeaking 

This occurs when the door is rubbing against a cabinet or enclosure when you open it.  

  • Rattling or Vibrating 

This can happen as the water moves through the water lines or refrigerant flows through the cooling system. 

The Dangers of Termite Infestation

Termites present a huge threat to your property. They can cause a lot of damage to your house. They can easily carve away your old furniture, tear down the structures in your house, and much more.  

As soon as you notice a termite walking around your home, you should immediately hire a professional company for termite inspections. This will help you prevent major damages if the infestation isn’t severe yet.  

If you choose to ignore the signs, you’ll end up with a serious infestation that can ruin the structure of your house. Fixing these damages can cost thousands of dollars.  

Today, we’re going to share with you the dangers of termite infestation and why you should immediately hire a termite treatment Lake Forest service. 

Indications of Termite Damage 

Understanding the signs of termite damage can help you determine if termites are in your house before they can create major damages. If you see at least one of these indications, you need to hire a professional pest control company for help.  

Most common indications of termite damage include: 

  • Termite wings that look like tiny scales 
  • Droppings that you’ll typically find around door and window frames 
  • Mud tubes around the foundation of your house 
  • Floor damage that includes loosening, sagging, or blistering of materials 
  • A hollow sound in the wood 
  • Swelling in the paint or wood 

If you notice at least one of these indications, you should immediately hire a pest control company for help. The longer you ignore the problem, the bigger it will become in the future. Thus, you should act right away.  

What Do Termites Eat? 

For those who don’t know, termites love to eat wood. However, these pests also eat other things aside from wood. Termites also eat other materials that contain cellulose. This includes plaster, insulation, and drywall. A couple of termites might also eat soft metals.  

Various forms of termites also eat various materials. They’ve got various gut bacteria that can break down different things.  

For instance, dry-wood termites eat the wood in your home’s structure. On the other hand, damp-wood termites love to eat decaying wood, such as fallen branches and stumps. Keep in mind that damp-wood termites can still infest your house and attack damaged wood.  

Formation of Termite Colony 

One of the biggest reasons why termites can easily destroy your property is that they can quickly establish huge colonies. In addition to that, every member of the colony has a particular task. Thus, there’s a good focus on the colony’s activities. 

When infestation is less severe, termite colonies can have thousands of termites. On the other hand, severe infestations can have millions of termites. The severity of infestation varies on the species that you’ve got.  

In each colony that you’ll find, there are soldiers that protect the colony, workers that consume the wood, and a queen that produces a lot of termites. The biggest class in each colony is the worker class. They’ll eat the wood in your house non-stop. Because of this, the bigger the colony, the faster they can damage your property. 

Questions to Ask a Groomer

As a pet owner, you treat your dog or cat as your child. You probably consider them a part of your family. Because of this, you have to cater to all of their needs. This includes grooming. 

If you’re a new pet owner, you probably wonder how to groom your dog properly. What shampoo should you use? How often should you wash your dog? Fortunately, you don’t have to worry about these things since a dog groomer can help.  

However, before you send your dog to a potential groomer, you first need to ensure that the groomer is reliable. To do this, you’ve got to ask questions.  

Here are several questions to ask a mobile dog grooming Lake Forest professional: 

What Do You Include in the Grooming Package? 

Grooming isn’t cheap. Thus, you’ve got to understand what you’re getting for your investment. The potential dog groomer needs to show you what their package includes. Doing this will help you avoid any bad experiences resulting from a misunderstanding or miscommunication. 

What If My Dog Gets Nervous? 

Dogs can be a bit skittish when they’re in a new environment. Because of this, it’s important to know what your groomer will do if your pet gets nervous around him or her. An experienced and reliable groomer shouldn’t hesitate to answer this question.  

If you hire an experienced dog groomer, they will know how to handle a nervous dog. Aside from that, they should also know how to make your dog comfortable during the service.  

Do You Have Experience with My Dog’s Specific Breed? 

Keep in mind that particular dog breeds are more difficult to groom because of behavioral issues. Some dogs also require unique grooming methods due to their fur.  

For instance, you might have to look for another groomer if you want your poodle to have a poodle cut but the groomer doesn’t know how to do it.  

This doesn’t mean that the groomer is bad. It only means that they’re not experienced in such things.  

Do You Have Certifications in Pet Grooming? 

For those who don’t know, you don’t need a license to become a pet groomer. Because of this, it does not mean that the groomer does not have the skills if they don’t have certification.  

However, it’s still important to choose a dog groomer that has a certification. This is because it shows that they are committed to their job.  

In general, no certification shouldn’t be a deal-breaker. However, as much as possible, look for a groomer with a certificate in dog grooming. 

How Long Have You Been in the Industry? 

This is perhaps the most important question you need to ask a potential groomer. As much as possible, you should hire a groomer with at least 5 years of experience in the industry. This will guarantee that the groomer has the skills to properly groom your dog.  

Also, there’s nothing wrong with hiring a less experienced groomer. This is particularly true if he has a certificate in dog grooming.  

The Risks of Matted Fur

Matted fur can occur if the coat of your pet is not groomed properly. This can happen to both cats and dogs, especially if they’ve got long hair. You will recognize matted fur by seeing a lot of knots and tangles across its fur.  

As a pet owner, you might think that matted fur is simply an aesthetic problem. However, that is not the case at all. Matted fur can be extremely risky for your pet.  

Today, we’re going to share with you the risks of matted fur. If you don’t want your pet to have matted fur, you should regularly schedule a mobile dog grooming Dana Point service. 

Their Behavior Might Change 

Even if your pet cannot see its physical look as we do, they could still tell something is not right with their fur. Because of this, their behavior might change. Both dogs and cats might become more aggressive and not allow anyone to touch them. This is particularly true around the areas where their fur is matted.  

They Can Scratch Their Skin Excessively 

Your cat or dog can feel the matted fur. That is why they’ll probably groom themselves to get rid of it. Unfortunately, they won’t be able to in most cases. This can result in excessive scratching of these parts.  

They might scratch their skin excessively to the point where their nails can tear their skin, especially if it gets caught on the mat.  

On these occasions, you might have to give antibiotics to your pet to recover.  

It Can Affect The Ears of Your Dog 

When your dog has knots or tangles around its ears, you need to hire a professional dog groomer right away. Matted fur in this part can lead to the blood vessels bursting. This could create a painful sensation for the dog.  

The ears of your dog will probably start to bleed if you ignore this. The reason for this is that the professional groomer would have to get rid of the fur that is closer to the skin to remove the matting. This can result in more pain for your dog.  

It Can Make Your Dog Sick 

Matted hair prevents the skin of your dog to breathe properly. Because of this, moisture is trapped. This creates an ideal place for germs to breed and create a lot of health issues for your dog.  

In addition to that, matted fur could make it more difficult to spot fleas or insects on your dog. The reason for this is that they can easily hide under the knots.  

What To Do with Matted Fur? 

You need to properly groom your pet to prevent matting, especially if they have long hair. The frequency of grooming your pet depends on the breed you’ve got in general. You will also have to consider the type of fur your pet has.  

However, a professional veterinarian can offer more details about pet grooming.  

Also, you might want to hire a professional groomer for this. You can always do the job on your own. However, groomers have the right tools and skills to properly groom your dog