Angie’s List 2012 Super Service Award

Bug Out Service Earns Esteemed

2012 Angie’s List Super Service Award

www.angieslist.com

 

Award reflects company’s consistently high level of customer service

Bug Out Service has earned the service industry-coveted 2012 Angie’s List Super Service Award, an honor awarded annually to approximately 5 percent of all the companies rated on Angie’s List, the nation’s leading provider of consumer reviews on local service companies.

 

Bug Out Service truly believes in providing exceptional customer service!

“It’s a select group of companies rated on Angie’s List that can claim the exemplary customer service record of being a Super Service Award winner,” said Angie’s List Founder Angie Hicks. “Our standards for the Super Service Award are quite high. The fact that Bug Out Service earned this recognition speaks volumes about its dedication providing great service to its customers.”

Angie’s List Super Service Award 2012 winners have met strict eligibility requirements, including earning a minimum number of reports, an excellent rating from their customers and abiding by Angie’s List operational guidelines.

 

Service company ratings are updated daily on Angie’s List. Companies are graded on an A through F scale in areas ranging from price to professionalism to punctuality. Members can find the 2012 Super Service Award logo next to company names in search results on AngiesList.com.

Angie’s List helps consumers have happy transactions with local service professionals in more than 550 categories of service, ranging from home improvement to health care. More than 1.5 million paid households use Angie’s List to gain unlimited access to local ratings, exclusive discounts, the Angie’s List magazine, and the Angie’s List complaint resolution service.

 

Time to Adjust those Irrigation Controllers!

The environment and welfare of your lawn and landscape has always been of the greatest importance to us. The St. Johns River Water Management District requires that all irrigation systems be adjusted to water only once per week for the duration of the winter season. This is so that we do not overwater our lawns and landscape, which require very little water during the cooler months. The residential schedule for watering is as follows:

*Water only when needed and not between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.*

Odd Numbered Residential Houses

· Wednesday and Saturday (March-November)

· Saturday only (November-March)

Even Numbered Residential Houses

· Thursday and Sunday (March-November)

· Sunday only (November-March)

Commercial Properties

· Tuesday and Friday (March-November)

· Friday only (November-March)

If you need any assistance in changing the settings of the irrigation controller to follow the watering ordinance, please take advantage of our Irrigation Adjustment Service. During the brief cooler season when irrigation systems do not run as often, it is easy to miss breaks and other issues that reduce the efficiency of your sprinklers. If not taken care of, these issues can cause your lawn added stress and damage as the summer approaches. If you have noticed a problem with your irrigation system, or just want to make sure it is working properly, give us a call at (904) 743-8272.

Sentricon System Story

Partnering with Bug Out Service & The Sentricon Colony Elimination System is the best line of defense in protecting your home against termites.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lYOeg_zuiM&list=PLGNZL_MuNNTb8wO4jUX0yRjUIlGKk9vlU&index=1&feature=plpp_video

Jimmy Hall & Friends

Join us for a night of deep fried southern funk to benefit the Boselli Foundation.  Bug Out Service has teamed up with our friends,  Brett Myers & family and 1010 XL - 92.5 FM Radio to promote this event. Any of you who knew John Sessions, the founder of Bug Out Service, know how much he loved and supported baseball in our community. This event is intended to help provide resources to the Boselli Foundation for baseball facilities in the areas they serve with after school activities.

 We need to fill the house for this concert. You can enjoy an evening of great music and you will be helping keep kids off the street and involved in good activities.

 

Here’s some additional information about the band members who will perform at the concert.

 Biographies:

Jimmy Hall (Wet Willie) has shared the stage with The Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Hank Williams, Jr. and others. Grammy nomination for Best Male Vocalist in 1986 

Derek Hess – drums and percussion- former Rossington Collins drummer

Barry Dunaway-singer/bass player- has toured/recorded with such notables as Joe Lynn Turner, Pat Travers, Mike Reno, Bill Champlin, Jimi Jamison, Steve Augeri, Don Barnes to name a few. He has toured in the US, Canada, Japan, Europe and Russia and has just returned from a tour

Phil Swindle-guitar- has toured with Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Allman Brothers, Wet Willie, Marshall Tucker, and the Atlanta Rhythm Section

Barry Rapp (Henry Paul Band)-keyboard and vocals- were opening acts for The Rolling Stones, ZZ Top, Charlie Daniels, Rossington Collins and Marshall Tucker.

