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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A Termite Inspector’s Balancing Act Termite inspectors serve multiple customers: the homeowner, their boss, and the fumigator or termite technician who will ultimately perform the treatment. Homeowners A good termite inspector is thorough, knowledgeable, honest, and adaptable. Thoroughness is key when the goal is to offer treatment options. A localized treatment is only as good
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8 Ways to Avoid Termite Fumigation Nobody wants to fumigate. The only time it’s not a hassle is when the home is vacant, like between renters or during a sale. Otherwise, you have to bag everything consumable, let strangers inside your home, find a place to stay, board your pets, risk damage to your roof
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Termidor vs. Orange Oil When it comes to spot or localized termite treatments, two of the most common options are Termidor and orange oil. How do they compare? Orange Oil: Orange oil’s active ingredient is d-Limonene, a byproduct of orange juice processing, extracted from orange peels. According to Jeff Chang from Florida Chemical, a major
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Termite Fumigation vs. Local Treating Fumigation Pros: A successful fumigation eliminates all living termites in a home. Although fumigation does not penetrate egg casings, termite offspring cannot digest wood without ingesting protozoans from adult termites. Since the fumigation kills all adults, the colony cannot regenerate. The most comprehensive treatment available, reaching all wood structures in
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