Why You Need Termite Protection Right Now

Why You Need Termite Protection Right Now

In February, we talked about getting ready for spring termites. Spring is when most subterranean termite colonies send out male and female winged reproductives to mate and establish new nests. We talked about the role moisture plays in attracting swarmers to a home and gave steps you could take to make your home less attractive. Then, in March, we talked about Termite Awareness Week and shared facts that property owners in Tennessee should know about termites, especially after the mild winter we just had. Now let’s talk about what you need to know in May that will help you protect your property.

The warm and humid weather of May makes it the perfect time for termites to be active. These are cold-blooded insects that slow down when it’s cold and speed up when it’s warm. They’re also moisture pests that need a lot of moisture to survive and thrive. May gives them the perfect conditions to grow their populations and establish new colonies quickly. If you didn’t take the steps we suggested in February and March, your home is at an even greater risk of a termite infestation. And the worst part is, you’re not likely to know it.

By nature, subterranean termites are sneaky. Even if we were to explain how to detect the presence of these wood-destroying pests, you may still not be able to see the warning signs. Subterranean termites are able to elude detection from even qualified professionals such as Certified Home Inspectors. And even an experienced termite control professional can miss termites during an inspection. Sometimes a professional has to get into a crawl space and use a flashlight and a mirror to check every cinder block pier under a home. If every detail of an inspection is not performed perfectly, termite shelter tubes, evidence of swarmers, and other subtle signs can be missed.

At Russell’s Pest Control, we employee highly-trained, certified professionals who do a thorough job of inspecting homes for termites, but they don’t have to with the Sentricon® System with Always Active™. Sentricon® with Always Active™ takes all the guesswork out of detecting and eliminating subterranean termites. Like its name implies, this system is always active. When termites come to feed, this system immediately begins the process of using worker termites to eliminate the colony that sent them. When they take the bait, your certified termite control professional will be able to easily tell.

Don’t let subterranean termites destroy your property, get your termite protection in place today.

Why Every Home Needs A Termite Inspection

Why Every Home Needs A Termite Inspection

Termites. They are called “silent destroyers,” and for good reason. These pesky little critters can sneak into a home and start eating away at the insides of walls and support structures for months, and even years, without anyone in the home being aware of their presence. And if you think you would know if termites were eating away at your home, consider the fact that termites avoided detection in the White House. Yup. With all the security, and comings and goings in the White House, termites got into the walls and ate away at the West Wing for years, until the day termite swarmers were found crawling around on the interior walls, a mere 30 feet from the Oval Office!

Because termites are so sneaky, they end up costing property owners in the United States alone around $5 billion a year. They are simple organisms that do not require sleep, therefore, they are able to devour the wood of a home, nonstop, 24 hours a day. This is why it is so important to get a termite inspection and find these home-destroying insects before they have a chance to do irreversible damage.

How termites operate:

Termites build underground nests, and termite workers venture out from the nest in order to find food to feed the colony. Termites feed on the cellulose found in wood, leaves and soil. As they search, they do not care if they find a tree, a pile of leaves, or your home. And if they are able to get into your home through a crack in your foundation or walls, they will travel underneath floors and behind walls until they reach the wood they need to survive. They will then travel back and forth to the colony through mud tubes that they build between the soil and your home. And they will establish new colonies within your walls.

When these colonies mature, is when termite swarmers (winged termites) are sent out. But these can also go undetected, since they are only outside the walls for about a half an hour before they mate and disappear again. In fact, the only clue they leave behind is their translucent wings, which they shed after mating.

Why a home inspection isn’t enough:

Certified home inspectors are trained to inspect a home to make sure it has no defects that would cause problems for the lender when a home is being sold. While they may detect signs of a termite infestation, it is unlikely. However, professional inspectors that are specifically educated on detecting termite activity can tell if these silent destroyers are present.

Why choose Russell’s:

Our pest control technicians have a Category 7 certification (General Pest and Rodent Control AND Wood-Destroying Organisms). These highly educated technicians are specifically trained to know the signs of a termite infestation with the use of specialized equipment.

With experience in detecting and eliminating termites since 1971, you can trust Russell’s Pest Control.

Cold Winter Weather Makes Home More Vulnerable To Termite Infestations

Cold Winter Weather Makes Home More Vulnerable To Termite Infestations

Oh, the weather outside may be frightful, but what is going on inside the walls of unprotected homes can be even more frightful. Snow, ice, and wind are notorious for leaving properties damaged come springtime, and this can leave homes vulnerable to the most destructive pests. Namely, termites. This article will alert you to the property threats that are posed by these wood-eating insects, and will give several do-it-yourself tips on how to detect and prevent an infestation.

