How much damage can termites do to your home? | According to statistics, termites cause $5 billion dollars in damage annually. Unfortunately, without annual inspections, termites can go unnoticed for years while continuing to damage your home. In addition: | | | - Most homeowner policies do not cover termite damage.
- Termites cause damage in hidden areas, behind walls, in crawl spaces
and basements. - Many pest management professionals offer annual inspection services
and treatment guarantees. - The best solution to potentially avoid termite damage is a professional, thorough annual inspection to detect termites and eliminate them around
your home.
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What is the difference between termites and ants with wings? | Termites are often mistaken for flying ants, but there are noticeable differences: | | | Ants antennae are elbowed with thin, narrow waists, termites have straight antennae and thick waists. Termite wings are unique because the front and the hind wings are the same size, ant wings are usually longer in front and shorter in back.
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Can I tell if I have termites in or near my home? There are no warning signs.
Unless there are obvious signs of active infestations, you probably won’t detect termites because they feed hidden from view. Signs include: | | | termites tend to “swarm” during the day and often after rainfall, discarded wings on window sills or along walls, baseboards and floors that sound hollow when tapped, cracked or bubbling paint mud tubes and mud protruding from cracks between boards, beams and/or foundation.
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How can termites enter my home?
Termites require approximately 1/64 of an inch opening to enter your home. In addition, termites follow tree roots and construction conduits as footers and pipes to gain entry into homes. Expansion joints, foundation cracks, tiny gaps around plumbing and electrical service entries are all opportunities for termites. What can I do to help prevent termites in my home? | The best control of Subterranean Termites is prevention. The best time to provide protection against termites is during the planning and construction of a building. Prevention should include: | | | Removal of all stumps, roots, wood, and similar materials from the building site before construction is begun. Removal of all form boards and grade stakes used in construction. - Repair leaky pipes and dripping faucets. Be careful not to over-water near
your house. Make sure downspouts carry water away from your house. Trim shrubs that are blocking your foundation vents. During the summer, the average Air Conditioning unit discharges 10 – 12 gallons of water daily. The discharge pipe coming from the unit should be carried away from the home and not allow the water to collect near the home. Have the builder perform a Pre-Treat on your home as the structure is
being build. (For Crawl Space Only)
Provide by excavation, sufficient space for application of proper control measures and inspection by a person to all crawl space areas of a building. A minimum clearance between soil and bottom of the floor joists shall be twelve (12) inches, such clearance for subsills or supporting girders shall be eight (8) inches. If the foundation footings are less than twelve (12) inches below edges of joists, subsills, or supporting girders, a sufficient bank of soil shall be left adjacent to footings for support purposes.
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What is a Pre-Treat and why is it important?
Your home is usually the most expensive investment/purchase you ever make.
Termites cause over 5 billion dollars worth of property damage every year and constitute one of the biggest threats your home will ever face. Termites tunnel from their colony
in the soil constantly searching for food and water. They will follow cracks, crevices
or plumbing lines into your home. They only require an opening 1/64-inch wide to squeeze into your home. A pre-treat should be conducted on any new home/structure that is being built. The homeowner/contractor/builder should contact the pest control company to conduct
a pre-treatment on the structure. The soil is treated to protect the home against termites. A yearly inspection is then the best investment. What are the various types of termite treatments available? | There are several termite control products available today. | | | The most effective treatment for termites is a liquid treatment called Termidor. Termidor is made from a revolutionary non-repellent, “undetectable” liquid. Termidor has consistently proven to be the fastest and most effective at eliminating termites in and around structures, and Termidor is proving to be equally effective in keeping termites away. Ongoing field trials by the United States Department of Agriculture show no signs of termites at all study sites more than ten years after treatment with Termidor – results no other termite control product can match. A termite treatment using Termidor requires the technician to drill the foundation. Another effective treatment for termites is using Termite Bait Stations. The bait system will be installed in the soil around the perimeter of your home and it is checked regularly for termite activity.
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How do rats, mice and rodents find their way into a house? | | - Rats, mice, rodents and other pests can enter a home through tiny gaps between plumbing pipes and walls. Improperly sealed attics or crawl spaces can become access points for spiders, roaches and other pests.
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I have treated my pets for fleas, however, they just keep coming back. How can I get rid of the fleas? | The following steps should be taken to overcome fleas before a Flea Treatment: | | | - Have pets treated by a vet
- Wash or dispose of all pet bedding.
- Vacuum carpets, rugs, cushions, floors and place the bag from vacuum cleaner in a sealed plastic bag and dispose in a covered receptacle.
- Cover aquariums and turn off air pumps.
- Remove any birds.
- Clean around dog house and other outside areas where pets have access.
- For maximum effectiveness, keep the lawn cut regularly.
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Occasionally I see roaches, but I keep my house clean. Why do I see roaches? | | - Roaches are often associated with poor sanitation and squalor; however, roaches are adaptable to almost any environment. They seek three criteria for homesteading: food, water, and harborage. Any home or business qualifies. Roaches carry disease pathogens which include: salmonella, streptococcus, E. coli, dysentery, hepatitis B, plague, and cholera. Decaying roach corpses have been linked as a cause of allergies and acute respiratory disease among children.
- Do not leave dirty dishes in sick as this attracts roaches. Clean homes thoroughly, seal as many cracks and crevices inside as possible. Keep food products stored properly and clean up crumbs, spills, throw away paper sacks and keep the trash carried out. It is important to not let these pests get heavily populated before taking appropriate action.
- Roaches love cardboard boxes and paper bags. Inspect all cellulose containers that you bring home from the grocery store – or avoid storing these containers in your home altogether.
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| Featured Services Residential Commercial Industrial Positive Control of Termites - Free Termite Inspections
- Termite Pre/Post Treatment
Wood Decay Positive Control of Pest’s and Rodents - Roaches
- Bed Bugs
- Fleas
- Ants
- Ticks
- Spiders
- Garden Bugs
- Lady Bugs
- Moths
- Mosquitoes
- Pill Bugs
- Centipedes
- Millipedes
- Scorpions
- Powder Post Beetles
- Bees
- Wasps
- Hornets
- Rats, mice, and snakes, etc.
- Wildlife Replacement
Maintenance Services - Deck Maintenance
- Installation of Access Doors
- Installation of Moisture
- Barriers Installation of Temperature Vents
- Installation of Foundation Jacks
Products - Ant Granules
- Snake Away
- Final Rodenticide
- Ditrac Cake
- Glue boards
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