But is it really?

If this treatment sounds too good to be true, chances are it probably is. Before you run out and buy citrus oil by the gallons from your local health food store or hire one of those other guys, it’s best to consider the research and documentation that has been done on d-limonene versus fumigation and tenting with Vikane  gas for termite elimination and control.

How Does Orange Oil Work?

The active ingredient in orange oil treatments is known as d-limonene and is derived from citrus fruits such as oranges and lemons. Besides treating for termites, orange oil is used as a solvent for cleaning purposes (Orange Glo anyone?), a paint stripper and a less pungent and noxious alternative to acetone for nail polish remover.

One of the biggest problems with orange oil as a termite treatment is that you have to get the little buggers to come into direct contact with the orange oil in order for it to kill them. Typically, this is done by drilling holes every five inches into the wood beams of your house and filling them with orange oil. The idea being that the oil saturates the wood, making the wood toxic to the termites.

However, you can see how arduous this would be, since you’d have to go through this little exercise with every piece of wood in your house. And even then, unofficial tests have revealed that using orange oil kills only 50% of the dry wood termites in an affected house.

Plus, oil is greasy and flammable with a flash point of 115 degrees. (Do you think your attic gets above 115 in the summer?) And since the active ingredient in orange oil is used as a paint stripper, there is a possibility that it could damage and strip the painted surfaces the oil comes in contact with. For many, this is a deal breaker when it comes to controlling termites within painted wood. Orange oil is an even harder choice when you consider having to drill holes every five inches.

Vikane to the Rescue

The most popular and (as we believe) best treatments for drywood termites is Vikane gas. Admiral Pest was one of the first companies in the United States to use Vikane gas. More than fifty years ago, Earl Lance was invited to a presentation by Dow Chemical to learn about this new fumigant called Vikane (read about that here). Until then, highly toxic chemicals such as methyl bromide and cyanide were used to treat for termites. Even though these chemicals did the trick, they frequently left behind an odor that many homeowners couldn’t stand. And after some research, scientists discovered that methyl bromide was also found to be damaging to the ozone layer. Vikane on the other hand, doesn’t leave behind an odor and doesn’t harm the atmosphere.

When compared to orange oil, Vikane is leaps and bounds better. While you will have to leave you home for a couple days, just think about the many nooks and crannies of your home that are inaccessible or difficult to get to. For orange oil to be effective, it must come in contact with the termites, which again, requires someone to drill holes in the structure of your home every five inches. Many orange oil treatments flat out miss areas of peoples’ homes because they aren’t accessible. Because it’s a gas, Vikane can penetrate every nook and cranny in your home without having to drill holes. This “blanket coverage” is perfect for odd-shaped structures, and has even been used to save historical landmarks. For example, Honolulu’s iconic Waikiki Shell (an outdoor amphitheater) was plagued with termites, but due to its dome shape it was nearly impossible to spot treat. However, crews tented the structure with Vikane and immediately the termites were gone (click here for an interesting article on this fumigation).

But more importantly, Vikane has over 50 years of university and pest control industry research to back it up, including results from the University of Florida, University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources, and the Journal of Economic Entomology (to name just a few). Conversely, there is no formal research on the effectiveness and safety of using orange oil to control dry wood termites, nor are there any guarantees it will even consistently work.

And let’s not forget that when you use Vikane to control dry wood termites you get the professionals at Admiral Pest Control to not only administer the treatment, but also follow up on it. After the tent comes down your termite specialist goes through a number of procedures to make sure the Vikane has completely dissipated and your home is completely safe to reenter. On the other hand and besides the permanent holes in your home,  orange oil leaves behind a pungent citrus odor hanging around for days, weeks, or indefinitely. If anyone in your family is sensitive to smells or has allergies, this could present a problem.

With spring rains and hot summer on the way, swarms of dry wood termites will be looking for new homes in which to nest. If you suspect they’ve taken up residence in your house, call Admiral Pest Control today to assess your situation. We offer the fastest, easiest, safest way to get rid termites WITHOUT structural damage or lingering odors.

Laguna Beach, your hometown, is a resort city—it thrives off its tourists and vacationers. The relaxed, tourist attitude has spread to the smallest of Laguna’s residents. The pests seem to think that they’re on vacation—in your house. They see your sink as the hotel swimming pool, and the toast crumbs on your counter as a continental breakfast. And you have quite a diversity of guests. Cockroaches, ants, mice, bed bugs, and termites are just a few of the pests that have checked into your home.

