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Is your home termite-tree?Protecting your home begins with understanding the threat Indianapolis — August 7, 2008 — You think your home is safe from termites — but is it really? The problem with termites is that they do their damage hidden behind walls. Termites are a threat in every state but Alaska, and estimates of damage to property in the United States range from $2.5 billion1 to $11 billion2 per year. This damage is seldom covered by homeowners insurance, so prevention and early detection are vital. Experts advise homeowners to watch for telltale signs of attack and to get a professional inspection once per year. Signs of termite attack Other signs can include damaged wood and live termites in wood. In the spring or fall, it is possible to see “swarmers” — winged reproductive termites that fly from their colonies in an attempt to start new ones. The discarded wings from swarming termites are sure evidence that a colony is present. Termites or ants? Homeowners living in Florida, California, Hawaii or along southern coastal states also might have a drywood termite problem. Unlike subterranean termites, drywood termite colonies live above ground, inside wooden walls and attics, which can make finding them very difficult. The most common evidence of drywood termites is “frass,” small six-sided pellets typically found on windowsills, on floors or in attics. Other indicators of drywood termites include discarded wings, dead swarmers near light sources, severely blistered wood and pinhead-sized holes in walls from which drywood termites kick out frass. Problem found, problem solved Liquid chemical treatments are applied to create a treated zone in the soil around and beneath the house. A conventional liquid treatment may involve digging a trench around the perimeter of the home and drilling application holes in the slab or basement walls of the home. The goal is to inject a large volume of diluted chemical solution to form a continuous barrier in the soil around and beneath the structure. Liquid chemical treatments degrade over time, so the treatment may need to be repeated. Liquid chemical treatments require professional expertise to treat around subslab heating ducts, wells, cisterns or other vulnerable construction features. Another treatment option for subterranean termites is to use baiting stations in the soil around the home. In most cases, a nontoxic monitoring device is placed in each station and inspected at regular intervals for termite activity. If termites attack, a termite bait material is placed in the stations. The first termite baiting system, the Sentricon® Termite Colony Elimination System, is preferred by more homeowners than any other brand3 and is the only baiting system proven to eliminate the termite colony, not just individual termites. It is also the only termite control product to earn the Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award presented by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, one of the federal government’s top environmental honors. The award recognizes technical innovation incorporating environmentally responsible chemistry into its design, manufacture and use. Authorized Operators that sell and service the Sentricon System are skilled, experienced and ready to eliminate your termite problem. Drywood termite treatment options The limitation of the spot treatment approach is locating the colony. In some structures, up to 80 percent of the wood may be inaccessible for inspection or treatment. The only way to ensure that 100 percent of drywood termite colonies have been eliminated in a structure is with a whole-structure fumigation using a product like Vikane® gas fumigant. For nearly 50 years, whole-structure fumigation with Vikane has been trusted to successfully treat more than 2 million structures. Knowledge is the key to protection
April Dart
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