Jimmy Sexton-lead guitar- born in Jacksonville has played with Johnny Van Zant, Billy Powell, and a host of other well-known bands.

Steve Perez – keyboardist – performed with Rossington Collins, Randal Hall (Lynryd Skynryd)

 http://bugoutservice.blogspot.com/2012/10/jimmy-hall-friends.html

MEDIA ALERT

         A special evening of southern rock music with Jimmy Hall

   (Wet Willie) and Friends, to benefit the Tony Boselli Foundation,

 sponsored by Bug Out Service

OVERVIEW:  Join Bug Out Service with Jimmy Hall of Wet Willie and friends (Derek Hess, Barry Dunaway, Phil Swindle, Barry Rapp, Jimmy Sexton, Steve Perez) for a night of Southern Rock to benefit the Tony Boselli Foundation and help at-risk children. 

Founder of Bug Out Service, the late Mr. John Sessions, knew the importance of sports and baseball to teens, as a way to keep children out of trouble.  Bug Out Service is teaming up with pro-baseball player Bret Meyers and the Tony Boselli Foundation to bring Jimmy Hall and Friends in an effort to provide at-risk children with a baseball field in their neighborhood.  All proceeds from the concert will help make this dream a reality.

WHO:            But Out Service presents the Jimmy Hall & Friends concert to benefit the

                          Tony Boselli Foundation           

WHAT:          Benefit concert to help raise funds to build a baseball field
                          for at-risk children                   
WHEN:          Saturday, October 20^th 8:00PM

WHERE:        Morocco Shrine Auditorium

                            3800 St. Johns Bluff Road

                            Jacksonville, FL  32224

ABOUT BUG OUT SERVICE:

Bug Out Service is family and locally owned for over 40 years and is the leading home pest protection service company in Northeast Florida.  Bug Out offers the most effective eco-friendly products for pest control, termite control and lawn care.  Bug Out services is featured in the top 50 of Pest Control Technologies Top 100 List as well as a Super Service Award winner for Angie’s List in 2011.  Bug Out Service is involved in many communities organizations and charities in the service area that include the Rotary Club of Arlington, Hospice of Jacksonville, Boy Scouts of America, Jacksonville University Baseball & Football, the Tony Boselli Foundation and more. 

 

To learn more about Bug Out Service and their community involvement, contact Bug Out Service at  

904-5743-8272, main office location at 5951 Arlington Expressway, Jacksonville FL  32211.

 

 

 

RAIN, RAIN, RAIN!

By: Terri Mathis

The last several years we have been in a drought with below average rainfall. This is not the case this year!

 

Our normal annual rainfall for NE Florida is anywhere from 52 -55 inches per year.

Have we reached that yet? You bet your wet boots we have and in some cases surpassed it! We had 30-50 inches of rain in 90 days!

 

So, what’s the problem? This should make up the deficit, right?  Like the old saying goes, “too much of a good thing can be bad for you!” This is definitely a true statement when we are talking about our weather patterns.

Let’s take a look at what our weather pattern has been this year. We started off with a mild winter and went into drought conditions. It seemed like we missed spring all together!

So, we go from drought to extremely high temperatures ranging from 95 to 100 degrees for several weeks. At this point we were praying for a tropical storm. Well we got it in fact a couple of them. We went from dry to extremely wet.

At first it was great. The lawns started to flourish all the dry spots in our lawns recovered quickly and the grass turned a very nice shade of green. But the rain continued to fall and fall.

Our soils got over- saturated with water. This means there will be a lot of problems with roots especially ornamental roots.

Here’s why! Our soils have large and small pores in them. Small pores contain water, large pores contain air. The more the soil is saturated with water, the less room for oxygen. Basically, the roots will suffocate.

Plants show stress a lot later than Turfgrass. By the time you start seeing the pale yellow leaves, it’s too late. We can expect to see a lot of ornamentals die from root issues.

Most shrubs can handle a lot of moisture but not floods and let’s face it; we have had some flooded landscapes.

