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From Council Pest Control to Inventor: Jason’s Pipe Guard Blocker Story
1:29:00

From Council Pest Control to Inventor: Jason’s Pipe Guard Blocker Story

0:00 / 1:29:00

Tonight's Episode

🎙️ Pest Perspectives EP 14 – Jason McPhie | ASK Pest Control & PipeGuard RatBlocker

In this episode of the Pest Perspectives Podcast, Shaun Muller is joined by Jason from Ask Pest Control for a practical and honest conversation covering more than 20 years in pest management, starting a business later in life, wasp nest removal, drain investigations and the development of the Pipe Guard Blocker.

Jason explains how he moved from working as a bin man and HGV driver into local-authority pest control. After spending three years learning alongside experienced technicians, he completed his pest management qualification and went on to cover pest control work across Telford.

The conversation explores how council pest control has changed, including subsidised treatments, heavy workloads, limited resources and the difference between simply controlling an individual pest and investigating the underlying cause of an infestation.

After 30 years with the local authority, Jason was made redundant and used the opportunity to establish Ask Pest Control. He shares the nerves involved in leaving a regular wage, the support he received when starting the company and why new business owners cannot simply sit at home waiting for the telephone to ring.

Shaun and Jason also discuss:

• Building confidence when selling pest control services
• Why technicians should listen carefully to customers
• Being honest when you do not know the answer
• Learning from other pest professionals and industry contacts
• The importance of networking for sole traders
• Using inspection cameras to investigate possible rat ingress
• The difference between a targeted pest inspection and a professional drain survey
• Safely treating and removing wasp and hornet nests
• Protective clothing, full-face masks and correct respiratory filters
• Why technicians must recognise their own limitations
• Developing the Pipe Guard Blocker with support from Rat Pak

Jason explains how a simple pest-control problem led him to develop the Pipe Guard Blocker, a practical product designed to help prevent rodents from travelling through or emerging from vulnerable pipework.

This episode is packed with real-world experience, useful technical advice and encouragement for technicians who are considering starting their own pest control business or developing an industry product.

Pest Perspectives Podcast is hosted by Shaun Muller of Oakham Pest Control Ltd and features practical conversations with pest technicians, business owners, manufacturers and industry specialists from across the pest management sector.

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