To: bovik@cs.cmu.edu
Reply-To: Gary Pelton <gap@cs.cmu.edu>
Subject: Carpenter Ant extermination
Date: Fri, 02 Jun 95 13:35:52 -0400
Message-ID: <12098.802114552@TRICERATOPS.SOAR.CS.CMU.EDU>
From: Garrett_Pelton@TRICERATOPS.SOAR.CS.CMU.EDU

Harry,

I found little piles of sawdust around some of the
woodwork in my house. After calling around I found out
this is a calling card of carpenter ants.

I called 2 companies on your recomendation, Gateway
784-8180 and Rentokill 321-0800. 

The Gateway employee actually looked around the house, 
went into the basement, and checked outside. He recomended
a spot treatment since it looked like the problem was minor.
However, it should be treated. $65

The Rentokill employee looked at the pile of dust and 
reccomended a full house treatment. Since there could be
multiple sources for the ants. He said that there was no
way to determine where the nests were. A full house treatment
came with a 6 month warranty, that I could probably talk
up to be a full year. $240

I decided that the Gateway person seemed much more professional,
and was going to put less poison in the house environment. Not
to mention they were cheaper. I have a pregnant person living
in the house, so I don't want to limit the amount of poisons
etc. I also don't really like adding poisons to the environment.

Finally, if more infestation was discovered, then I could do
the full house treatment. I didn't see why I should do so for 
what looked like a minor problem.

Gary