Our primary concern:

At Safeguard, we approach every service, inspection, and consultation with safety as our primary concern; safety for people and pets, safety for our applicators, and safety for the environment.

This is reflected in our commitment to pest prevention and the use of other Integrated Pest Management, IPM for short, techniques in every aspect of our service.

IPM is the most environmentally responsible form of pest control. One aspect, pest prevention, does not involve the use of pesticides at all. Instead, it focuses on those things that attract pests, what can be done to eliminate or minimize these attractions, and ways to make a given situation, area, or structure less ‘pest friendly’.

A simple environmental survey of your home or business should be conducted every few years. Not only will this point out ways to prevent pests, it will decrease the need for pesticides, natural or synthetic, and it could prevent economic loss as well. The factors that encourage insects and rodents often encourage wood rot and other types of structural deterioration.

For example the survey might note trees, shrubs or other vegetation in contact with the structure: keeping vegetation away from a structure can make it much more difficult for insects and rodents to gain access to a structure; reduce the moisture content of a building, which makes it less attractive as a living area; and remove an exterior harborage area for pests that might later move into your building.

If you already have an infestation:

If you already have a pest problem and you want to get rid of it an environmentally responsible way, what are your options? Your first priority should still be to take care of as many non-chemical control options as you possibly can. Pest prevention techniques are still important, it may not eliminate the need for chemical control, but it can reduce the amount of pesticide necessary and make any chemicals that are applied much more effective.

Our concern for environmental safety is reflected in our choice of application materials.  We choose to use the least amount of the least toxic application materials available, that still provide an acceptable level of control.

What you need to know about chemicals.

Everything is made up of chemicals, from our air and water, to our clothes, to everything we eat.  To be a chemical is not necessarily a bad thing.  It is important to know however, that all chemicals are potentially poisonous.  The difference between a potion and a poison is the amount of exposure.

At a certain threshold, all chemicals are toxic. Aspirin is synthetic and is generally considered beneficial. Calcium Cyanide is natural and also highly toxic. If the chemical you are considering using, or having us use, is toxic enough to kill insects, it is toxic enough to have an effect on you, regardless of whether or not it is natural, or listed on it’s label as ‘safe’. At Safeguard, we use all pesticides with care and apply them with safety and health as our primary concern.

Every chemical used to control pests has some undesirable feature.

Natural materials are typically less effective than synthetics, have a much higher odor factor, (think really strong sweet perfume odor) and usually need to be reapplied more often, meaning more over-all pesticide gets applied.  The cost of natural materials is usually higher, especially when combined with the increased number of applications.

Complaints about natural materials are generally greater as well, due to the high odor, and lower general effectiveness. Some synthetic materials are, according to their respective labels, and MSDS forms, less toxic than the natural alternatives, have no odor, no fume, and last effectively for a longer period, meaning less over all pesticide needs to be applied. 

The important thing is how you feel about the materials being applied. We can help you make a decision about pesticides, natural or synthetic, and we can apply the materials of your choice in the most effective way possible. The materials you choose will greatly determine the results we can help you achieve.

Our recommendation:

IPM is our basic philosophy. Integrated Pest Management stresses the use of a variety of control measures, including pest prevention techniques. We stress inspection and pest prevention over pesticide application. 

Our choice for a control material will always reflect your concerns, and we recommend those control materials rated as ultra low in toxicity. We use the least amount necessary to control the target pests in need of control. We use all materials according to their labels and we take precautions to keep people and pets safe. We would be happy to discuss your concerns and or set up an IPM program for you.

Email us with questions, to set up an estimate, or a consultation: service@pestfree.net