Termite Inspections Are Key

The real estate market is back. Many people have been waiting for this time to buy or sell a home. If you’re one of them, don’t forget a termite inspection. Termites cause more damage than fires, floods, hurricanes, and tornadoes combined in the U.S. Keep in mind, homeowners insurance will cover all of these disasters … except for termites.

If you are selling your home, why not get a termite inspection and place it in your disclosure documents so prospective buyers can see it? Peace of mind can go a long way to helping your property stand out from the competition and getting yours sold. Next step? Protect your investment by giving Active Pest Control a call today. We have been protecting homes for over 25 years. We can do the same for you!

Realtors Value QualityPro Certification

From an original article in PestWorld

WDI inspections and the role that pest control plays in a green home are of such growing importance that they were among the main topics discussed recently at the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) Conference and Expo in Orlando, FL. Inspecting a home for wood-destroying insects is a standard part of most home sales. However, the rules and qualifications of who completes the NPMA-33 and HUD-NPMA-99 A & B forms vary by state. In many cases, the person filling out a WDI report does not have to be licensed or work for a pest management company.

Realtors’ reputations and referrals are built upon trust and strong relationships. When a sub-par inspection fails to find issues, it can reflect badly on the Realtor. Now more than ever, Realtors and home buyers are seeking professionals who meet QualityPro standards.

With this in mind, the Women’s Council of Realtors (WCR) and the NAR have been working to get the industry standards regarding home inspectors regulated.

Read the full article here.

Spring is the Perfect Time for Termite Inspections in Knoxville

What makes termites such a threat? It’s the nature of the beast, so to speak. Silently and unseen, termites burrow underground and make a path straight for your home where they can enjoy wood, moisture, and warmth. You probably will not see them or hear them, and you won’t realize they are in your home until you see a buckling wall, bulging floor, or dipping ceilings. There are a few subtle signs that they leave such as mud tubes around the outside of your foundation or in your basement, you may also see the discarded wings they leave behind after mating, but even these often go unnoticed by the untrained eye until support beams are weakened and damages become noticeable.

Understanding a little about termites is an important first step in preventing their damage. Subterranean termites are highly social and live in colonies beneath the ground sometimes numbering in the hundreds of thousands. These termites use an intricate system of tunnels to run from their colony to places where they can find wood to eat, especially wood that is decaying or water damaged. Once they gain access to your home, they will eat anything that contains cellulose and is fibrous. They can get into your floors, walls, ceilings, and into the support structures of your home.

While termites are a problem all year long, colonies are expanding and creating new colonies in the spring. In fact, this is when you are most likely to see the reproductive caste swarming to find and establish new colonies which is why it is so important to get an inspection in the springtime if you live in Knoxville. Inspections are truly the only sure way to stop an infestation and the damages that come with it.

When you call and schedule your free termite inspection with Active Pest Control, it’s quick, easy, and thorough. The Active Pest Control professionals can identify an infestation, safely eradicate any existing termite colonies, and advise you on how to protect your home from termites in the future. In fact, our termite control experts are certified operators of the Sentricon® System with Always Active Pest Control™ which utilizes discreet, non-toxic, baiting stations that are strategically placed around your home and monitored by our experts. Once ingested, this bait disrupts the termite’s ability to absorb nutrition and their ability to reproduce. The termites will ingest this bait, take it back to the colony, and share it – even with the queen. Not only will any existing colonies be eliminated, but this system will remain in place to discourage any future foraging termites from choosing your property to invade.

Remember, termites are elusive. Often, you don’t even know they are eating away the support structure of your home until damage has become severe. Obtain the peace of mind that can only come from ‘knowing’ that termites have not invaded your home by contacting Active Pest Control and scheduling your termite inspection today.

The Importance Of Termite Inspections In Knoxville Tn

By now, most everyone has heard about termites and the dangers they pose to homes and businesses. It is fairly common knowledge that these wood eating pests cause over $5 billion annually in repair and restoration costs to U.S. property; most of which is not covered by homeowner’s insurance. But some people do not realize why it is important to get a termite inspection. After all, you would know if you had termites! Right?

Wrong! Termites are called ‘silent destroyers’ after all. These elusive little pests can crawl into your home unnoticed and cause thousands upon thousands of dollars worth of damages before you even realize they are there. How can this be? Well, it’s really quite simple. Let’s take a closer look at these little beasts.

First of all, termites cannot survive for long out in the elements. They must remain moist and hidden from the sunlight, wind, and cold. Because of this, they spend most of their lives beneath the surface of the earth or deep inside buildings. They create mud tunnels, small tubes about the width of a pencil, which they use to traverse between the ground under and around your home into its walls to eat. Occasionally, you may see the reproductive cast of this species swarming around your home – especially on warm days in spring and fall after a rain. However, this only happens when a colony has matured and grown to the point where they need to send members off to form new colonies in order to expand and survive. The queen instinctively knows when the time is right and begins to birth this special cast of termite whose sole responsibility is to go out and find a mate, drop its wings, and begin a new colony. The trouble with relying on seeing swarms to determine whether or not you have been infested with termites is that they don’t start new colonies often and when they do they don’t last very long. Your chances of missing a swarm of reproductives is very high.

