When a residence or commercial property is purchased in Philadelphia, a termite inspection typically is conducted. Basically, the person or organization purchasing the building wants to make certain that the structure is not infested with termites and that it does not have huge amounts of damage that was not repaired after an earlier infestation.
Unfortunately, too many property owners ask for a termite inspection before they make a purchase but forget to have subsequent inspections performed on a regular basis. Why is this a problem?
Termites are extremely good at not advertising their presence. Spending the majority of their lives underground, these pests wreak havoc in out-of-the-way spots like basements and crawl spaces. They keep their large colonies fed with bits of wood from the structure, and they can do so for years before anyone becomes aware of the damage.
By that time, it is impossible to avoid costly repairs. More than one building is all-but destroyed every year simply because no termite inspection has been performed in a long time.
The bottom line is that termite infestations are preventable. Having an inspection performed once a year or once every couple of years is sensible for property owners who want to avoid a disaster.
Highly trained termite inspectors identify conditions on the property that make it vulnerable to infestation. This provides the owner with an opportunity to address these conditions, warding off a future problem.
If an inspection finds that termites are already present, chances are good that the infestation is relatively new and therefore easier to control.
Either way, regular termite inspections are the answer for maintaining peace of mind.
WHAT DO TERMITES LOOK LIKE?
Termites live in large colonies that consist of thousands of members. Each member has a specific role to fulfill, and their appearance varies upon their responsibilities.
The most numerous colony members are the workers. Because they must leave the nest to forage for food, these are the termites that are most frequently seen. They are approximately one-quarter of an inch long and are cream colored. To avoid exposure to the elements, they construct mud tunnels on building foundations.
Soldier termites are larger than workers, and they rarely leave the nest because their main function is to protect the colony. Like the workers, they are mainly cream colored. However, their heads are brownish, and they have oversized jaws.
Alates, or swarmers, are the only termites that are equipped with wings. These reproductive members of the colony fly up out of the nest in the spring to mate before establishing new colonies nearby. Alates are one-half-inch long and are black in color.
WHERE DO TERMITES LIVE?
It is rare to see termites out in the open. This is because they need to maintain certain levels of humidity that are difficult to find in the outdoors. Their nests must be located beneath the surface of the ground to keep the colony safe with regard to exposure to air. Underground nests also provide appropriate levels of humidity.
This need to be covered leads the termites to build mud tunnels that reach from the nest to the food source. This may be a rotting tree or stump, but also may be a Philadelphia area home or a commercial building.
Long-standing termite colonies may establish satellite nests, which are highly likely to be placed within a man-made structure.
HOW TERMITES GET INSIDE
Subterranean termites typically gain entry into homes and businesses where wooden portions of the structure are accessible to them, which include posts, frames, steps, etc.
Additionally, termites can enter through cracks in foundations and stone or brick surfaces as small 1/32 of an inch -- half the thickness of a penny.
Once inside a heated structure, termites can remain active throughout the year and maintain their activities 24 hours a day.
WHAT DO TERMITES EAT?
The simplest answer is that termites eat wood. However, the nutrition they require is actually taken from the cellulose in the wood. Cellulose is found in all plant matter, which means that anything used in construction or other ordinary items that is based on plant matter may be consumed. Consequently, many textiles, linens, books, cardboard boxes and papers may be eaten by termites.
DAMAGE CAUSED BY TERMITES
Termite damage to buildings starts small but can spread quickly. Scientists estimate that termite colonies that have approximately 60,000 workers can consume about two feet of an ordinary two by four on an annual basis.
This damage tends to occur in places like basements, crawl spaces, wall voids and attics where people rarely venture. Without being detected by a termite inspection, the pests continue their work unabated, perhaps for years.
Termites can hollow out a joist or part of the wooden frame of a building. It is possible for them to make a building structurally unsound, and even if the damage is not this severe, it is still expensive and time-consuming to repair.
