What Not to Do When It Comes to Termites Let’s say you find a pile of termite droppings on your floor. You clean them up, hoping it’s nothing—but they come back the next day. If you’re new to this, you might not be sure what to do. So here’s a list of what not to […]
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Termite Inspectors are Termite Detectives, Part 2: In Part 1, I talked about how the inspection begins with an interview and the clues found in inspection and fumigation tags and termite droppings. In Part 2, we’ll look at all the other sources that help us crack the case and recommend the best solution for your
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Termite Inspectors are Termite Detectives, Part One: I always thought I would have made an excellent detective. I even applied to the state police—twice. The first time, my future ex-wife told me she’d break up with me if I became a policeman. (In hindsight, I could’ve saved myself a lot of pain and anguish if
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Termite Fumigations: What’s with All the Forms? If you’ve ever tented your home, you probably remember signing more paperwork than expected. Not quite as much as when you bought your home, but still a stack. Some of the forms are required by the California Structural Pest Control Board and your county’s Agricultural, Weights and Measures
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What’s Wrong with Orange Oil I was scrolling through Nextdoor recently and saw someone asking for termite control recommendations. A few people suggested orange oil, and it made me realize—many people think orange oil is the only alternative to tenting. Some even believe it’s synonymous with local treatment. Let’s clear that up. Orange oil is
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Why It’s Important for Your Termite Company to Clean Up Old Termite Evidence After Treatment First things first: termite droppings (also called frass) are made of wood, and they don’t decompose—at least not anytime soon. Some people say they darken over time, but really, how would anyone know the difference just by looking? I was
5 More Termite Company Red Flags In Part 1, we discussed everything from rushed inspections to inspectors showing up in cars not trucks. Here are five more red flags to watch out for when getting multiple termite inspections: Branded Treatments When a company sells a service like “Killfoam” or “Truguard,” it’s usually just a marketing
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The Lifecycle of a Termite Colony A termite colony begins with a swarm—typically 20 to 100 flying termites called alates, the winged reproductives that include future kings and queens. These termites leave their original colony to start a new one. Subterranean termites usually swarm in spring, typically the day after rainfall. Drywood termites, on the
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What to Expect During a Termite Inspection First, a quick disclaimer: I can only speak to what you can expect from a California Termite inspection. Not every company operates the way we do—and frankly, we think that’s a good thing. Call Before Going: We always call or text when we’re on our way. It might
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The Case of the Infested Couch: A Lesson in Thorough Termite Inspections I was performing an annual drywood termite inspection in Encinitas, California for a property just a mile from the beach. The owner had a termite warranty in place, and as part of that coverage, I was back to make sure nothing new had
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