FAQ

Spring sometimes is when large numbers of subterranean winged termites, called “swarmers,” emerge within homes. In nature, termites swarm to disperse and start new colonies. Triggered by warmer temperatures and rainfall, the winged termites emerge from the colony and fly into the air.

Termites burrow in and begin reproducing immediately for colony production. The swarmers then drop to the bottom, shed their wings, combine off with a mate, and attempt to start new colonies within the soil. Few swarmers rising outdoors survive to start new colonies. Swarmers rising indoors are incapable of eating wood, seldom survive, and are best removed with a vacuum. They do, but, indicate that an infestation is present.

Discovering winged termites indoors whether subterranean or drywood almost perpetually indicates an infestation warranting treatment. Folks usually confuse winged subterranean termites with ants, which often swarm at the identical time of year. Termites can be differentiated by their straight antennae, uniform waist and wings of equal size. (Ants have elbowed antennae, constricted waists and fore wings that are longer than the hind wings.)

The swarmers are interested in light and are often seen around windows and doors. Termite swarmers emerging from tree stumps, woodpiles, and other locations out within the yard don’t seem to be essentially caused for concern and don’t essentially mean that the home is infested. On the opposite hand, if winged termites are seen rising from the bottom of a foundation wall or adjoining porches and patios, there’s a good chance the home is infested conjointly and treatment could be warranted.

They Look Different

Alternative signs of infestation for subterranean termites are earthen (mud) tubes (shown right) extending over foundation walls, support piers, sill plates, floor joists, etc. The mud tubes are sometimes concerning the diameter of a pencil, but sometimes can be thicker.

Termites construct these tubes for shelter as they travel between their underground colonies and also the structure. To facilitate verify if an infestation is active, the tubes might be broken open and checked for the presence of little, creamy-white employee termites.

If a tube happens to be vacant, it will not essentially mean that the infestation is inactive; termites usually abandon sections of tube while foraging elsewhere within the structure.

Termite-broken wood is usually hollowed out along the grain, with bits of dried mud or soil lining the feeding galleries. Wood damaged by moisture or alternative varieties of insects (e.g., carpenter ants) can not have this appearance. Occasionally termites bore tiny holes through plaster or drywall, in the course of bits of soil around the margin. Rippled or sunken traces behind wall coverings will additionally be indicative of termites tunneling underneath.

Oftentimes there can be no visible indication that the house is infested. Termites are cryptic creatures and infestations can go undetected for years, hidden behind walls, floor coverings, insulation, and alternative obstructions. Termite feeding and injury can even progress undetected in wood that is exposed as a result of the outer surface is typically left intact.

Confirmation of infestation often needs the keen eye of an experienced termite inspector. But, even the most experienced inspector can overlook infestation or harm that is hidden.

Ridding a home of termites requires special skills. Data of building construction is required to identify the essential areas where termites are possible to enter. Several of these potential points of entry are hidden and troublesome to access. Termite control also utilizes specialized equipment like masonry drills, pumps, large-capacity tanks, and soil treatment rods. A typical treatment could involve tons of gallons of a liquid pesticide, referred to as a termiticide, injected into the ground alongside the muse, beneath concrete slabs, and inside foundation walls.

In short, termite treatment is a job for professionals. An attainable exception would be if a mailbox post, sandbox or another little picket object not attached to the house was infested. “Do-it-yourself” products, sold to householders at retail stores or bought over the web, will seldom eradicate an existing termite downside.

These are advanced questions. The corporate ought to be licensed by the Department of Agriculture or agency responsible for regulating termite management within the state. Membership in their state pest control association and/or National Pest Management Association counsel the corporate is an established firm with access to technical and coaching info needed to do the duty properly. As with any service company, references are invaluable. Think about calling at least 2-three corporations. Requesting inspections and estimates from more than one can help verify the existence of a termite downside and permit you to match services.

Companies provide totally different types of treatment strategies and warranties. If termites happen to come back, most will retreat to the affected area(s) at no extra charge. Some corporations also can repair harm occurring beyond their treatment, although dating the onset of damage could be an onerous thing to see. In some cases, no warranty can be offered if wells, cisterns, heating ducts, drainage systems, or inaccessible crawl spaces make it not possible to treat in accordance with business standards.

Take your time when selecting an organization. Large subterranean Termite colonies eat wood rapidly; the quantity of injury caused by taking an additional day, week, or month to create an informed decision generally is insignificant. Avoid companies that strive to pressure you into signing a contract immediately with “specials” or scare tactics. The overall quality of the job depends less on the salesperson than on the individual who does the work. A safe and effective treatment needs an experienced technician, not somebody who was hired some weeks ago.

Subterranean termite colonies could contain tons of thousands of individuals, foraging in many different directions. For the house owner, localized or “spot” treatments are usually a bet except in cases of retreatment. Most reputable pest management firms can not warranty spot treatments, since it’s possible that termites can eventually find different points of entry into the structure.