Regular termite inspections can keep infestations from getting out of hand. In fact, this is the best way to prevent termite infestations in the first place.
ARE TERMITES AGGRESSIVE?
People will not suffer direct attacks by termites in Philadelphia, but the buildings in which they live and work are certainly vulnerable. Regular inspections are the smart way to ensure that all man-made structures are safe from termites.
ARE TERMITES AGGRESSIVE?
Termites are adapted to avoid confrontations with people thanks to their favored underground habitat. Nevertheless, bites do occur, especially when a person in some way disturbs a nest. Soldiers are the colony members that are most likely to attack. With their oversized jaws, these bites can be painful.
DO TERMITES CARRY DISEASE?
Termites are capable of biting, but such instances are rare. A person bitten by a termite probably will not suffer any ill effects.
Nonetheless, termite infestations can make people sick. This is because the pests prefer damp, humid conditions in which mold is likely to be found. As termites feed on moldy items, mold spores are released into the air. It is easy for the building's heating and cooling system to pick up the spores and distribute them throughout the structure. People may develop headaches, coughs, itchy eyes, congestion and sore throats when they are routinely exposed to air that is contaminated with mold spores.
HOW TO DETECT TERMITES
The following signs may indicate the presence of termites:
• Hardwood floors have dark patches or blisters • Dark-colored insects swarming in the spring • Foundations, siding and sheetrock have mud splotches • Exterior walls and foundations have mud tunnels • Tapping on a wall makes a hollow sound
HOW TO PREVENT TERMITES
To help prevent termite problems, the following precautions should be taken:
• Ensure that gutters and downspouts remain clear • Fix water leaks as soon as they are discovered • Prevent sprinklers from spraying water on building exteriors • Have mold issues diagnosed and corrected • Fix condensation problems • Replace any damaged wood on the property
HOW WE TREAT FOR TERMITES
Newtown Termite & Pest Control is a certified Termidor® exterminator. We utilize the nation's #1 termiticide when treating homes or businesses. Our technicians apply the product to the exterior of the structure. Once applied, Termidor® becomes undetectable and begins killing termites by contact and indigestion.
Independent testing conducted by the USDA detected no termite damage in concrete slab structures treated with Termidor® 80 WG for more than 15 years following the treatment.
For effective termite extermination our experienced technicians apply the Termidor along the foundation or exterior of the home or business. Once applied, the termiticide blends into the soil and is transferred to termites as they come in contact with the agent. The termiticide is also transferred among the termite colony as infected termites come in contact with other termites. Termidor kills termites both by ingestion as well as by contact.
Our termite control treatment service will terminate an existing termite infestation and protect against future occurrences.
OUR TERMITE TREATMENT WARRANTY
Philadelphia area homes and businesses have been trusting Newtown Termite & Pest Control. since 1993. We are a family owned and managed termite control provider, with an A+ Better Business Bureau rating. Combined, our certified, company-trained technicians have over 50 years of field experience.
Our termite control treatment service will terminate an existing termite infestation and protect against future occurrences.
At Newtown Termite & Pest Control we stand behind our work with our renewable, transferable, triple guarantee:
1: If, within one year of your first treatment, we uncover a new colony of live termites, we will retreat your home for FREE.
2: If, during the first five years of your service contract, we uncover a new colony of live termites, we will retreat your home for FREE.
3: If, during the first five years or any year thereafter, we uncover a new colony of live termites, we'll retreat for FREE ... EVEN IF YOU SELL THE HOME!
WHEN WAS YOUR LAST TERMITE INSPECTION?
Industry experts agree that the first step in effective termite control is to have your home or business undergo a full termite inspection at least every two to three years.
That is because termites, often referred to as the "silent destroyers" can go unnoticed until visible damage occurs.
Having your Philadelphia area home or business professionally inspected by a certified technician is the best way to help detect the presence of termites and prevent extensive damage.
