Sometimes you're pretty sure you have a termite problem because you've seen the bugs or evidence of them in your home. Other times, you may not be sure if you have termites, but you worry about having them because of reports of heavy termite activity among your neighbors. The solution is to call a termite exterminator for an inspection and treatment if needed, because the pests can do a lot of damage if you ignore them. Here's what you can expect when you call in an exterminator.
Inspecting For Termites
The first step is to determine if you have an active infestation. The exterminator does this by looking for signs such as mud tunnels, deteriorated wood, moist wood, droppings, and termite bodies. He or she may drill tiny holes in various places to look for termites hiding in the walls. The inspection lets the exterminator know if you need to be treated for an infestation or just treated for prevention against termites in the neighborhood. Also, if you have termites, the exterminator will identify the type you have because they require different kinds of treatments.
Treating For Drywood Termites …show more content…
They hide deep inside the wood, so they can be difficult to get rid of. Your exterminator may use wood injections and liquid sprays to get rid of the pests, but he or she may also tent your home to fumigate it thoroughly. The advantage to doing this is that the chemicals can thoroughly saturate your home as the fumes waft into tiny crevices and float between walls. The drawback is that you and your pets must leave your home while it is being treated. However, you don't have to worry about the treatment harming anything in your home such as your electronics, dishes, or clothing. The chemicals dissipate in the air so there is no dangerous residue left