No-one thinks that they will be the one to fall victim to household pests until they are, by which point their only option is to call a professional pest controller.

Pests run riot inside both domestic and commercial properties contaminating food, spreading diseases, destroying property, and generally causing all sorts of nuisance and chaos everywhere they go.

Most of us are aware that pests are never too far away but by taking some time to learn about the species that cause the majority of Pest Control Liverpool problems you will be able to minimise the risk that you are the next in a long line of victims.

The vast majority of pest issues can be avoided by taking some simple preventative measures, making your home a less enticing prospect and making it harder for them to gain access.

Top 5 UK pests

Pests aren’t picky about the properties that they infest and will target domestic homes, businesses, and everything in-between. Knowing the common signs of a pest infestation can allow you to spot them at the earliest possible stage and take action to prevent the problem from escalating.

Here are 5 of the most common pests found in the Liverpool area:

Rodents

If you asked someone to name the pest species that they would least like to have in their home, the chances are that a rodent would be their first choice. Unlike most insect pests that only cause problems at certain times of year, rats and mice can cause problems anytime and anywhere.

Despite their tendency to invade your property at will, rats and mice are pretty shy and will keep themselves to themselves for the most part, hiding within walls, attics, cupboards, and anywhere else dark and quiet that is close to a plentiful food supply.

Unfortunately, this means that if you spot a rodent inside your home or business, especially during the day, there is a good chance that there is already quite a big infestation quite close by.

Some of the signs of a rodent infestation to keep an eye out for include small pellet shaped droppings, dirt marks along the skirting boards, and scratching noises coming from inside the walls or attic.

Moths

Moths are another pest species that can be found all year round, although they are certainly much more active during the warmer months of summer.

Moths can pose pest problems at all life stages from larvae feeding on clothing, fabrics, and other soft furnishings to adult pantry moths contaminating food products.

As you might be aware moths are attracted to bright lights and if you are regularly spotting them fluttering around your lightbulbs there may be more of an issue than a single moth simply finding their way through an open door or window.

Birds

Many people are surprised to learn that birds can be considered a pest species, but in urban areas, pigeons and gulls in particular are increasingly responsible for a large amount of the work done by professional pest control companies.

Birds will often use human inhabited buildings to roost and nest and once their population has been established the damage that they can do is almost limitless.

The mountain of droppings they produce alone will damage the aesthetic of your property, as well as corroding it with its toxic composition. This damage is not confined to materials alone either with a plethora of diseases spread via the bacteria within bird droppings.

Installing some basic deterrents such as model birds of prey can be effective in preventing birds from choosing your property but if not, professional bird services may be required to install bird netting and bird spikes or carry out specialist trapping or shooting services.

Cockroaches

Cockroaches are some of the most disgusting pests to deal with in your property due to their love for filth and feeding on rotten food stuffs.

They will often be found in dark and damp areas and thrive anywhere warm that is close to food. When night comes and they become most active, cockroaches will venture far and wide, contaminating surfaces and food with all sorts of germs and pathogens.

Most people don’t even know that cockroaches are common I the UK but there are a few species that do a huge amount of harm.

Wasps

Wasps are a mainstay of the British summer but when the odd pest buzzing around your garden picnic becomes a large nest built inside your loft, they can quickly become your worst nightmare.

There are some pests on this list that you may be able to tackle on your own if you catch them in the early stages. Wasps are not one of them. When under threat wasps will swarm and attack the perceived threat ad only a trained professional should attempt wasp nest removal.

Doors are an incredibly important part of your home. They play a major role in your property’s curb appeal and aesthetics, not to mention being a huge factor in home energy efficient your home is and how well protected you are against intruders.

Over the years, your front and back doors take a lot of strain, with the bumps and scrapes of everyday life and the seemingly never ending barrage of rain, wind, and snow.

No matter how stylish, durable, and smooth to operate your doors were when you first had them installed, the time will come when the years of use finally begin to take their toll and you need to have them replaced.

It may be obvious when this time comes, but more often than not you will need to keep an eye out for some more subtle signs that your doors are reaching the end of their lifespan.

Replacement front doors Glasgow are a significant investment to make and not something that you want to jump into without taking the time to ensure that you are making the right decision.

To help you out, here are eight of the most obvious indications that you need new doors:

1)    Your doors are difficult to open

If your door isn’t opening and closing properly it isn’t much use and there is likely to be something fundamentally wrong with it.

In some instances, a faulty door can be fixed by a professional door company Glasgow and you won’t need to have the whole door replaced but more often than not, problems with the fundamental operation of an external door are the clearest sign that a new door is needed.

2)    Your door looks out of place

Styles change and there is a difference between a door being vintage and outdated. Older style doors can look fantastic, but they can also look tired, worn, and out of place. If you are looking to give your home a refresh and achieve a more contemporary modern appearance, new external doors are a fantastic place to start. Modern uPVC and composite doors come in a huge range of different styles and designs, giving you complete control over the aesthetic of your property.

