Category Archives: Repair Requests

Bed Bugs, Repair Requests

Bed Bug Information

General information about bed bug identification, behavior and biology, the importance of cooperation for prevention and treatment, and the importance of and for prompt written reporting of suspected infestations to the landlord.

 

 

INFORMATION FROM THE EPA: https://www.epa.gov/bedbugs

Information about Bed Bugs

Bed bug Appearance:
Bed bugs have six legs. Adult bed bugs have flat bodies about 1/4 of an inch in length. Their color can vary from red and brown to copper colored. Young bed bugs are very small. Their bodies are about 1/16 of an inch in length. They have almost no color. When a bed bug feeds, its body swells, may lengthen, and becomes bright red, sometimes making it appear to be a different insect. Bed bugs do not fly. They can either crawl or be carried from place to place on objects, people, or animals. Bed bugs can be hard to find and identify because they are tiny and try to stay hidden.
Life Cycle and Reproduction:
An average bed bug lives for about 10 months. Female bed bugs lay one to five eggs per day. Bed bugs grow to full adulthood in about 21 days.
Bed bugs can survive for months without feeding.
Bed bug Bites: Because bed bugs usually feed at night, most people are bitten in their sleep and do not realize they were bitten. A person’s reaction to insect bites is an immune response and so varies from person to person. Sometimes the red welts caused by the bites will not be noticed until many days after a person was bitten, if at all.
Common signs and symptoms of a possible bed bug infestation:
• Small red to reddish brown fecal spots on mattresses, box springs, bed frames, mattresses, linens, upholstery, or walls.
• Molted bed bug skins, white, sticky eggs, or empty eggshells.
• Very heavily infested areas may have a characteristically sweet odor.
• Red, itchy bite marks, especially on the legs, arms, and other body parts exposed while sleeping. However, some people do not show bed bug lesions on their bodies even though bed bugs may have fed on them.
For more information, see the Internet Web sites of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the National Pest Management Association.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING BED BUGS:
Bed bugs have recently become an issue for cities nationwide. Please see the important facts about bed bug infestations and tips for prevention and management below:

STATE OF CALIFORNIA—HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY California Department of Public Health
Division of Communicable Disease Control

What You Need to Know about Bed Bugs

Link to original document:
https://www.smgov.net/uploadedFiles/Departments/HED/Housing_and_Redevelopment/Housing/News_and_Notices/What%20You%20Need%20to%20Know%20About%20Bed%20Bugs.pdf

What are bed bugs?
Bed bugs are small parasitic insects that feed on the blood of mammals and birds. Adult
bed bugs have flat bodies about one-quarter of an inch in length; they are copper colored
and wingless. Young bed bugs are nearly colorless and very small (1/16 inch). Bed bugs do
not fly; they either crawl or are carried from place to place. When a bed bug feeds, its body
swells and becomes bright red, making it appear to be a different insect. In homes, hotels,
or other dwellings, bed bugs feed primarily on human blood, usually at night when people
are sleeping.

Are bed bugs dangerous?
Bed bugs are not known to transmit disease. However, bed bug bites can cause large, itchy
welts on the skin. A person’s reaction to insect bites is an immune response and therefore
varies from person to person. Bed bug bites are usually painless and rarely awaken a
sleeping person. If people are sleeping side by side, one person may have a severe
reaction while the other shows no evidence of being bitten. Sometimes the red welts caused
by the bites will not be apparent until many days after a person was bitten.

How do I know if my home is infested with bed bugs?
If there are bed bugs in your house, you may notice itchy welts on your or your family’s skin.
You may also see the bed bugs or evidence of their presence, such as small bloodstains
from crushed bed bugs or dark spots from bed bug droppings. Bed bugs are found most
often around areas where a person sleeps or rests. These areas include: on or near beds
and bedroom furniture; in the tufts, seams, and folds of mattresses and daybed covers; and
in clutter around sleeping areas. In more severe infestations, bed bugs may spread to
cracks and crevices in bed frames and box springs and be found behind headboards, inside
nightstands, and behind baseboards, pictures, and moldings. It is important to inspect
furniture adjacent to sleeping areas for the presence of bed bugs, as well as behind
loosened wallpaper. Bed bugs may also hide in piles of books, papers, boxes, and around
pet sleeping areas.

