August is the month when most termite inspectors and technicians start questioning their career choices.

This has been one of the hottest Augusts I’ve experienced in my fifteen-plus years living in San Diego. But it’s the humidity that has really gotten my attention. If I was ever feeling homesick for Philadelphia, this month’s humidity has cured me of that. It’s brought back memories of what I endured there as a youth.

In August, no matter how much sunscreen I use, the skin on the back of my neck and forearms resembles a caramel apple. I make sure to pack multiple shirts every morning because any attic treatment I complete is going to end with me climbing out of the attic drenched in sweat.

Whenever I tell a homeowner I’m going into their attic, they often look at me like I’m walking toward the gallows. I can’t really blame them. Most California attics aren’t exactly inviting spaces under the best of conditions. Add August heat, and they become a whole different environment.

August is also the month when I give myself permission to wear T-shirts instead of my usual company long-sleeve polo. Fortunately, our logo really pops on our T-shirts, so I’m still getting a little advertising out of the deal.

The heat isn’t limited to attics. When I’m inspecting the sunny side of a house, it can feel like the sun is sitting right above my shoulder. If I need to treat a section of fascia on that side of the house, the only relief I get is when I stick my head into the shade beneath the eaves.

The heat in an attic can feel overwhelming. I try to embrace it. I tell homeowners that attic inspections in August are my version of hot yoga. The difference is that nobody is paying me to relax.

I don’t want to overreact to the heat or let it get into my head. Sometimes, though, it does something strange to your senses. I’ll suddenly feel cool air on my skin, only to realize it’s the hot outside air blowing through a nearby gable vent.

The heat also seems to bring the insects out in force. Almost every household I’ve visited this summer to inspect for termites is also dealing with ants. Customers who don’t have regular pest control often have cans of Raid sitting on their counters and are trying various home remedies.

Ants aren’t my specialty, so I usually don’t offer much advice beyond giving them my pest control guy’s contact information. 

August heat also brings drywood termite swarming season. Dozens of flying termites suddenly swirling around inside a home are hard to miss. If a homeowner has already overlooked termite droppings and other evidence, a swarm will usually get their attention.

That’s when they call a professional.

Many homeowners assume that flying termites automatically mean their house needs to be tented. That’s not necessarily the case. Depending on what we find during the inspection, there may be other treatment options.

If you’ve experienced flying termites in your home, don’t hesitate to call. High temperatures are just part of the job, and they won’t keep us from exploring all the accessible parts of your attic or probing your exterior wood, even on the sunny side of your home.