Bugs Stay Inside Despite Warm Weather

The warm weather means that your pests would be fine staying outside. (But this also means that there’s no harsh winter to reduce their population every year.) Even with the weather to their advantage, pests still prefer your home. Your succulent food, your sinks, and your tub are irresistible to pests. They want the easy food and water.

The termites see your house as a free 24/7 buffet. The cockroaches can eat about anything in your home, but they prefer the carbohydrates and proteins that are so readily available in your kitchen. Even though they’d be perfectly comfortable outside, mice and roof rats love to make nests in your attic or inside your walls.

Nothing you do seems to be able to keep them outside where they belong. Your methods seem to work for a little while, but they all eventually reappear.

Laguna Beach Pest Control is Your “No Vacancy” Sign

It’s time to close your hotel. Many do-it-yourself methods aren’t enough to ensure that the pests know that your doors are closed to them forever. If you want to save money, early intervention is key. So as soon as you notice pests in your home, call a professional.

Here at Admiral Pest Control, we’ll be your “hotel security” to remove nuisances from your property. We have state-of-the-art tools and eco-friendly products to kick out your unwanted guests for good. Then you can sit back and relax in your pest-free home.

Claim your Laguna Beach oasis back. Call us today, and we’ll be right over.

Aliso Viejo will become a teenager this July and we’re already dealing with nasty pests hiding out in our homes. Even if our city were founded in 1901 instead of 2001, the pests would have still been here before us. Cockroaches were here before the dinosaurs. Termites are from the same cockroach ancestor, and ants have been here for millions of years and out number us 200 million to one. As far as they’re concerned, we’re the invaders.

Why Old Pests Love New Houses

Even though they’re ancient, ants and cockroaches love our new homes here in Aliso Viejo. Why? We provide easy access to their essential needs—food and water. Why should they hunt for food outside when it’s easier to steal your food? They break into your home through the smallest cracks in your foundation or any other access into your home. And unlike a polite burglar, they don’t leave; they stay!

One of the most common ants in Southern California is the argentine ant. They love sweets, syrups, and eggs. Actually they will also eat about anything, including some of your already-dead pests. Cockroaches are no better. If they get desperate, they will eat each other. They hide out in your walls or under appliances until they come out to eat after dark.

Termites don’t care about your kitchen. To them, the whole house is a buffet. You may not find a single clue they are there until they have been munching away for three years.

Admiral and New Technology Means No Pests

These pests seem determined to prove they have more right to your home than you do. Well, it’s time to show them otherwise. Here at Admiral Pest Control, we have state-of-the-art technology and eco-friendly products to outsmart their old tricks. Our technicians know where to find them, and they know how to get exterminate them. Afterwards, you can relax in your Aliso Viejo home without worrying about pests hijacking your kitchen or taking advantage of your home’s structure.

If you have a pest problem, call Admiral Pest Control in Aliso Viejo and we’ll solve it.

Why Now?
April is the perfect time to treat your house. After the long winter months many hibernating or nesting bugs and rodents literally come out of the woodwork. The persistence of these household pests can quickly escalate into an infestation by summer if left untreated.

How do you prevent this from happening? Start with these simple spring-cleaning tips:

Check for cracks
Over the winter moisture that gets into your basement, garage, foundation, subfloor, siding, or even walls can cause unwanted cracks and holes in your house. These openings are the perfect gateway for all kinds of pests (including birds) to discretely worm their way into your home. As soon as the weather starts to warm up inspect your house for any random openings and plug them immediately.

Replace torn screens
Wind and rain wreak havoc on your window and door screens over the winter. And if you live within 50 miles of the coast, the salty air adds another element of destruction to the exterior fixtures of your house. Inspect all screens for tears, corrosion, and frame alignment. Even the smallest opening should be fixed, as bigger pests (such as rodents and birds) have no qualms about tearing an existing opening to make it bigger.

Fix leaky faucets
All pests need water to live. Therefore, if they find a leaky faucet or pipe they’re more than happy to set up their own little neighborhoods near the water source. Plus, pooling water can lead to home damage, and worse yet, invite mosquitoes to lay eggs. It’s worth the price of a plumber (if needed) to come out and inspect the integrity of your plumbing, and fix any leaky pipes.

Clear drains and gutters
Clogged rain gutters and drains provide the perfect environment for pests that are just as happy to live outdoors. To make the exterior of your house uninviting, clean your rain gutters by scooping out the debris and then flushing the gutters completely with a hose. The water should run out the bottom spout of the gutter in a steady, rushing stream. And if you have outside drains, snake them once the rainy season ends to make sure they flow at fully capacity. In any case, you don’t want standing water anywhere near your house.

