There is Another Way Maybe You Don’t Have to Fumigate. I exhibited at the Older and Bolder Expo last Saturday in Carlsbad, CA, where hundreds of seniors attended. At my table, the most common comments I heard were: “I just tented my house.” or “Do you tent, or do you use orange oil?” It struck […]
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Attic Hazards Termite inspectors know, attics aren’t the safest places to work. Step in the wrong spot and that cool air on their leg means only one thing—it’s now in the room below. And as bad as that is, it can get worse. If the home has a sprinkler system and they step on an
Don’t Wait: Why Quick Action Against Termites Matters A lot of people assume that finding termites automatically means tenting their home. Because of that, when they see signs of termites, they hesitate to call a termite control company. But waiting only makes the problem worse. Ironically, by putting it off, you may end up needing
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Termites Love the Framing Around Chimney Tubes The wood framing around a chimney tube is especially vulnerable to drywood termites. Temperature changes cause condensation, which raises the wood’s moisture content—something drywood termites need to survive. In fact, nine times out of ten, this framing will be infested. The challenge is that much of it is
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A Long Day in the Life of a Termite Inspector Mobile Homes and Crawlspaces It was a Saturday, and I had four inspections. The first two were mobile homes. Mobile homes always come with a crawlspace. I actually like attics—no matter the temperature—because they’re more of a challenge. Crawlspaces… they’re almost never fun. They stay
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Under a Mobile Home All mobile homes sit on a raised foundation, which makes the space underneath an important area to inspect during a termite inspection. While mobile homes generally don’t contain a lot of wood, there are still key areas where termites or wood-destroying organisms may be found. I focus on wood that’s connected
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Why Do I Have to Bag My Food but Not Wash My Dishes After a Fumigation? (and other tenting questions answered) When it comes to fumigating your home for drywood termites, a lot of common questions come up. Here are clear answers to the ones we hear most often. Why do I need to bag
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Older Homes with New Additions It surprises many people, but when I’m inspecting an older home with a newer addition, I’m more likely to find termites in the addition. The main culprit is Douglas fir, the wood most commonly used to frame homes today. There are two key reasons for this. First, builders don’t typically
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My Journey Through Pest Control (and Why It Matters for My Customers) Before I started California Termite, I worked for several different companies across San Diego County. Each job taught me something important—sometimes what to do, and sometimes what never to do. Looking back, those experiences shaped the values I bring to my own company
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Probing Wood for Termites One of the most reliable ways to check exterior wood for termites is by probing. Even if a board looks solid from the outside, a light probe can reveal hidden damage. When termites are present, the wood may break open and release small pellets, which are actually termite droppings. If the
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