3)    You can see damage to your door

There aren’t many more obvious signs that your door needs to be replaced than visible warping, cracking, or other damage to the frame or panels of your door.

Certain door types such as uPVC and composite doors are likely to deteriorate at a slower rate than other materials but eventually all good things come to an end.

4)    Your energy bills are too high

Draughty doors are not only extremely uncomfortable during the chilly winter months, they can also cost you a huge amount of money, leaking heat and making it extremely difficult to keep your home at a comfortable temperature.

Doors and windows are two of the main determining factors in the energy efficiency of any property and if you find you are spending more on your energy than you should be for a property of your size, a new door could well fix the problems.

5)    There is an issue with the glass in your door

Many external doors have a glass panel incorporated into the design, adding a touch of style and class and allowing natural light to flood into the property.

These panels are just as vulnerable to deterioration or damage as any window and if you see that the window pane in your door is leaking or letting draughts in, it may be time to replace the entire unit.

6)    Your door is leaking

Water seeping between your door and the frame indicates that the weatherproofing of the door unit is compromised. This is not only a sign that you are likely losing energy, if water can get through the gap then warm air certainly can, but could also lead to property damage, and the growth of mould and mildew.

7)    You can hear more outside noise

Doors are designed to be a barrier between the outside world and the peace of your home and to limit the amount of noise that can penetrate inside.

If you can hear more outside activity than you would like, or you once did, it might be a sign that your door is failing in this regard and you need a new one. This is particularly important for those who live in busy towns or cities, or who live near a busy road or airport.

8)    The lock is loose

The energy efficiency of your home is important and a nice looking door a lovely touch, but security must always be the number one priority.

If your door lock has become loose or does not fit properly, you must have it replaced as a matter of urgency and a whole new door may be a good idea.

If you are constantly dealing with boiler breakdowns or there is an ongoing issue that requires regular repairs to be carried out, you might be considering simply getting a new one instead.

Yes, new boilers are expensive, but repeated repairs add up, and when you combine this with the energy savings that can be made by upgrading to the newest combi boiler, boiler replacement is the best option for many people.

That said, you might have only had your boiler for a few years, and you certainly don’t want to be getting rid of it before you’ve got your money’s worth. So how exactly do you know when enough is enough?

In this guide, we will walk you through some of the advantages and disadvantages of both boiler repair and boiler replacement Glasgow as well as some tips on how to tell exactly when it is time to admit defeat and invest in a lovely new energy efficient boiler for your home.

Is boiler repair ever worth it?

Absolutely, minor repairs, especially those under warranty can keep your boiler going for many years and might not even cost you a penny. Just because your boiler might not be quick as reliable as you would like doesn’t mean you have to give up on it just yet.

If you are having minor issues such as your boiler cutting out then restarting, get in touch with a professional boiler repair company as soon as possible before it breaks down completely.

The last thing that you need is for winter to arrive and your boiler to decide that now is the perfect time to cut out completely. Minor repairs are far far cheaper than emergency breakdown repair in peak season and you won’t be left shivering in freezing temperatures until a gas safe engineer has space in their manic schedule to see you.

The best way to identify issues that require these minor repairs is to have your boiler serviced on an annual basis by a gas safe engineer. They will check that everything is in good working order and highlight anything that may escalate into a bigger issue further down the line.

An annual service is almost always a pre-requisite of any boiler warranty so failing to arrange one will ensure that you are the person who has to pay for any repairs that need to be carried out.

Is it time to get a new boiler?

At the end of the day, boiler replacement is a personal decision and unless your boiler breakdown completely you will need to make a judgement call over when enough is enough and you decide to invest in a shiny new boiler.

This is a big investment for anyone, and it can be tempting to keep putting it off but the more repairs you carry out the more the delay will end up costing you at the end of the day.

The one thing that is highly recommended is investing in the newest and more energy efficient new boiler when the time finally comes. Going cheap at this point will likely come back to haunt you as you will not only be stuck with a less energy efficient unit, leading to higher energy bills, but will also increase the risk of costly breakdowns and before you know it you will need to replace your boiler once again.

If your boiler was installed prior to 2005, if your boiler is still running at this point, it is an achievement in itself, any new boiler will be a massive upgrade in terms of energy efficiency. This is due to the fact that in 2005, regulations were introduced to make sure that all new boilers that were installed in properties in the UK were condensing, setting new standards for efficiency ratings.

Often a boilers lifespan will come to a natural conclusion when a boiler repair quote is so high that you decide that you might as well just get a new one at that point. A repair that involves numerous new parts to be fitted or will take an engineer several hours to complete can easily range into the hundreds, and at that point you could have paid off a large portion of your new boiler.

What is the boiler installation process like?

Many people put off the replacement of a boiler simply to avoid the hassle of the installation process but a qualified gas safe engineer will make the whole process as simple as possible, completing installation far quicker than you might expect.

The entire job will often be completed within just one day, leaving you free to enjoy your new energy efficient heat in no time at all.