There is no way to prevent this occurrence and no way to save the ornamental. It cannot be explained why some plants will make it and some will not. It may be that some plants were healthier going into the adverse weather conditions or maybe they were planted a little higher in the soil. Its nature; sometimes beautiful and sometimes destructive!

The point I’m trying to make is this year’s weather pattern is out of the norm so we can expect to have problems in the landscape that are not treatable.

Here’s an interesting fact you might not know:

1 inch of rain on a 1000 horizontal square feet of roof yields 600 gallons of water!

Wow! This is a lot of water pounding on the shrubs around the house.

Perhaps this is a good time to look into old fashioned rain barrels!

 

NEWS RELEASE

PREVENT SUMMER PESTS FROM RUINING OUTDOOR FESTIVITES

Bug Out Service shares tips on how to keep pests from disrupting picnics or BBQs

 Jacksonville, Florida July 27, 2012 – They may not be on the guest list, but many pests including ants, flies, mosquitoes and other stinging insects are likely to disrupt outdoor festivities this summer. Bug Out Service, a pest management company servicing North Florida and areas of South Georgia, encourages partygoers to take precautions to prevent pests from putting a damper on summer fun.

There is nothing more bothersome than trying to enjoy a delicious plate of BBQ fare while a buzzing bug is flying around your food.  Unfortunately, plenty of pests are attracted to our food, so they tend to frequent our outdoor cookouts, but there are ways to prevent these uninvited guests from crashing the party.

The National Pest Management Association, a nonprofit organization committed to the protection of public health, food and property from household pests, offers these tips to help pests from ruining your summer gathering:

       ·         Prior to the party, check screen doors and repair any holes.

·         Remove sources of standing water in your yard, including birdbaths, wading pools or garden ponds.

·         Have insect repellant containing an EPA-registered active ingredient like DEET or Picaridin available for you and your guests.

·         Adorn your deck or patio with citronella candles that can help minimize the presence of mosquitoes.

·         With guests coming in and out of your house, make sure the doors close behind them.

·         Plan to serve food and beverages indoors, and reserve outdoor space for eating and entertaining.

·         Keep food sealed in containers whenever possible, and wipe tabletops frequently.

·         Clean trash, spills and crumbs immediately from tables and other surfaces.

·         Bring utensils and dishware indoors shortly after the meal.

·         Rinse all beverage bottles and cans, and dispose of them in tightly closed garbage containers.

If pests become intolerable, you may have a larger problem and need professional assistance. Sometimes, pest pressure can get out of hand. For example, if homeowners notice large mounds of ants or stinging insect nests around the property, they’ll want to contact a professional to help them safely remove these infestations as they can be a threat to our safety.

For more information or to speak with a pest a professional about common summer pests, call 904-743-8272 or visit www.bugoutservice.com.

How is your Bug Out Service?

We strive to provide you with the best service possible.

Please click on the link below to leave your comments & let us know how we are doing. 

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We value your feedback!

" Green Is In "

          Consumers are looking for environmentally responsible

              products in unlikely places

INDIANAPOLIS — April 22, 2011 — The ever-expanding “green” movement made headlines with the release of  “An Inconvenient Truth,” former Vice President Al Gore’s award-winning documentary on global warming.  Now scores of environmentally responsible products are now being offered — hybrid vehicles, energy-efficient light bulbs, termite control … termite control?   That’s right, now even termite control can leave a smaller footprint on the environment.

Right now in many parts of the United States, subterranean termites are “swarming,” leaving their colonies to form new ones.  To treat their subterranean termite infestations, some homeowners have liquid chemicals added to the soil around and beneath their home.  While treated soil provides termite protection for a finite amount of time, research shows that when homeowners consider termite treatment options, they indicate a high level of concern about the use of chemicals in and around their homes and the environmental implications.¹

In part to encourage and recognize development of pesticides with lower environmental impact, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) created the Reduced Risk Pesticide Initiative, a program that expedites  the review and regulatory decision-making process of pesticides that pose fewer risks to human health and the environment than existing conventional alternatives.

