Termite infestations can creep up on you and stay undetected for years. After all, the wood starts to show signs that termites are present only after it has been thoroughly damaged. At that point, the repair bills can go up into the thousands. In order to prevent this, many pest control companies offer a termite inspection service which can detect an infestation early on, before a lot of the damage has occurred. Here’s what you need to know about this service:
What does an inspection look like
Setting up a termite inspection is pretty easy. All you have to do is call a few pest control companies, get some estimates, and then pick the best one. Some companies may require you to do some prep work before the inspection process, such as clearing up the attic, garage or basement so that the specialist can have access to vulnerable areas. Then, once the inspection starts, it will take about one hour before it is complete, depending on the size of your home and the accessibility to vulnerable areas. At the end of the inspection, the pest control specialist will give you a breakdown of what he found and provide you with a quote in case an infestation has been detected.
Signs that inspectors are looking for
Termites leave several telltale signs when they infest a building. If you are dealing with subterranean termites, there will be mud tubes. These termites cannot travel outside of their colony out in the open, because they will dehydrate and die. To circumvent this condition and reach wood that is otherwise inaccessible, the termites will build tubes of mud from the ground to the wood. Drywood termites on the other hand build their colonies inside the wood itself, so they do not use mud tubes. Instead, they can be detected by the presence of frass, which is basically termite waste. Pest control specialists will also look for damaged wood, buckling paint and evidence of swarmers. They may also use special devices that can detect termites inside the wood using sound or through other means.
If you would like to know more about what the termite inspection process entails, or if you would like to set up an appointment for a termite inspection, contact us today. We will gladly answer any questions that you may have.