Termite inspections: Everything you need to know

Termite inspections are important for two reasons: to assess the risk of termite damage to your property, and to identify any existing termite activity. If you’re buying a property, most lenders will require a termite inspection prior to approving the loan. Even if you’re not planning to sell your home, it’s still a good idea to have an inspection every few years.

Termite damage can be costly to repair, and once termites have infested a home, they’re very difficult to get rid of. If you think you may have termites, it’s important to contact a pest control professional as soon as possible. They can perform an inspection and let you know if there’s anything to worry about.

If you’re a homeowner, the thought of termites invading your home is probably enough to send a shiver down your spine. These destructive little pests can cause serious damage to your property, and they’re not always easy to spot. That’s why it’s important to have a professional carry out a termite inspection at least once a year.

But what exactly is involved in a termite inspection? And what should you expect from the process? Read on to find out everything you need to know about termite inspections.

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What is a termite inspection?

A termite inspection is basically a check for signs of termite activity on your property. This usually involves checking around the perimeter of your home for any mud tunnels or other signs of infestation, as well as looking for any damage to your home’s structure.

termite inspectors will also usually check inside your home, in areas such as the attic and crawl spaces. They may also use special equipment, such as thermal imaging cameras, to look for termites in hard-to-reach places.

What should you expect from a termite inspection?

A good termite inspection should be thorough and cover all potential areas where termites might be present. The inspector should also be able to give you advice on how to prevent termites from attacking your property in the future.

If you’re having a routine inspection carried out, it’s generally best to be present during the process. This way, you can ask the inspector any questions you might have and get a better understanding of what they’re looking for.

If the inspector does find signs of termites on your property, they’ll usually recommend a course of treatment to get rid of them. This might involve using pesticides or baits, or it could mean calling in a professional exterminator.

Remember, if you suspect you have termites, it’s important to act fast. The sooner you deal with the problem, the less damage they’ll be able to do to your home.

Free termite inspections from Terminix

Although prices and costs for termite examinations are generally different from those of other companies, firstTermite Inspections are FREE. Keep the house clean and free of termites should be part of daily home maintenance. The termites have been proven to be damaging and will often be costly and will require extensive repairs to the home. Is there something better than that? Several termite inspection companies, including Terminix, give homeowners free termite inspection services. Terminix offers free termite inspections to your home to determine any existing termites. Terminix provides treatment options to meet any termite problem.

How to prepare for a termite inspection?

During a termites visit ask your inspector for advice on preparing for the inspection. A termite inspector can visit garage and exterior walls, garage crawl spaces, toilets and other areas of a house. Moving household goods to allow easy access from walls of garages. Moving items from the floor in a garage will enable the occupant to see what the wall has with the floor. Expansion joints in garages provide access for termites. Under a house. If your foundation was raised, a building inspector could inspect your home. The inspector has to go into the crawl space often from the interior walls.

What happens during inspection?

The termite inspector will spend around two to four hours examining your house. This is obviously different depending on your property. The inspector will inspect the exterior and inside of your property checking for the presence of termite infestation, such as droppings and a broken wing. Inspectors will check the interiors and walls of your cabinetry.

Do a little bit of Rearranging

Anything stored under your sink or bathroom sink will need to go into a new area to allow the inspector to inspect the water source for termites. Move everything you store inside of your garage at least 2ft from your wall. If something has been placed in the walls of your residence, they must also be removed from the walls.

How can I prevent future termite treatment?

Once inspections have been completed, inspectors will notify you of the findings. If there is no infestation, a pest control agent can recommend prevention of the disease. Alternatively, he/she could help prevent the spread of termites by following some of the following methods:

Get rid of excess moisture

Repair leaky faucets as quickly as they can, and avoid water accumulation on your walls or foundations. Keep your gutter clean and then re-route the water out of the house. Keep your ground a grade to prevent water entering your foundation.

Maintaining Landscaping Clean

Keep wood debris away from your house and remove old stump and dead trees from the property. Make sure that wood and soil are not tied to your home or your fence. Trim trees to prevent termites from getting into homes.

Make It Easy to Access the Attic

All obstructions to the entryway to a garage must be removed prior to inspection. It is important for inspectors to enter the attic and ensure that nothing falls from the attic while they are working.

Clear the Crawl Space

When the house sits on an elevated base the inspector could easily access the basement area. Clear the opening, put away anything blocking the entry and keep everything in the crawl area safe.

Repairing Your Roof and Attic As Soon As There’s An Issue

Breaking roof tiles or attic doors can expose wood beams in the attic and allow termites to easily find the room.

Saying No to Cardboard

Cardboard boxes inside your basement and house can be sources of termite food.

Mud Tubes

Another obvious sign an exterminator can detect termites are mud tubes. They might be found on a foundation, near pipe, on a crawlway in an attic or on other entranceways into a home. Often known as shelter tubes, mud tubes are like covered roads termites travel in open, exposed spots like concrete footers. They cannot overcome the obstacles and build highways over it to get there. Mud tubes are made from soil, wood, cellulose and particulates of various shapes. Termites dehydrate quickly, which requires a protective enclosure to maintain humidity levels needed to live.

