Termite inspections, termite treatment and ultimately, termite control, is something that is most new homeowners have little to no idea about. Termite inspections, termite treatment and ultimately, termite control, is something that is most new homeowners have little to no idea about. To make things even more difficult, many people have never even heard of termites. When homeowners contact a Phoenix pest control company, a Phoenix termite control specialist should go over the details of a comprehensive termite treatment plan thoroughly but here are a few things you can expect.

Inspection

The first thing a termite exterminator in Phoenix should do after discussing a plan with you is to perform a complete inspection of your home. As a pest control expert, he should inspect both inside and out, upstairs and down. He may use a small flashlight or other tools to reveal hidden damage or illuminate dark areas. A putty knife, for instance, can help an inspector determine where wood has rotted or where it has been weakened by insects.

Since termite infestations generally begin outside in the soil, he should also inspect the property surrounding the home. He may look through the wood pile, along the foundation and at the entry points for water lines. Since termite often tunnel at ground level, he may have to go through your crawl space as well, if you have one. Sometimes termites will find a small crack in the concrete slab and enter into the home unseen, and the inspection is based on finding mud shelter tubes left behind by the termites.

The inspection may take a while. It can take from 45 minutes to more than an hour depending on the size of the home. Oh and by the way, for the sake of this conversation, termite inspections mentioned here are not for the sale of the property. Additional information is necessary when it comes to the sale of property, and reports called WDIIR’s Wood Destroying Insect Infestation Reports are generally required to complete a sale. These reports are not part of a general termite inspection, when you call us to come to your home to inspect for termites.

Reporting

Your Phoenix termite inspector should give you a full report of his findings. He should tell you of any insect activity that he has seen, where it was located and how extensive the damage. He may also point out other issues he has noted in your home. Standing water, for instance, can be a sign of trouble. Any accumulated moisture is an attractive (water) food source for termites.

Recommendations

Your inspector should make recommendations on what pest control services will best suit your home’s termite situation. He may also give you advice on how to correct moisture issues and other issues that contribute to insect activity.

You should ask questions until you have a very good understanding of what your home needs. Don’t be afraid to ask for clarification or explanation on any of his recommendations. His recommendations should include pricing options and payment plans as well as treatments options.

Treatment

Generally an inspection will be done prior to a termite treatment of any kind. All inspectors are required to generate a written proposal on a form approved by Arizona Dept of Agriculture Office Of Pest Management that will give you the specifics of the original proposed treatment. Your Termite control technician will then apply treatments as indicated on the approved proposal. Some people may say they don’t want a contract, however in Arizona, if you are not offered a written proposal (contract) for your termite treatment – choose someone else – it’s the law. Oh, by the way, giving you a price over the phone is also – against the law, as professional termite companies – we all know this, and yet many still quote over the phone – if I were you – I would choose somebody else. I know everybody kind of wants to know, “HOW MUCH”, but frankly the answer is, unless I inspect it, how could I possibly do anything but guess? Don’t gamble your house on a guess, get the inspection so you get the right treatment!

Treatment methods vary depending on whether or not there is evidence of an active infestation. One common treatment is to trench and rod the soil along the soil line of the foundation. Concrete slabs are to be drilled every 12”, although new treatments are coming that will change these requirements. Also, new technologies and chemical formulations are continually being introduced to professional Termite companies, such as dry formulations that are injected directly into active subterranean termite shelter tubes, new super concentrated formulas, new foam applications and even monitor and bait stations are available.

Peace of Mind

When it comes to your largest investment in most cases – your home, don’t gamble on termite control. Make sure you understand what you are getting, and who you are getting it from – not all Phoenix Termite control companies are the same. Arizona termite control is really about being thorough, and in today’s economy, many companies are competing with low prices, number of years for a warranty, spot treatments, etc… It is important to realize that Effective, long term termite treatments require hard work. The Termite companies who only focus on low prices, quick jobs, spot treats and promises of 5 to 10 year warranties are looking to produce a large volume of work, and their focus is not on quality, long term control, just on landing jobs.

Peace of Mind for you, the customer, should be, will my house be protected, will this guy be thorough, do a great job for me, leave a clean work site and present me with a termite treatment that will be effective and long term or will he become a family member and basically move in with you, because he is at your home so frequently that he is now considered the unwanted guest. It is important that you make the right choice when it comes to protecting your home from termites.