Clean out your garage, basement, and pantry
It’s no secret that the garage and basement become dumping grounds over the winter. April is the perfect time to rid these areas of any messes that could potentially invite nesting pests. Wrapping paper, old clothes, unwanted holiday decorations, expired tax records, or any piles of paper that a rodent or insect would happily shred into a tidy bed needs to go. Similarly, go through your pantry and cupboards and toss old or expired food, being extra careful to clean up any spilled crumbs that would make a tasty morsel for a marauding bug. And if you use shelf paper, now is an excellent time to change it.

Schedule an inspection

Most importantly, be sure to schedule a home pest inspection with Admiral Pest Control. Even if you don’t see actual pests, you may not detect their signs until it’s too late. Droppings, fine wood shavings, disrupted insulation, displaced debris or dirt, and even smells, can all indicate you’re sharing your home with unwanted six- or four-legged strangers. Admiral professionals are trained to look for isolated signs of pests and then consult you on your options to get rid of them.

Thanks to the NPMA, pest control professionals like Admiral Pest Control collectively bring awareness to communities across the country every spring. It’s their job to make sure people check their houses for pests at least once a year, thus preventing risks that can lead to home damage or illness. So call Admiral Pest Control today for you spring pest inspection. Make it part of your spring-cleaning every year. It’s the easiest way to ensure you’ll have a happy, healthy, pest-free summer!

Unfortunately, fleas are a fact of life in the summer, especially if you have pets. Even if your dog or cat stays indoors, fleas can still enter your home on other things you bring in the house, including you! Once inside fleas make themselves at home on the handiest hosts, and since pets have shaggy coats and typically don’t bathe everyday (like humans do) your dog or cat will do nicely.

What can you do manage fleas?

The best deterrent is prevention. Having Admiral Pest Control regularly treat your house and yard for fleas is the best way to rid your house of these pests. One of our trained Admiral technicians can recommend a schedule of treatment based upon your circumstances (for example, how many pets you have) and the severity of your current situation (if your problem has reached infestation).

Once you have fleas under control, you can help keep them away in between treatments by following some simple steps.

• Clean all beach and camping clothing, towels and equipment outside
  Fleas love water, which means they hang out at the beach and near rivers and streams. After you come home from the beach or a camping trip, don’t bring your dirty clothes, towels, or camping equipment into the house, unless it’s going straight in the washer. Hose it off outside and if possible leave it in the garage. In fact, hose yourself off, too, as fleas are more than happy to hitch a ride into your house on just about anything that moves.

•  Get a cedar pet bed
  Cedar chips are a natural repellent for fleas. They hate the smell. So using cedar chips is a great way to keep your pet’s bed free of fleas. Most pet stores sell cedar chip pet beds, or you can easily make one yourself. Simply purchase cedar chips and sew them into a pillow big enough to fit your pet. However, watch your pet for an allergic reaction in the form of itching or hair loss. Some dogs are unfortunately allergic to cedar chips.

• Vacuum frequently
  In two to three weeks one flea lays hundreds of eggs. This takes your flea problem from nuisance to infestation in no time. Carpets and pet beds are the perfect environment for flea eggs. However, if you vacuum frequently (even everyday) then you stand a good chance of keeping your flea population down. Just be sure to throw your vacuum cleaner bag away in the outside trash after each use. Or if you have a bag-less vacuum cleaner, do the same when you empty the canister.

•  Bathe and groom your pet more often
  You probably don’t bath your dog that much in the winter, but in the summer you should bathe your dog outside with a flea shampoo after each outing away from home. And get used to giving your cat regular baths, too. If you can’t do it, take your feline friend to a professional pet groomer. Unfortunately, even cats need to be bathed when fleas are in the mix.

•  Flea-treat your pet
  Since your pet is the flea host, it makes sense to treat the source. There are a couple ways to do this.

1.  Spray your dog or cat’s coat with Frontline, Advantage, or some other flea product that you obtain from your vet or specialty pet store. Treatments are usually once a month and turn your pet’s coat into a toxic environment for fleas.
2. Ask your vet about prescription flea deterrents you give your pet orally. These medications turn your pet’s blood distasteful to fleas, and as a result they shorten the flea’s lifespan.

These tips alone won’t rid your home of fleas, however, combined with regular professional spray treatments by Admiral Pest Control, they increase the effectiveness of your treatments. The goal is to keep your flea problem from turning into a flea infestation. Because nothing ruins a summer more than itchy swollen skin…especially when you didn’t get it from lounging in the sun!