Termite Control “Goes Green”

Homeowners are now “going green” by selecting an alternative to liquid chemical treatments — the Sentricon^® Termite Colony Elimination System, the first termite baiting technology that was made available to homeowners.  The premier bait used in the Sentricon System was the first termite treatment active ingredient accepted for registration by the EPA’s Reduced Risk Pesticide Initiative.  The Sentricon System also is the only termite control product ever to receive the Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award, one of the U.S. government’s top environmental honors.  The award, presented by the EPA on behalf of the President, recognizes technical innovation that incorporates the principles of green chemistry into design, manufacture and use.

"The Sentricon System is environmentally responsible because it uses just grams of termite bait to eliminate termite colonies,” says Dave Maurer, portfolio manager for the Sentricon^® System.  “Every home treated with the Sentricon System instead of a liquid chemical treatment helps reduce the impact of pesticides on the environment.  The Sentricon System also provides better control than liquid chemical treatments because it is monitored on an ongoing basis by an Authorized Operator and it eliminates termite colonies, not just individual termites.” 

Bug Out Service, an Authorized Operator of the Sentricon^® Termite Colony Elimination System, offers this method of termite control, states Paul Felker, “because the Sentricon System is the best protection from termites because it eliminates the colony, is limited in the environment and is less intrusive to homeowners.”   Many homeowners agree. The manufacturer, Dow AgroSciences, conducted research in 11 high-termite-pressure markets across the country, and discovered that most homeowners feel that the environmentally responsible attributes of the Sentricon System are preferred over those of the leading liquid termiticide. “We are pleased to offer this revolutionary technology to our customers,” states Paul Felker.           

Homeowners can visit www.sentricon.com to determine if their homes are at risk for termite infestations,  as well as learn more about environmentally responsible termite control. Or, contact Bug Out Service for more information at 904-743-8272 or visit us at bugoutservice.com .

1Jefferson Davis Associates

2Jefferson Davis Associates
®Trademark of Dow AgroSciences LLC
Always read and follow label directions.

Termites

(by Robert Holyfield)

This is the time of the year that Termites let you know they exist in your world. In the spring when the temperature and moisture conditions are favorable, you may see thousands of these critters swarming from the ground or worse yet the inside of your home. January to May is the time of the year the Eastern Subterranean termite swarms in north Florida. If you notice a lot of dead bugs in the bathtub or shower or on a window ledge, you may have a problem and need to seek a professional inspection. Occasionally Termites will swarm through the attic and out the vents and can go undetected for years causing major damage. Swarming termites closely resemble winged ants with some differences. An ant will have four wings, two long and two short. A termite will have four wings of equal length. An ant will have three sections to the body where a termite will only have two. The antennae of the ant will elbow where the termite will be straight. The reason you find them in heavy numbers at windows is they are trying to get outside to pair up as a King and Queen and start another colony. This is the process they do to keep their species from going extinct. Of the hundreds to thousands of termites that swarm from a single colony, only a few will survive.

Other signs to look for would be mud tunnels going up the outside of the house, tiny holes in the sheetrock with dirt or mud, bubbling paint, and or discarded wings (from swarmers) near doors, windows, & in cobwebs.

Americans spend around 5 billion annually repairing damage caused by these little critters. Termites are located throughout the US with the Eastern subterranean termite being the most common and widely distributed termite in the USA. FACT: A queen termite can live more than 15 years and lay one egg every 15 seconds for most of her life.

There are three main ways of fighting termites; repellent termiticides, non-repellent termiticides, and baits.

Repellent products do just that. They repel the termites and leave them to regroup to fight another day. Non- repellent products such as Premise and Altriset actually want termites to come in contact with them as they will spread the product throughout the colony. Baiting is the third way of combating these critters and Dow’s Sentricon baiting system has been providing protection since 1994. With Sentricon, bait is introduced to the termites to eliminate the colony. Bug Out Service also uses a product called Altriset made by DuPont. It is the only termiticide on the market to not carry a signal word on the label making it one of the greenest products around. We use this product along with the Sentricon baiting system providing a one, two knock out punch on termites.

Prevention tips: No home is termite proof but there are things you can do to improve your chances of not getting them. Look for conducive conditions (conditions favorable for termites).

