“You’ve got termites.” Three little words that no homeowner ever wants to hear. Termites are tremendously destructive, causing around $5 billion in structural damage every year in the United States. You can avoid extensive termite damage, but the longer you wait, the more costly it may become. Fortunately, taking a proactive approach to termite protection done by a termite treatment company can reduce your chances of having a termite infestation.
About Termite Inspections
Read more about termite inspection costs, termite control and how to treat termites if they manage to infest your home.
The first step to avoiding the termite problem is to have your home regularly inspected for termites. And because the termite festival is open 24/7 and can strike your home at any time, it is recommended that you have regular termite inspections annually or at any time you suspect the termite activity. There are several types of wood-destroying bugs that can infest your home, so you need to be sure if whether termites do it or not. The average cost for termite inspections is approximately $100, although most termite control companies or local pest control services offer a free termite check. Many termite treatment professionals now have equipment such as moisture meters, IR thermometers, and tailor-made termite detection systems to ensure that they do not miss anything as they inspect your home.
Specialists from termite companies will come to your house, inspect the home, prepare a Termite Inspection Report and Termite Service Agreement, and answer any questions you have about termite control. A Termite Clearance Letter is a report submitted by a licensed termite inspector that certifies if the property is free from active termites after a real estate inspection.
Note: If an inspection is for real estate transactions, there are usually associated fees, as evidence of wood-destroying insects is included, and the inspector must submit a formal report with details. If a home inspector or property appraiser finds a termite issue, buyers and lenders will first require them to buy a termite bond to proceed with the purchase. Most homeowners’ insurance policies do not cover termite damage because it is considered part of the homeowner’s standard maintenance to inspect for and prevent termite infestations. Ask for the local regulations from your real estate agent.
What to look for during termite inspection?
Termite inspectors look at areas with dry rot, wood-to-soil contact, and water damage wherever there is wood in your entire house, with a particular interest. Depending on the types of termites present in your area, there are different signs to look for to identify termite presence. Some of the signs include:
Mud tubes: Subterranean termites require contact with the soil and most nests in the ground. They then build highway-like mud tubes connecting the subterranean termite nests to a wood food source like wood debris. In one colony, underground colonies can become massive, teeming with millions of termites. These mud tubes are an unmistakable sign of termite infestation, but their absence does not mean a low risk of termites. On the other hand, Southeastern drywood termites do not require contact with the ground and can live and eat anywhere with low moisture content.- Damaged wood: wood with termite damage may look destroyed at structural joints, and if you tap damaged wood, you may hear a hollow noise. You can further inspect damaged wood by scanning the surface with a screwdriver or knife, exposing the termite tunnels. Subterranean termites dig tunnels in the wood that run parallel to the grain, giving the wood surface a “rubbed.”
- Termite droppings: appear to look like sawdust and a good indicator of the presence of termites
- Wing piles: after finding a new home and mating, the termite swarms shed their wings, leaving them scattered around, sometimes in banks.
- Buckling or bulging paint, or brittle drywall: these, too, maybe signs that termites have invaded your home. True to their names, Dampwood termites are like wood rich in moisture. For termite prevention, inspectors may find leaks or moisture-ridden areas that you can seal off quickly.
Signs of termites can be hard to see. And often, as these signs have been spotted, termites may already do extensive damage. That’s why it’s essential to have a professional termite control inspect your home. Trained technicians from pest control companies know which types of termites are in your area, what signs of termites to search for and exactly where to look for them.
Termite Treatments
The entire termite treatment costs between $200 and $850 for residential treatment if you have an active termite infestation. The home’s entire footprint must be treated by drilling and inserting products such as liquid termiticide into your home’s slab or foundation to eliminate these pests. If you choose Total Termite Pest Control for your Termite Inspection and Termite Activity, we will create a treatment plan according to your needs. If Termites are not found, our termite experts and exterminators will recommend a termite treatment process to help secure you from the financial impact that potential future Termite infestations may have.
For most homeowners, the presence of termites can be frightening and stressful. Luckily, you can trust us. Contact Total Termite Pest Control today for termite control services.