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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Termite Inspector Ailments Inspecting for termites isn’t exactly a desk job. If you’re thorough (and not everyone is), you have to work your way through the attic, crawlspace (sometimes more than one), and probe every section of accessible wood around the perimeter of the home. It’s not for the faint of heart. In fact, there
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Old or New Termite Activity While inspecting a customer’s garage, I found a significant amount of termite droppings. Since the home had been fumigated less than five years prior, I thought the droppings might have occurred before the fumigation and had already been dealt with. But then I spotted a kickout hole—the place where termites
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Termite Foam vs. Liquid When it comes to local treatments for drywood termites, there are three main options: fipronil (in liquid or foam form) and orange oil. I’m not a fan of orange oil. It’s a repellent (termites can smell and taste it and simply avoid it), it dissipates in less than a month (so
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Is it Worth is to Re-Screen Your Vents? Some termite companies offer gable vent re-screening as a way to prevent termites from entering the attic. However, gable vents are just one potential entry point. Most attics also have soffit vents along the lower perimeter, which are difficult to access from inside and would look unsightly
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The Importance of Masking Termite Droppings Termites eat wood, so their droppings are made of wood—and they don’t decompose. That’s why it’s important to either clean up or mask termite droppings after a treatment or fumigation. There are two main reasons for this: To avoid mistaking old droppings for new activity. Let’s say a home
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6 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Termites They Don’t SleepTermite workers—the ones chewing through your house—never sleep. They work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. That’s how a creature barely the size of a grain of rice can turn a solid rafter tail into sawdust in less than a year. Their Wings
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When Smaller is Better Some people feel that working with a big pest control company offers more assurances. Maybe that’s true in some cases, but there are definite advantages to going small. Lower Overhead, Lower PricesBig companies come with big overhead—more employees, more managers, more vehicles, more advertising, and more meetings. All of that adds
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Clues Not Always Considered During a Termite Inspection Let’s face it—many termite inspectors are focused on one thing: selling you a treatment. If they see wood damage, they’ll often claim it’s active termites without considering other explanations. They ignore signs that might tell a different story. Maybe they started their careers with good intentions. But
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Termite Local Treatments vs. Fumigation If you have drywood termites, there are basically two ways to treat your home: localized (or spot) treatment and fumigation. Both methods have pros and cons. Here’s how they compare: Fumigation Pluses: Fumigation is the most comprehensive treatment method. When done correctly, it provides 100% effectiveness. Any termites in your
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