Signs of Termites

Since Arizona is an ideal habitat for termites, as we mentioned above, it’s wise to be wary of signs that a termite colony has entered your home. Unfortunately, termites are rarely visible creatures, it’s uncommon to see them out in the open. So, how might you notice that termites are in your home? Here are a few key identifiers that you can keep an eye out for:

Mud tunnels: Subterranean termites utilize mud tunnels to get from the base of their colony (which is usually buried in the ground) to their food source (which may be the wood structure of your home). These mud tunnels will look like dirt tubes that are about the same size as a pencil in diameter. Subterranean termites rely on these tunnels to retain moisture as they travel to and from the core of the colony — they can’t survive when exposed to dry air for long.

Shed wings: If you notice that there are dozens of wings laying around, then a colony of termites just settled in your home. When colonies split, a group of colonist termites will grow wings and fly to a new location to populate a new colony. It’s best to treat for termites right away, before they become a risk for your home.

Termite droppings: Termites produce droppings which they force through small holes in their tunnel structures. You may notice a tiny hole in a piece of lumber and a small stack of pellets piling up underneath that hole. That’s a tell-tale sign that you have termites running through your home.

Darkened wood: If you notice that your wood is discolored, termite tunnels may be to blame. Termite tunnels are grey and lackluster, unlike the rest of the surrounding wood.

Blistered laminate flooring: If you have laminate flooring that covers a wood sub-surface, termites could cause the flooring to blister. Since the termites will only consume the wood, not the laminate, they can create tunnels underneath laminate flooring, leaving a blistered empty space that usually squeaks when you step on it.

Bending or breaking wood structures: If you have severe termite damage, your wood may bend or break altogether. Termites can consume enough wood to cause structural damage to a home, which is why they’re such a nuisance.

Sagging floors: Similarly if you notice that your floors are sagging, or they’re more flexible than they ought to be when you walk across the surface, termites may be tunneling through your floor joists.

Now, you might think that you could hear a termite colony between your walls. Termites are nearly silent as they move, so it’s likely that you won’t ever hear termites that are in your home. Again, if you do suspect termites have penetrated your home, be sure to get in touch with us right away for a thorough inspection. Speaking of, here’s a bit more information about our termite inspections:

It All Starts With an Inspection

When you call on us, we’ll inspect your home before we get to work. We want to identify where your termite colony is thriving, and what species of termites you have in your home — there are two types of termites that thrive here in Arizona, subterranean termites and drywood termites. Both subterranean termites and drywood termites are a hazard to your home, since they consume wood. We’re always sure to inspect for both terite species, which means that we perform a inspection of both the interior and exterior of your home. Below is a brief overview of how we perform an inspection.

Inspecting Your Home’s Interior

Termites can make there way to any scrap of wood in your home. As such, it’s important to inspect every inch that we can reach. We use mirrors, high powered flashlights and a handful of other tools to check spaces around your home. We’ll run through the perimeter of your home, checking wall cavities where we can, and other spaces that are popular habitats for termites, including underneath bathtubs and sinks, in closets, and walls that are close to the ground (which can attract subterranean and drywood termites alike).

Inspecting Your Home’s Exterior

Since subterranean termites start their colonies outside of your home, it’s crucial to inspect its exterior, as well as its interior. We’ll inspect around the base of your home, as well as the facade of your house, looking for indications that termites have colonized.

Along with identifying and treating termites in your home, we’ll also let you know if we notice any wood that is highly susceptible to be attacked by termites. For instance, if you have wood that is in contact with the ground, wood that is saturated due to leaky plumbing, or loose wood around the property that can attract termites, we’ll let you know. We’ll also check for improper drainage and grading issues around your home, since moisture can collect around your property and attract termite colonies.

Our Treatments

Termidor is a brand name that surrounds a series of powerful products, including Termidor Dry and Termidor HE. Termidor Dry is utilized to treat termite infestations that already exist within your home. Termidor HE is utilized around the base of the home to provide lasting protection from termite infestations in the future.

Termidor® for Current Termite Infestations

Here’s what BASF has to say about their product: “Termidor Dry termiticide features a patented Microllose™-based formulation that can be applied with precision directly to termite galleries in wood, carton nests, or shelter tubes in or away from structures. It quickly kills drywood and subterranean termites and is transferred among termites via the Termidor Transfer Effect.”

So, what’s the Termidor Transfer Effect? Well, Termidor gains its potency from a delayed reaction in termites. Termites are actually attracted to Termidor, and they consume and transfer the substance to other termites in the colony. As termites transfer the termiticide to one another, the termiticide begins to take effect, and it wipes out the entire colony, including the queen and her eggs.

Termidor HE for Continual Protection

For continual protection from subterranean termites, Termidor HE is the obvious choice. Termidor HE can be applied by injecting the soil around your home with a liquid solution. This solution saturates the soil, affecting any current colonies that are nearby, and forming an effective perimeter to keep termites from making it into your home.

The Benefits of Termidor for Termite Treatment

Our Termidor applications provide a litany of benefits. As we mentioned, you won’t have to vacate your home for tenting and fumigation. That means no packing up the family and renting a hotel. No boarding the pets. No moving the plants. You won’t have to throw all the food you have in a cooler for three days.

Beyond that, Termidor is highly effective, and an in-ground treatment can last more than a decade. Termidor is convenient, efficient, long lasting, and with Arizona Termite Specialists, it’s affordable.

Tips for Keeping Termites Away

Once we’ve ridded your home of these pesky pests, you’ll never want them around again. To keep the risk of termite colonization low, follow these tips:

• Keep loose wood off the ground.
• Make sure that the wood structure of your home remains dry.
• Keep from building wood structures off the ground.
• If you have firewood or lumber, keep it elevated off the ground, and away from walls.
• Have your home regularly inspected by a trained professional.

Count on Arizona Termite Specialist for Your Termite Treatment

With Arizona Termite Specialist, termite control is simple. Reach out to us to schedule an appointment for an inspection, and we’ll be treating your termites in no time. If you’re curious about our services, or if you’re ready to get started, feel free to give us a call. Again, we proudly serve folks throughout Phoenix, Scottsdale, Cave Creek, Gilbert, Mesa, and Peoria.