Some companies might provide to do a therefore-called “perimeter” treatment, using one amongst the non-repellent liquid termiticides (Termidor, Premise, etc.). Sometimes this will involve an intensive application around the whole outside foundation wall of the building, and spot-treating any infested or high-risk interior areas. If the homeowner is considering such a treatment, they ought to inquire whether it will be in the course of a service agreement in case termites come. (Service renewal agreements sometimes state that if termites come back, the corporate will return and retreat the affected areas at no additional charge provided the renewal agreement is maintained.) It’s a bit of a gamble to purchase any termite treatment option without an ongoing service agreement.

Not necessarily. Unlike alternative services like plumbing or electrical work, termite management involves living creatures. The best treatments performed by knowledgeable companies might fail from time to time when termites notice their means through small, untreated gaps in the soil. While the intent is to establish a nonstop, impenetrable chemical barrier, this can be all however not possible to attain in actual application.

The secret is to hire a reputable pest control firm using experienced, conscientious technicians. Kilter Termite will come and retreat affected area(s) at no additional charge provided the service agreement is purchased and maintained.

Our rodent inspections are free. It is important we start with an inspection so we can give you an accurate estimate. Treatment cost depends on the size of your home and the level of infestation we find. A few other factors are if you have rats or mice, are they getting into your insulation and the areas around your home (standing water, construction, etc).

We have the best rodent warranty in the business: YOUR HOME IS UNDER WARRANTY FOR 2 FULL YEARS!

Your warranty is extendable.  We will contact you 30 days before your warranty expires and give you the option to extend it through our Pest + plan. This is a cost-effective way to control pests and rodents.

Not a lot, just make sure all the areas we need to treat are accessible and make sure any pets that may be stressed by our visit are in a safe area.

Yes, here are a few tidbits; make sure all food is completely sealed (no open chip bags or cereal boxes). Keep the inside and outside of your home clutter free (don’t make it easy for rodents to hide in or around your home). Use a trash bag for everything (even recyclables). Clean up and hose/wipe down any areas where pet food is frequently spilled (like around your dog food dish) Here is one super secret pest control tidbit – rodents do not like MINT so plant some around your home…it will help. If you have tried all of these and you still have rodents, let us solve the issue for you.

Our pest control chemicals and the barrier our technicians create generally last for 90-120 days.  Monthly or every other month service is normally overkill.  No need to spray extra chemicals around your home and pay for extra serivce if it’s not needed plus our Quarterly service plan comes with free services calls in-between visits so if you need us earlier then expected, just call us and we will come treat for no charge?

Our inspections are free. Treatment cost depends on the size of your home and the type of termites our inspector finds. 

We have an amazing warranty of 2 years. But the best part is, no matter what part of your home we originally treat, YOUR WHOLE HOME IS UNDER WARRANTY FOR 2 FULL YEARS!!

Yes! Let’s say we find and treat termites in your attic, but 8 months later you notice possible termite activity in your downstairs bathroom – No Problem, give us a call and we will come treat at no charge since your whole home is under warranty.

Your warranty is extendable.  We will contact you 30-90 days before your warranty expires and give you the option to extend it. If you decide to extend it, we will service another full inspection and re-treat any areas needed.

Not a lot! Just make sure all the areas we need to treat are accessible, and keep the kids and pets away from those areas for a couple hours after we finish.

We looked into Orange Oil several years ago but decided against using it.  It has a very short residual life, plus termites can easily detect it so they just move away or around it and re-establish their colony in another part of your home.

In most cases, our “Stay in Your Home” termite treatments have a 7 year residual life.

There are several differences, besides generally being more expensive a fumigation requires a ton of work by you before the tent even goes up.  Here is a sample: You must bag or remove all fresh or opened food, open all drawers, cabinets, closets and doors, remove all plants and pets, remove or bag all medicines and personal products, bag or remove anything that you may ever ingest in the future, clear a 2-3 foot area around the exterior of your home and soak it with water, arrange for your gas to be shut off the day before and re-connected the day after your fumigation, leave your home for 2-3 days and mentally prepare for a few broken roof tiles as workers must walk on your roof to properly hang the tent. All of this and the moment the tent is removed, there is nothing to stop flying termites from re-entering your home. Fumigations also do not treat subterranean termites which is one of the 2 types of termites CA homeowners usually deal with. Our “No Moving Out” termite treatment Kilguard covers both drywood and subterranean termites.

To prevent termite infestation, it's important to keep woodpiles away from your home, fix any leaks or moisture issues, and ensure proper ventilation in crawl spaces.

Some natural methods for termite control include using nematodes, orange oil, and boric acid. However, it's important to consult with a professional for effective and long-term solutions.

If you suspect a termite infestation, it's important to contact a professional pest control service for a thorough inspection and assessment to determine the best course of action.