How long do bed bugs live?
The typical life span of a bed bug is about ten months. They can survive for weeks to
months without feeding.

Will bed bugs feed on my pets?
Bed bugs will feed on pets, but prefer to feed on humans. Pet sleeping areas should be
inspected and treated by a licensed pest control company.

How can you get rid of bed bugs?
The California Department of Public Health, Vector-Borne Disease Section, recommends
that property owners hire a pest control professional licensed by the California Department
of Consumer Affairs (DCA), Structural Pest Control Board to evaluate what type of pest is
present and to exterminate them if necessary.

Time and money can be wasted attempting to eliminate an infestation if an insect is not
identified properly. Controlling and removing bed bugs involves different procedures than
the removal of other pests and will require multiple visits. A pest control professional should perform a thorough inspection, and when bed bug hiding places are found, provide
chemical or non-chemical means of control to the infested rooms. A professional may use
pesticides and specialized equipment, such as steam cleaners, to kill the bed bugs. After
two or three weeks, ensure that the pest control professional returns for follow-up treatment. Usually, at least two treatments are necessary to eliminate bed bugs.

It is important to cooperate fully with all of the pest control company’s recommendations.
These recommendations may include washing clothing and linens and reducing clutter in
infested rooms. All materials removed from a bed bug infested room should be placed in
tightly sealed plastic garbage bags before being thrown away or taken to a laundry facility.
This will prevent bed bugs from being moved to other areas of the structure. Licensed
applicators should provide proof of their licensure and their company’s licensure upon
request. Visit http://www.pestboard.ca.gov/license.htm or call DCA, Structural Pest Control Board at (916) 561-8704 to confirm that the company is certified.

How does a property become infested with bed bugs?
In most cases, bed bugs are moved from infested areas to non-infested areas on clothing,
luggage, furniture, or bedding that is brought into homes.

How can I prevent bed bugs from entering my home?
Some infestations can be prevented by washing clothing and bedding immediately after
returning from a trip. Inspect all used beds, box springs, sofas, upholstered chairs, and
bedding for signs of bed bugs before bringing them into your home.

Should I report a bed bug infestation to local authorities?
Yes. Bed bugs are considered a public health nuisance and when found in hotels, prisons,
nursing homes, hospitals and public transportations should be reported to the local county
health or environmental health department.

Where can I get more information?
• Vector-Borne Disease Section at the California Department of Public Health:
http://www.cdph.ca.gov/healthinfo/discond/pages/bedbugs.aspx
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/ehs/publications/Bed_Bugs_CDC-EPA_Statement.htm

Bed Bugs

Report bed bug sightings in your unit

Please only use this form if you live at 917 11th Street in Santa Monica!

    Your Name (required)

    Your Apartment (required)

    Your Email (required)

    Your Phone (required)

    Your Cell Phone:

    Form of Contact Preference:

    Please provide time and date plus location and description details of bed bug sighting at 11th Street:

    Please note: As a courtesy we make every attempt to schedule inspections and service to be convenient, however that is not always possible. We might be able to have someone at the building to grant access to your unit for reported issues but if we do not have someone available and require access to your unit you may need to arrange to be present at the time of the service call.

    May we enter your apartment when you are not home to inspect for this issue (required)

    Preferred date of entry:

    Preferred time of entry:


    Garbage Disposals, Repair Requests, Resources

    Garbage Disposals – they don’t really dispose of garbage

    GARBAGE DISPOSALS

    The kitchen garbage disposal is not really as useful as you might assume and the distance from that unit to main sewer line can cause problems if items you dispose of stop half way there causing a blockage. If you use enough water to actually reach the main sewer line it is very water wasteful. While they may seem useful for getting rid of a variety of food scraps and waste that might otherwise create unpleasant smells in the kitchen, many foods can actually damage your disposal or render it useless. Environmentally – the eutrophic impact of sending your food waste down the disposal is more than three times larger than sending it to the landfill.

    Do not put these things down your garbage disposal:

    Never use hot water when grinding food waste. Hot water will cause NO!grease to liquefy and accumulate, causing drains to clog. Don’t turn off the motor or water until grinding is completed. When grinding is complete, turn off the garbage disposal first. Let water continue to run for at least 30 seconds, flushing out any remaining particles. Then turn off water.