Secondly, these little creatures don’t exactly advertise that your home has become their favorite eatery. The signs they leave behind are subtle and easily missed, which is why damage done by them is usually quite severe before anyone even knows it has happened. After all, they are inside your walls chewing away at the structural beams. It’s not like you can look inside those wall voids yourself to check for these critters. Surely you should be on the lookout for shed wings on window sills, in spider webs, and around sinks. You should also periodically check around your foundation for signs of the mud tubes they use. You should also be on the lookout for wood, especially in your basement that looks blistered, appears crushed, or sounds hollow when tapped upon. These are all important signs that you may have been invaded and that your home is in danger. Again, these signs are very subtle and you would have to be extremely diligent and observant to notice them – especially in the early stages of an infestation.

Lastly, there is really on one sure way for you to know if termites are silently eating away at the beams in your home, and that is to have a trusted pest control specialist take a look. Here at Active Pest Control we have some of the best in the termite business – Experts that can spot an infestation practically in the blink of any eye. Through extensive training and experience they have become the ‘Sherlock Holmes’ to your termite colony. Those very subtle signs that are easily missed by most are quickly noticed by our termite specialists; and, the sooner an infestation is found, the less damage will be done.

So why is it important to get a termite inspection? The peace of mind of knowing that termites are not silently eating away the equity in your home is priceless. Give us a call today to schedule your inspection and see how Active Pest Control can help you rest easy from the worry and stress that termites can cause.

Termite Inspection

The conscientious homeowner is always on the lookout for various areas of the home that may be in need of improvements or repairs. This includes exterior components that are exposed to the elements of adverse weather conditions as well as normal wear and tear of the interior. Repainting walls is not an unusual job for the homeowner to periodically do throughout the home. Occasionally, the windows are looked at to see if it would be prudent to consider window replacements in order to maintain optimal efficiency. However, there is one inspection of the home that is often overlooked and yet is perhaps the most important and needful inspection of all.

The most dreaded invader to which all homeowners have a fear of is the elusive termite. Often referred to as the silent destroyer, the termite does incredible damage “beneath the surface.” In other words, the damage invoked is rarely seen until it reaches substantial damage. This damage can affect the structural integrity of the building and should be approached seriously with professional assistance.

A professional termite inspector has the knowledge needed to know what to look for and where to look. The knowledgeable inspector will begin by looking for obvious, visible signs of the presence of termites. This includes:

  • Wood damage inside or outside the home.
  • Mud tubes coming from the ground up the sides of the foundation.
  • Discarded termite wings and termite droppings.

But a thorough inspection does not end there. The inspector will also look for particular areas of the property and home that may be ideal conditions to attract termites. This may include areas outside that stay very moist, perhaps even standing water close to the foundation. Decking supports with direct contact to the ground are also closely inspected. The landscaping mulch that looks so nice is another potential spot that is conducive to termite infestation. The well trained inspector might even dig into the soil in various spots around the foundation, looking for termite activity.

If you are a Tennessee homeowner, you should contact the termite experts here at Active Pest Control and arrange for a thorough inspection of your home to give you the peace of mind that your property is free of termites. Our trusted technicians are trained to know just what to look for and where to look. They are aware that termites work all year long, day and night, eating away at the structure of your home one tiny bite at a time. If termites are found, Active Pest Control can strategically implement a treatment that is environmentally friendly; the Sentricon® Termite Colony Elimination System which takes care of the initial infestation as well as any future infestation of termites.

Termite Protection Is Crucial Protection

Did you know that termites cause over 5 billion dollars in damage annually in the United States?  It seems like an incredibly large number, doesn’t it?  Well, that’s because it is!  The reason this number is so high, and continues to grow, is because most people don’t even know that they have termites until the damage is extensive – often beyond repair!  These little pests do most of their eating, sleeping, breeding, and living deep in the bowels of your home.  This makes them extremely difficult for homeowners to discover.  An extremely attentive homeowner may notice some of the signs:  small piles of wings on the window sill, swarming ‘flying ants’ in the yard after a rain on a warm day, or small piles of ‘sawdust’ lying around in odd places; however, most homeowners can just brush these subtle signs away.  Besides, you may think, “Well, that’s why I have homeowners insurance,” but don’t think that too soon because most insurance carriers have a clause in their policies stating that they will not cover the cost of repair or replacement for damages caused by termites!  Talk about kicking you when you’re down!  This means that the majority of that $5 billion annually has to be absorbed by you – the homeowner!

