fbpx

Home Improvements For A Safer Home

killingsworth environmental improvements for a safer home

Create a safe and secure home with these improvements.

We know you’ll do whatever it takes to create an environment where your family can live comfortably and free from harm. After all, a safe and secure home is what every homeowner aims to achieve! While your list of home improvements might be pretty lengthy, you might consider moving a few of these improvements to the top of your list, especially if yours and your family’s well being is a top priority.   

1. Check-in with your detectors

Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are a huge home safety feature, but they require a bit of regular maintenance from time to time in order to continue functioning properly.

  • Replace any detector that is older than 10 years.
  • Update detectors for new, advanced technology which responds to a multitude of fire conditions and limits false alarms.
  • Test all detectors at least once a month.
  • Switch to an interconnected system so when one sounds, they all sound. (Most newer homes will already have an interconnected system)

2. Test the air

Pollution isn’t only an outdoor concern, in fact, indoor air quality is twice as polluted as outdoor air in North Carolina. See for yourself–test the air quality in your home. We think you’ll be quite disgusted. Breathe easier when you take these steps towards cleaner and safer air.

  • Check your home’s air filters and ducts. Not only can a dirty air filter have a negative effect on the efficiency of your HVAC system, it can also put dust and other contaminants back into your home’s air. Replace your air filters every 3-5 months and be sure you choose the right filter for your home.
  • Test for radon- a naturally occurring radioactive gas which can be dangerous over time.

3. Give your home a deep clean

Maintain your home’s overall cleanliness for a safer and more secure home!

  • Eliminate the factors that attract (potentially harmful) pests, rodents, or other contaminants such as their food source or ideal living conditions.  
  • Get rid of clutter. An organized house will limit stress, prevent accidental falls, and limit the places pests can hide.

4. Out of sight, out of reach

If you have little ones at home, you how they can be drawn to things they know they’re not supposed to have. Every week around 500 children under five are hospitalized because it’s believed that they swallowed something poisonous. For this reason, it’s very important to keep poisonous substances out of sight and out of reach. For example, always be aware of the following:

  • Medicines
  • Chemicals
  • Cleaning products
  • Laundry products
  • Alcohol

5. Stop the leaks

Even a minor leak in your home’s plumbing system can cause major problems, from repair costs to mold removal and more. Regular maintenance of your home’s plumbing system and appliances can prevent issues, keeping your home dry and family safe!

  • Adjust the water pressure. High pressure can cause pipes, hoses, and water lines to leak or burst.
  • Install a water sensor which will make you aware of leaks and other problems before they get worse.
  • Check appliances to make sure they’re working efficiently and properly as they can be the source of major home water problems.
  • Adjust your home’s water heater temperature to be sure no one burns themselves.

Killingsworth takes home maintenance very seriously. We are here to help you with any and all of your home improvement needs. Schedule a service with us today!

Home Improvements For A Safer Home

Bedbug inspection

How to Know if Your Hotel Has Bedbugs

Upon entering a hotel room, do you typically reach for the tiny toiletries, take a leap onto the bed, or perhaps start by inspecting for bed bugs? Knowing what to look for is essential. Anticimex Carolinas Service Manager Christian Tweed has shared valuable insights on identifying bed bugs in your hotel room and preventing them from hitching a ride back home with you. And if bed bugs do become an unexpected part of your vacation, remember that Clark’s Pest Control is here to assist!



Q&A with a Pest Professional


How do bed bugs get inside hotels?


Bed bugs are primarily hitchhiking insects as opposed to foraging ones, meaning that they get carried around on people’s clothes and belongings. Someone with an active infestation in their home can easily bring bed bugs to their hotel, but they can also be picked up during travel (airplanes, taxis, and rideshare services) and brought to a hotel room.


What do people misunderstand about bed bugs in hotels?


From a probability standpoint, all hotels will deal with bed bugs at some point in time. If you think about a bed bug’s method of travel, there’s literally nothing a hotel can do to stop them from being carried in. What I have realized is that luxury hotels are more likely to have an aggressive response to dealing with a bed bug case once it’s identified as they tend to have a higher quality of service and a reputation to protect. While this isn’t always the case, it has been my experience more often than not.

Got bedbugs? Call Clark’s at 866-781-4991 today!

What do you recommend travelers do when they get to their room to check for bed bugs?


Most hotel headboards hang directly on the wall. I start my inspection here before even looking at the bed itself. I have found bed bugs, their exoskeletons, and the telltale black stains they leave behind around the edges of or in the crevices of headboards. If the headboard looks clean, move on to looking over the pillowcases and comforter for any signs or stains. You can dig into the bedding as deep as you want here, but I encourage people to look over the top layer of things at the very least.


What are some lesser-known signs of bed bugs in your hotel room?


The specifics of the black stains they leave behind, which as gross as it sounds, are just digested blood as that’s all that bed bugs feed on. If the stains are on a hard surface, they will be small dots as if left behind by an ink pen and will smear into a brownish gray when moisture is applied. If they’re on fabric, they will usually bleed along the fibers making a small diamond, square or X shape.


If there are bed bugs in your hotel room, can they travel home with you?


They absolutely can, however this is easy to prevent. While staying in a hotel, keep as much of your clothing and luggage off the beds as possible. Storing suitcases in the bathroom might sound odd, but it’s an effective method of prevention.

Don’t tackle bedbugs yourself, call Clark’s at 866-781-4991!

What should you do with your suitcase if you suspect your hotel has bed bugs?


When arriving home from a trip, leave your luggage in the garage or on a porch and bring your clothes in one load of laundry at a time. If the clothes are dirty, wash them like you normally would, if they’re clean then run them through the dryer for at least forty-five minutes. Once your suitcase is empty, vacuum over it meticulously (don’t forget to empty the vacuum when you’re done), or if you’re in the right climate, expose it to heat for a few days by placing it in your vehicle (parked in the sun) or for a few weeks in your attic.


The Clark’s Solution


If you brought bed bugs back to you home, Clark’s is here to help. Our Bedbug Control service is designed to eliminate bedbugs and create a safe, comfortable environment.


A Clark’s Pest Professional will do an inspection and recommend a plan of attack to get rid of bed bugs now and prevent them from hatching in the future. Call Clark’s at 866-781-4991 today for more information.




Scroll to Top