    NO!Fibrous foods

    Don’t grind extremely fibrous material like corn husks, celery stalks, onion skins, lettuce, corn husks, carrots, potato peels and artichokes.  Fibers from these can tangle and jam the garbage disposal motor and block drains.


    NO!Grease, fats and oils

    Greasy foods will distribute a film over the blades, diminishing their effectiveness. Eventually, the grease will begin to decay, causing an unpleasant odor in the kitchen. Pouring grease into a garbage disposal can result in clogged drains when the grease solidifies.


    NO!Coffee Grounds

    Coffee grounds down the garbage disposal build up an accumulation of goop and they accumulate in drains and pipes, causing clogs.

    EggNO! shells

    Some people claim that egg shells sharpen the blades of the unit, but this is not true. The shells’ stringy membrane layers can wrap around the shredder ring, and the shell itself will be ground to a sand-like consistency capable of clogging pipes.

    NO!Pasta, rice, potatoes and beans

    Even small particles of these foods will swell with water to form a paste-like substance, and eventually clog the trap.

    NO!Non-food items

    Dropping a bottle cap or twist-tie – make sure you get it out before starting your disposal. If you break a glass in the sink the shards can be difficult to remove and can jam the disposal. We have had service calls that resulted in finding rubber bands, twist ties, cigarette butts, pull tabs, fabric, sponges and plant clippings in disposal units.


     BlNO!each or drain cleaners

    Don’t use harsh chemicals like bleach or drain cleaners. They can damage blades and pipes. Borax is a natural sink cleaner and sanitizer that effectively works on odor-causing mold and mildew that accumulates in garbage disposals. A little baking soda followed by pouring a mix of white vinegar and water will create a bit of foam that can clean the disposal and remove odors.

    The amount of water it takes to properly use a garbage disposal makes them very water wasteful.

    Should We Dispose of Disposals?

    http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/the_green_lantern/2008/09/should_we_dispose_of_disposals.html

    Dumping waste into the water system has environmental costs. There is evidence that the effluent that is pumped back into local water streams does affect their chemical composition and aquatic life. In extreme cases, the result can be something called eutrophication, which occurs when a higher concentration of nutrients results in algae blooms. According to one Australian study, the eutrophic impact of sending your food waste down the disposal is more than three times larger than sending it to the landfill. You’ll also be using a lot more water if you decide to go with the disposal—and you’ll be indirectly responsible for the extraction of the metal needed to make the appliance.

    Repair Requests, Resources

    Repair Requests

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    In the event of an emergency please call us!

    Repair requests are scheduled as soon as possible once received.

    It is the YOUR responsibility to clear all personal items from the area to allow access for both the inspection to estimate the work as well as to allow the work to be completed.

    We make every effort to schedule work during times that are most convenient for tenants but that is not always possible.

      Your Name (required)

      Your Apartment (required)

      Your Email (required)

      Your Phone (required)

      Your Cell Phone:

      Form of Contact Preference:

      Please check the appropriate boxes below that pertain to your request:

      Please provide details on the item in need of repair:

      Please note: As a courtesy we make every attempt to schedule inspections and service to be convenient, however that is not always possible. We might be able to have someone at the building to grant access to your unit for reported issues but if we do not have someone available and require access to your unit you may need to arrange to be present at the time of the service call.

      May we enter your apartment when you are not home to inspect and make the repairs? (required)

      Preferred date of entry:

      Preferred time of entry:


       

      Please note that we do not maintain the washer and dryer in the laundry room.
      In the event you have an issue with the laundry facilities please contact:
      All Valley Washer Service
      800-247-1100 Toll-Free
      818-787-1100 Phone
      818-989-7378 Fax

      Contact, Laundry Room, Repair Requests

      All Valley Washer

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      Please note that we do not maintain the washer and dryer in the laundry room.

      In the event you have an issue with the laundry facilities please contact:

      All Valley Washer Service
      800-247-1100 Toll-Free
      818-787-1100 Phone
      818-989-7378 Fax

      		Please clean up after yourself, remove lint from dryer and dispose of in waste can – not on the floor!

      If you see signs of plumbing problems please call or text: 310 804-2382!