Wood in your landscape

Though not a primary indicator for finding termites in homes it’ll certainly be an important step in your extermination process. The idea here would be termite infestations in a house near your house. Wood mulch on the base of your foundation is wood mulch. Wood mulch can be — Termites have eaten them. They also use it for their protection and moisture cover as they munch their way closer to their home. Termite can smell nothing but wood. However, the people who come upon him take the path he has taken.

Evidence of Swarmers

Despite there being several different varieties of termites in the United States, the most common subterranean termites are discussed here. Termite colonies form in existing nests or in nests. The system is straightforward: Establishment of successful colonials of termites produces adult males called alates in a short time. The alates fly into the wild in the spring and create a nest at the cool spring temperatures and humid air. Nests release alateat at once in swarming patterns that disperse rapidly.

The termite inspection process

It’s very simple for me to do this. You can request the termite inspection online or by calling. Make an appointment with the technician that is licensed to work on your stay home to do a home inspection of the home, garage, and any structures that are needed for inspections. Some businesses require no preparation for your arrival but some like you will need preparing dozens of steps. If you have a garage or attic, you should always have the right tools available.

What termite inspectors look for?

Key evidence is needed by termite inspectors to conduct their investigations. This is a hint you could find yourself noticing. Sometimes, it can be difficult to tell if termites have invaded your house before the woodwork has been destroyed. This explains the importance of termite inspections.

Live termites

Live termites can be very hard to find. When it comes to a house that you find swarms of insects in it, try to tell the difference between ants. Subterranean termites are divided into four groups: worker, soldier and reproductive groups. The majority have creamy white colors. They all have wings that make reproduction appear like flying ants. How can you separate reproductive termites from flying ants? First, the wings. Termites are like flying ants, with two wings, one behind the other. Termites’wings are equal sized. Flyants’ wings are wider.

Wood damage

If someone knocks on their wood they hear nothing else. It’s an obvious indicator for termites. Termites cause severe damage to the woods structure resulting in rippled or crushed damage. You should be able inspect the wooden floor with a screw to uncover tunnels or to see the slits. Subterranean termite styles have distinctive characteristics and always create tunnels parallel to the wood grains in their habitat.

Buckling paint

The surface can be affected by subterranean termites. Termites in the wall can cause a leakage of water into paint and drywall. Eventually moisture under the paint surface starts buckling. You can paint for different reasons, so it doesn’t indicate termites.

Evidence of swarms

Whenever temperatures start warming subterranean termites start to swarm and they’re destined to build new colonies. When migrant workers are going to pastures, the wings are often removed, sometimes deposited into piles.

Frass

Frass means termites dropping. Frass is created by small and fine pellets in an oval shape. The termites are usually found in walls and floor frames.

Mud in construction joints

These termites have small, studiolike buildings that seal tiny gaps with dirt for better comfort. Even if the dirt on the ground is not visible, it could be deposited by termites.

What to look for during a termite inspection?

Different kinds of termites can show different symptoms depending upon where the termites are located. A few indications include:

Buckling or bubbling paint, or brittle drywall

It can also show that termites are entering your home. The signs of termites are sometimes not obvious. So, it’s crucial for termites to be treated and inspected every year. It’s easy for the technician to find out which termites are in your neighbourhood and how to spot their presence.

Damaged wood

Wood with termite damage can seem “crashed” on structural joints or when you touch damaged wood with screws or a knife you might feel a hollow sound. You can inspect damaged wood further by inspecting it with a screwdriver or knife. You should have your tree inspector check the damage.

Piles of wings

Termites are swarmed by termites after finding their new homes and spawning. They swarm away scattered, sometimes in piles.

Key areas to inspect

If we play Sherlock then there are other areas where we can check closely.

Firewood

If your home has some fire burning it provides an ideal spot for the cozy nights. Those piles make up a termite feast. You could definitely save firewood, but you have to keep it at least a foot away from where you want it.

Wooden structures

Wood-enclosed areas such as decks, sheds, carports, and trees are highly susceptible to termites. If you have not applied termites resistant products in your building, you should take more precautions.

Deadwood

If we leave tree limbs in the lawn it is likely termites have escaped. Removing trees will protect your property.

Wood fences

Termites may find their way through your fencing and begin to nibble and then take the path back to your house.

Professional pest control company

Pest control is the process of managing, and often eliminating, insects, rodents and other vermin from your home or business. A professional pest control company will have the knowledge and tools to safely and effectively get rid of pests, without putting your family or employees at risk. In addition to using pesticides and traps, a pest control company may also recommend changes to your property, such as sealing cracks and holes to prevent pests from entering. By working with a professional pest control company, you can rest assured that your pest problem will be taken care of quickly and efficiently.

You have termites. Three words nobody wants to hear. Termites are extremely destructive, causing about $5 billion in damage annually in the United States. Fortunately, taking the right precautions can reduce your chances of suffering a termite infestation

Termite damage has a devastating impact of around $50 billion annually across America. Take precautions and you should be careful to avoid catching termites. Get information on termites inspection costs. If termites have become common, it can be difficult to prevent them. Because termites eat all day every day, it is strongly recommended you inspect your property each and every month if there is any suspicious activity from termites in your area. What does termite testing cost? – What are the advantages? Terminix provides free termites inspection reports to all customers, if necessary.