Free Termite Inspection:
What to Expect when We’re Inspecting
A pending free termite inspection often has people going to the internet to look at the YouTube videos of termite inspections and damages. This can be very misleading because only the worst inspections end up making it to YouTube. In those videos you may see a man poking a screw driver through the wood siding or my favorite, a guy getting soldier termites to attack his finger. It’s a great video, but the termites in that case are Formosan termites in Maui. They have become so advanced that damage is evident along the sides of the structures. That is a very extreme case in a transit station and is not a residential inspection.
Residential inspections will start with an outdoor inspection for points of entry. The termite inspector is like a detective or a hunter, he is looking for tracks. Termites are ground dwellers and have been for hundreds of thousands of years. Their flesh is soft and must be protected from the elements. Too much sun or heat can kill a termite so they construct tunnels out of mud and excrement so they can travel safely.
The termite inspector will also look for possible points of entry such as foundation cracks and pipes that enter the house. Ground cover may be an attraction to the insects; this includes debris from fallen trees, wood mulch and lumber or firewood that is improperly stored or stacked close to the home. These present clues to where the termites may enter and gives the inspector a place to start looking once inside the home.
Once inside the inspector will want to check under sinks and around plumbing where leaks can moisten wood and entice damaging insects. The crawlspaces, basement and attic will be inspected and any areas that have seen water damage should bear closer examination. A roof leak may have been repaired in the past but left water damaged wood that is an attraction for damp wood termites. Drywood termites often nest in attics. It is important to know what type of termites you have before treatment.
Once the inspection is over, your professional will provide you with a complete list of what was inspected as well as any areas that were inaccessible. The report will include a plan of action to remove, treat and protect against termite damage. If you don’t have any termites or damage then that is wonderful; but a barrier should be installed to make sure termites do not infest at a later date. Termites in Glendale include subterranean, dampwood and Drywood termites. Dampwood termites are most commonly found in wooded areas; they like to infest wood that is already rotting from damp weather or leaks. Arizona residents should have a termite inspection at least once a year, but high risk areas should be inspected more often.
Tempe AZ –
Termite Control Arizona
1753 E BROADWAY, STE #101
TEMPE, AZ 85282
(480) 630-3019