Termites, which cost property owners more than $5 billion annually, are known as “silent destroyers” because of their ability of chew through many parts of your home completely undetected. Things like wood, flooring, and even wallpaper can be destroyed silently without anyone even noticing, until it is too late. And most homeowners insurance policies do not cover termite damage.

In springtime, termites will come out of hiding in search of mates and to find new structures in which to establish new colonies which, if we are unlucky, may be our homes. Unfortunately, these insects can be hard to spot, so it is important for homeowners to know the signs of termite activity. The following is a list of the three top things to look out for:

  1. Discarded wings. These are usually found near closed windows, doors, and other access points. When termites swarm to start a new colony, they twist off their wings upon landing, because they will never use those wings again. These wings will be white in color and uniform in size.

  2. Mud Tubes. Where the ground meets your home, these pencil-sized mud tubes will be found if you have termites. To find out if these tubes are actively being used, break off a piece and then check it a few days later. If it has been repaired, you are looking at an active termite infestation.

  3. Wood damage. Termites chew through wood, leaving behind long grooves. Over time, these grooves weaken the wood and cause costly structural damage.

Some valuable tips to prevent a termite infestation:

  • Store firewood at least 20 feet from your home, and up off the ground.

  • Create an 18-inch gap around your home between soil and wood by using crushed rock or some other material.

  • Make sure there is no standing water near your home.

  • Replace weather-stripping and repair loose mortar around your foundation.

  • Repair soffits and rotted roof shingles

  • Repair any water leaks inside and outside your home.

  • Keep your home, especially the basement, attic, and crawl spaces, dry and well ventilated.

If you have done all you can to keep these home-destroying pests out, but you are seeing the signs of an infestation, consider having a termite inspection done. The sooner you get these creatures out of your home, the less cash you will have to shell out for repairs. Here at Russell’s Pest Control, we’ve been helping folks keep their homes pest free since 1971 and our pest control technicians have a Category 7 certification, which is classified as Industrial, Institutional, Structural Pest Control and Health-Related Pest Control. If you have a problem with termites, you can trust Russell’s Pest Control to give you industry-leading service and guaranteed protection.

 

When Should You Get A Termite Inspection?

When Should You Get A Termite Inspection?

When you’re standing on the side of the highway and your car is in a ditch, it is too late to get car insurance. If the doctor comes out with clipboard in hand and tells you you’re going to need a series of operations to correct some complicated abnormality in your body, it is too late to get medical insurance. You’re probably thinking you see where this article is going, but give it a chance. You will be surprised where we end up.

This case can be made for any unexpected disaster from hurricanes to floods and house fires to burglary. When you’re standing in the wreckage of an unexpected event, it is easy to see what you should have done to protect yourself. But there is a difference between termite protection and a termite inspection. We firmly believe that every home and business should have some form of termite protection; we are, after all, a pest control company. But not everyone needs a termite inspection. Here are the cases when a termite inspection is needed.

Selling A Home

If you’re planning on selling your home, you should make sure to get a termite inspection. Termites have been known to evade detection by certified home inspectors. These silent invaders live inside the wood of a home and often leave few signs of their presence. Make sure you have a pest professional do a certified termite inspection to prevent being left holding the bill. Like in the examples above, if the real estate agent for your buyer hands you a paper that shows that they found termites in your house, it is too late; but if you find the termites first, you can have the problem fixed and put the costs into the asking price of your home.

Buying A Home

If you’re planning on buying a home, the last thing you want to do is inherit someone else’s problem. When the papers are signed and you move in, it is too late. Don’t get stuck holding the bill. Make sure you get a certified termite inspection done on that new home before you finish the deal.

When You Suspect Termites

If you’re noticing that the fence in your backyard, the back deck, the patio, or any other wood item on your property has been chewed by termites, it is time to get a termite inspection. This damage will look like someone took a wood carving tool to these wood items.

If you notice a swarm of insects or shed wings around your home, it is time to get a termite inspection. Outside swarms are a warning of a potential infestation and inside swarmers are a sign that you have unknowingly harbored termites for years. In either case, it is important to get a professional involved.

Don’t wait till you are sitting in the middle of a disaster. Protect yourself with a certified termite inspection by calling us today. Here at Russell’s Pest Control we have the training and expertise to inspect and eliminate your termite issues quickly and discreetly.