Termite Extermination

Hidden infestation of termites sometimes called the hidden enemy can cause thousands of dollars of damage to your home before you even know it. You can’t hear them and normally you can’t see them.  They get inside your home and eat at the wood structure until there is nothing left then they move on to another area. The only way to termite extermination is with fumigation soil treatment or other various methods.

Signs of termite infestation are sawdust like droppings, dirt or mud like tubes, trails of damage on the structure, damaged window sills (wood area) and swarming winged insects flying around, especially in the spring or fall.

Termites start in one area of your house then move on to another area by swarming or building mud tubes to travel through. They use your house to live and grow their colonies. Such is life in the insect world.

If the infestation is in a small area, a local or spot control treatment may be effective.  However, the hidden termites in other areas will not be destroyed. Local treatment involves drilling and injecting pesticides into the infected areas as well as chemicals. Some termite exterminating can involve extreme cold.  Liquid nitrogen is pumped into the walls of infested sites killing the termites.  There is also a microwave spot method where microwaves are directed into the infested wood. Beware of the companies that claims spot control will take care of the whole house! They will not...

The only way to treat an infestation of termites is to treat the entire house!

Fumigation method of extermination of termites will require that you remove all pets and plants and seal food and medications. You may be required to stay out of your house anywhere from six hours to a week, depending on the type and size of termite infestation. Your house will be enclosed in a tent like type of nylon tarps and sealed with plastic, tape or other material.  The termite exterminator will post a signs on your property when it will be safe to return.  The treatment will be with a gas and is very effective for drywood termites. Because the chemical is a gas and dissipates as soon as the tent is down you cannot be sure there will not be a  re-infestation of the termites.

For the heat method, all pets, plants, and other items that can’t take high temperatures need to be removed.  Your home will be covered with tarps and hot air blown into it until temperatures reach 140 to 150 degrees F. The inside temperature of the structure (the wood) needs to be heated to 120 degrees F before the procedure will be complete.   Once the heat is applied it will take vary amount of time before you can reenter your home. It depends on the building’s constructions, the size of the house and weather conditions.  This method may not be practical for all structures because some buildings can’t be heated evenly. Once the termite extermination is done, you can go back into your house and live happily ever after.

Termite Company

I was reading a article the other day and in the article a question was ask about choosing the right termite company or termite companies. The homeowners ask about how to know when and if the company he was using to get rid of the termites was doing a good job.
As a lay person you probably would never know if the company did a good job or not. Just do some back ground checks and go from there. If a company has a history of ripping people off then it will show up with BBB.

It seems the family wanted this house to be there home forever and was concerned that the termites were not gone. The home owner bought the home under the assumption that it was clear of termites. Now that they owned the home the termite company who gave the clearance letter was also going to treat the home. Now understand one thing. Termite inspections are visual inspection unless the person has a way of looking in the walls or has a dog that can sniff out termites. Even these various ways are not full proof.

The one thing I would do if you find you have termites and bought the home is have more then one company take a look and give a termite estimate on the cost to treat the structure. Do not just take for granted that the termite company who gave the inspection should do the treatment. They can and maybe will offer you a free or a discounted price to do the termite treatment. All termite companies that I know of carry a termite insurance to protect themselves from this type of mistake.

The type or how much the termite insurance covers varies from state to state. And termite companies do carry a termite bond. If a termite company does not offer a bond that can be renewed every year then I would not do business with that termite company.

You can use a local termite company, or go with one of the bigger termite companies such as Orkin, Terminex or Truly Nolen just to name a few.

Hire a Termite Exterminator or Do It Yourself

Termites cause million of dollars of damage a yearly and thousands of dollars to your house! They are the number one cause of damage to any structure. It’s because they work slowly and quietly so you don’t know you have damaged to your house until it starts to show or you have a termite exterminator check it out for you.

If you suspect your house has termites then retaining a professional termite exterminator is a must. Termite exterminators have specialized equipment and knowledge you don’t have to get the damaged fixed and the termites eliminated. Always use a recommended or reputable company with the knowledge in termites not just any old bug company.

Take your time in deciding which termite exterminator you want to use. Since termites work quietly and slowly you have time to make the right choice. Note where the damage areas are and whether they are active or inactive. If you choose to do it yourself, there are methods and treatments readily available.

The “do it yourself” method can save you money but the disadvantage is if you don’t get all the termites then you will still have to have a termite exterminator come out to take care of the problem (which will cost you more money). Assess the extent of the termite damage and the current infestation, if you are confident you can do it yourself then research the different methods of exterminating the termites. Remember you have to check under the house and in crawl spaces, and check how and why they got in and fix these problems first or the termites will come back.

You can use the bait treatment or a chemical treatment. The bait treatment uses wooden monitors that you bury six-ten inches in the ground to lure the termites to them then use a bait to kill them. The termite chemical treatment is injected into the soil but can be harmful to the environment and dangerous if not used properly. Be sure to comply with local laws for chemical applications. Be sure and follow the label.

Hiring a termite exterminator is probably the best way to go as they have all the permits, licensing and equipment to combat your termite problem. Most termite company's would suggest you not try to solve your termite problem on your own. Just putting out a termite bait box won’t work. They have to be eliminated in a certain way. Also the damage needs to be fixed.

