Pest Control in Stow, MA

A river lot and its lower walls

A lot along the Assabet River can have ground that falls toward the water, and a cellar wall that sits lower than the path. The walk checks the lower walls, the cellar windows and any door at grade. Ground that sits against the house is noted, and the homeowner is told where to keep it clear.

The river is not treated as a source of insects, since the sources do not link it to any. The lower walls are checked for entries, as any other wall is.

The house, the attic and the frames

The walk starts with the attic and the upper rooms, which UMass names as the sheltered places where these stink bugs settle. The eaves, the gables and the vents are checked from outside, and the attic from the hatch with a light. The entries are marked on the plan.

The frames and the cable and pipe openings come next, and the cellar and the sill are walked last.

Barns, sheds and garages

A barn, a shed or a detached garage on a Stow lot is walked as a building in its own right. UMass names sheds among the overwintering sites, so each has its door, its vents and its stored material checked. A building that shares a wall with the house is checked at the joint, which is listed separately.

Sealing and the record

The sealing is finished on the visit where the materials allow. The record states what was closed and what is still open, and a second visit is booked where the report says one is needed.

Questions before a Stow visit

Ask for the business name, the technician's name and the licence details on request. The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources is named for the licence, and the details are to be checked on mass.gov. Tell the technician which side of the lot faces the river.

Seasonal notes for a river lot

On a river lot, the cooler months are the time to check the lower walls and the cellar openings, because the overwintering spaces are being chosen then. The spring check finds the openings the winter may have widened, and the soil line is looked at again after the thaw.

The sources give no Stow calendar, and these are general timing points from the overwintering account.

Sheds, barns and the bank

A shed or barn that sits near the bank of the river is walked from its far side as well as from the house. The lower sill and the floor edge are checked, and the report notes any gap that is below the level of the ground.

A barn with stored hay or wood is checked for entries that the stored material hides, and the material is moved back where the walk needs to see.

Further points for this lot

A homeowner on the river side can help the next visit by noting any new mud line, damp patch or soft spot at the foundation after heavy rain. The note goes on the record with its date, and the technician checks that spot first on the next walk.

Where the river lot has a path or a footbridge near the house, the walk notes any gap at the point where the path meets the wall. Paths are easy to overlook, and the report lists them as an entry route to check in the same way as a door.