In the not so distant history of pest control, the only point of attack of termite infestation was handled by trying to eliminate infestations after they occur, but often, they would return in a short amount of time.  It was not very effective, and often costly.  Thank goodness that we have discovered a far more effective way to deal with termites.  Exclusion!  That’s right; the newer way to deal with these pests is to not even let them in in the first place!  That is where a call to a pest control professional like Active Pest Control comes in.

Here at Active Pest Control, we use the Sentricon® Termite colony elimination system. This proven system monitors your yard and the boundaries of your home for termite activity, and when termites approach the discreet baiting stations they consume bait that will interrupt their growth and reproduction capabilities.  Not only that, but they love this bait even more than wood!  They are a social group and can’t wait to share this yummy snack with the rest of the colony; and, soon, the entire colony has been eliminated – before it could even enter your home!  It’s awesome!  Our trained specialists can inspect your property to locate any areas of easy access and help you eliminate those, and they can detect any current infestation inside your home and eliminate that as well.  Don’t become part of the statistics.  Protect your home, family and your pocketbook with a call to Active Pest Control today.  You’ll be glad you did.

Termites and Teens

The average teen boy should consume 2,400 calories a day for a healthy lifestyle. But for most teenagers 2,400 calories just isn’t enough. Many a parent can attest to the unquenchable hunger of teens, that leave buckets of chicken emptied, pizzas disappearing as if by magic, and hot dogs–well, those don’t stand a chance. Termites have a similar unquenchable hunger, a hunger for wood. And, just as food will go missing from your fridge and cabinets overnight and leave you regretting the day you ever had those hungry lifeforms, termites can silently eat away at the support beams and load bearing walls in your house, leaving you wondering how they could do this for years without you knowing.

Termite Signs

There are a few ways to know if your house has a termite infestation. It is only when a colony has been within your home for multiple years that you will see the biggest, most obvious signs. Recognizable damage to your walls, floors, and ceilings, and a visual sag in your floor are clear indicators that termites have already been occupying your home for years.

Termite swarmers found around your living spaces are key indicators that you have a mature colony living inside your home. Swarmers can also exit your home and be found on your exterior walls and on window frames.

Mud tubes found crawling up your exterior foundation reveal termite entry points. These gateways allow termites passage from the outside world, into the wood filled interior of your home. These mud tubes can be as small as the length and width of a pencil, so be thorough in your search. Once you are sure your wall voids and attic spaces are termite free, use these following tips to help prevent any future termite invasion.

Termite Prevention

  • Seal any gaps or holes found in your foundation and fix any broken siding.
  • Remove or fix any sources of water build up, such as leaky pipes, broken appliances or dripping faucets.
  • Stack any dead wood at least 20 feet from your home and off of the ground.
  • Remove any large pieces of dead wood such as tree stumps or fallen trees.
  • Keep all mulch and soil 15 inches from your foundation and away from direct contact with the walls of your home.
  • Keep your attic and crawl spaces properly ventilated to assure a dry uninviting environment for termites.

Though teens and termites both eat you out of house and home, it’s obvious which is preferable. As always, the best termite extermination and prevention comes only from the pros. Call your local pest control agency and have an inspector do a full inspection. Food is expensive whether it is several boxes of Captain Crunch or the wood support beams in your house. Save money and protect your home from these hungry insects.

Termites In Tennessee

Have you found transparent silver wings on your window sills or back porch–or worse–have you found a swarm of winged insects crawling around on the wood in your backyard? There are two types of insects that are drawn to moist, decaying wood, and neither of them are good to have in your backyard. Let’s take a look.

What are these winged insects?

Carpenter ants and termites are both a swarming insect that you will find crawling on wood. Neither of these two insects are good to have in your backyard, but termites are decidedly more dangerous. Each year carpenter ants do millions of dollars to property in the United States. Termite damage is in the billions.

How do I tell them apart?

There are two distinct way to tell the difference between termite swarmers and ant swarmers. If you’re bold enough to grab one by the wings, you can lift it up and examine its body. Ant swarmers will have a very thin waist, termites have no waist at all. If you are not bold enough to pick them up, you can look to see if there are wingless ants crawling around with the swarmers. The presence of these wingless ants is a clear sign that you have an ant swarm.

Is it possible for this swarm to pass me by?

If you have a termite swarm in your yard you should know that it is a very bad sign. Termite colonies do not swarm at first. The colony must mature. This can take a few years. You should also know that swarmers are terrible fliers and they will not be found too far from this mature colony. Often the mature colony is on your property, or inside your home. That means you have a termite colony that has been eating your home for several years. And, even if it didn’t originate from your home, it will not be passing you by. Termite swarmers don’t go far.

One more thing to know.

A swarm can happen quickly. If it does, you may not see the swarm, but instead, find your yard littered with the wings they shed after mating. If you find wings, you should immediately call a pest control company.

If you live in our area, you should never be without termite protection. Subterranean termites are a ferocious and silent wood eater. Don’t wait till you see the swarms. Get your home equity protected today.