The advantage of hiring a termite exterminator is they not only have the equipment and licensing but they also offer a termite warranty and referred to as a termite bond. The warranty will include a re-treatment if necessary. Termite exterminators will perform a home inspection and give you a written plan for treatment cost and procedures including chemical labels and warranty information. In the long run hiring a termite exterminator will save your home as well as your pocket book.

Termite Treatment Cost

 
Here are some things to consider before you can estimate a termite treatment cost.
Are you looking for some information on a termite treatment cost?  What goes into figuring out what the termite treatment cost would be?  Chances are you found this little article because you have some concerns about termites.  So let’s look into some of the things that go into determining termite treatment cost.  The cost of the job can be affected by many different things.  It can include how long you've had the infestation, just how bad the infestation is and weather or not there are structural issues.
The size of the house has to be considered as well.  Is the house or building two stories or not?  All of these factors must be considered.  There is more that goes into determining the termite treatment cost than you may think. Without seeing the building you are going to have treated it's really impossible to get an accurate estimate of the cost.
Did you know that Some Formosan termite colonies can eat two pounds of food a day.  WOW! That could mean in a year you could be missing 700 pounds of wood! Aren't you glad you don't have a large colony of termites like that, or do you?  It kind of makes you think “maybe the termite treatment cost isn't so bad” when you consider the cost of repairing the damage termites can do.
Here are some other things that go into a termite treatment cost. Is the building a one family or two family house?  Is the building a commercial structure?  Do you have a finished Basement or an unfinished basement or no basement at all?  How long have you noticed signs that you may have termites? Is it less than a year, one to three years or is it more than that?
Some drilling may be required so do you have easy access to the outside walls of your house or building?  Where do you see most of the termite evidence, is it in one or two places or more?  Do you see activity on the inside or outside of your house or building? Do you see any mud tubes going up the side of your structure? I know it's a lot of questions but these are the kind of things you should be ready to answer when it comes to calculating the Termite treatment Cost.

Termite bond

Image via Wikipedia

Here are some things to think about before you choose a  company for a termite Bond.
The first thing you need to realize is that all termite bonds are not created equal.  A termite bond is sometimes called a termite contract.  Do not confuse a termite contract or termite bond with a termite letter.  A termite letter is all together something different.  A termite letter is something a pest control company gives you after they have done an inspection.  The termite letter is a report resulting from the termite inspection that will state if you do or don’t have termites. The letter will also note how much damage is done…etc. On the other hand, a termite bond is basically a form of insurance.

A termite bond and a termite contract are the same thing.  To obtain a termite bond, a pest company will perform an inspection on an existing structure and determine how much if any damage has been caused by termites.  Once the termite company performs the inspection and treats your house or building they will offer you a termite bond.  A termite bond is basically an agreement between  you and the termite company and usually includes a yearly inspection.  If during that inspection there is evidence of termites the company will get rid of the termites and addresses any damage that has been caused by the termites.  The initial cost is a  large up front fee for the contract and then there’s a small renewal fee once a year.

• Look for the following in your termite bonds or contract:

• Find out how long the bond is for.

• What species of termites does their bond  cover?

• Is there a deductible and if so how much?

• Is it a one time deductible?

• If termites are found will the termite company just retreat for termites or will they also pay for the repairs?

• If they do pay for repairs is there a limit to the amount they will pay for the repairs?

• What happens if the damage goes over the limit?

• If you sell your house can you transfer your termite bonds to the new homeowner?

• What happens if my current termite company moves their office or business out of my town or state? Can I get a rebate for the money I‘ve paid? 

There are other things to think about when it comes to Getting a termite bond but this is a good starting place. So before you get your termite bond investigate all the issues you can think of.

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Treating Termites

Treating termites might be a problem and may endup causing harm to your home as well as the environment, which is why you will need to have all the facts. Treating termites can be difficult and complex,  you need to make sure you want to do this treatment yourself or hire a reliable pest control company. You would also need to make sure you pick a honest exterminating service as well.

If when treating termites you decide to do the service yourself, then the more knowledge you have the more efficient the treatment will be. you really need to be aware of the different methods for termite treatment.
By this I mean there are basically 3-4 different types of termites, knowing what type of termite depends on what type of treatment you will use. Remember that termite treating equipment is essential to doing the proper treatment.

Questions to ask yourself.

• What type of termite do I have? Know the facts.
• Do or can I bait for this type of termite? Know the facts.
• What chemicals or bait do I need? Can I even buy the chemical? Know the facts
• What equipment will I need? How expensive is the equipment? Is it cost effective to do it my self.

What types of termites do I have, are they Dry wood or subterranean termites?
Are they damp wood or Formosan termites?  Knowing the different types is very important.
Baiting versus chemical treatment is an important
question in treating for termites.
Should I bait or do chemical treatment? All of the above is so important. With some termites baits would be ineffective because drywood and dampwood termite colonies are inside the wood, not in the ground.

Wood destroying insects such as dry wood termites, powder post beetles, and wood borers are most effectively treated by using the tenting and fumigation method. For the past few years baiting has been used for treating subterranean termites.
Understand baiting for termites is like going fishing. The only way to catch a fish is to use a good bait so the only way to get rid of termites by baiting is to use a good bait and even then it is a miss or hit situation, if the termite does not take the bait then
all is in vain.

Again, ask for credentials and certifications. See if the pest control company is a member of any program such as BB, pest control or Chamber of commerce associations. Again installation is the key to thesuccess or failure when treating termites.