1. Keep wood siding away from touching the ground.

2. Keep firewood away from the house.

3. Divert water away from the home with downspout extensions.

4. Try using alternative landscape materials such as rubber mulch or rocks.


As always if you need any help on termites or other critters.
Give us a call!

Bug Out Service

904-743-8272


************ Free termite inspection and estimate ****************

Drywood Termites

(by Robert Holyfield)

Drywood Termites are social insect s that live in colonies in sound wood. They are much larger than our more common Subterranean Termites yet their colony size is much, much smaller. You are less likely to get an infestation of this termite, however the cost to get rid of them can be much larger. They are found more along the coast and the southern part of the state. Older areas of the city are also hot spots for this termite. Downtown, riverside, green cove springs and along most any waterway. They spend their entire life inside the wood they are consuming. The more common Subterranean Termite lives in the ground and makes mud tunnels to get to their food source. Drywood Termites can enter a structure through attic or foundation vents, under eaves and fascia boards, and through cracks and joints of exposed wood. Some of the common places they will start in a home is fake wood shutters that are deteriorating or wooden columns doing the same. These openings provide an easy entry point for the little buggers. Once inside the king and queen start the new colony. After the colony has matured, (usually three years) they produce swarmers to leave the colony and start a new one elsewhere. They usually swarm at night and are attracted to light. Antique furniture is a really good carrier of this termite. Many pieces have a infestation and can spread to your home by way of them swarming from that old dresser you fell in love with that’s now in the corner of your bedroom!! Be on the look out for tiny fecal pellets that they kick out from the wood they are consuming. These pellets are much smaller than a grain of rice and are hard with distinctive groves with six sides. They clean out the area they are eating on a regular base so you will see these pellets lying around the infestation. Drywood infestations are difficult to deal with. Most of the time the infestation is localized as they are near the original entry point. But sometimes the infestation is not found until the colony has grown and spread through swarming to areas you might not detect. Treatments range from just removing the piece of wood that they are infesting, all the way up to fumigation where they put a tent over the entire house and gas them. This is the best surest way of treatment as it penetrates all areas that are accessible and not accessible .

PREVENTION:

Keep a good paint and seal on all exterior wood. If you have wood siding, pay close attention to the base of the siding with sealant and paint. Use fine mesh screening on vent openings to attic and off grade construction. Caulk and seal all cracks and joints around windows and doors. Replace any rotten wood promptly! These are no guarantee you will not get an infestation, but are good maintenance tips that will sure aid in prevention.

As always if you need us give us a call.

Bug Out Service

(904)778-2280

Free termite inspection and estimate on any home. We can provide you with termite coverage for two years with a cost of less than most companies charge you for the initial treatment.

BUG PROOFING

(by Robert Holyfield)

Cold weather is here and a little house maintenance may be needed this time of the year if you want to stay warmer and keep out unwanted pest! This is the time to do some sealing and pest exclusion. Start by inspecting all your windows and doors. Check the screens for damage and replace or repair if any damage is found. Look for cracked or missing caulk around them also and replace with fresh if needed. Walk around your house and pay close attention to the eaves. Most have ventilation screens that may have rotted away over the years. This can allow a multitude of critters access to your space! Rats, wasp and roaches to name just a few. If you have a crawl space construction, check the ventilation screens around the base of the foundation. Hardware wire is best for these areas. Check all doors for light coming from underneath. Remember if you can see light, you can expect unwanted company as well as a big change in temperature. Pay attention to where water pipes and wiring or cable go into the structure. These areas need to be filled with caulk as well. Keep the chimney flue closed when not in use & be sure to inspect the sides of your large garage door. It may need weather stripping, you would be surprised how many have none at all. Garages that have windows gather a large population of dead insects on the ledges. Vacuum them up to deter spiders from these areas. Don’t forget your dryer venting to the outside. If yours is like mine, it may need replacing. The flap will stick open and with a 3 inch opening you don’t even want to know what can venture in!!!!

Pay attention to these tips and maybe your electric bill will be a little lower and you won’t be chasing or getting chased by critters.

Remember we do lawn and shrub service as well as general pest control and termite control.

As always, if we can help, give us a call.


BUG OUT SERVICE
     904-743-8272