All Termites are an unforeseen destroyer of homes and buildings. All homeowners should seriously consider a WDO (Wood Destroying Organism) termite inspection, a vital step in protecting their house. Termite prevention is undoubtedly preferable to termite eradication. It is less expensive to prevent Termites in the first place than to face a sudden major termite issue down the line. Termite treatments for preventative measures are not typically employed by a homeowner, as it is an expense that they never see working for them. A termite treatment is an invisible defense for a home that works 24hrs a day 365 days a year.
A WDO termite inspection, unless paying cash outright for a home, is obligatory if you take out a home loan since lenders need documented proof that the house is termite-free and free from other wood-destroying insects. The official term for the inspection is a ''Wood Destroying Organism Report,'' and sometimes it's referred to as a ''termite letter.''
If you want the best technicians in pest control, give Imperial Pest Prevention a call. Our experienced specialists will thoroughly inspect your home or business, answer your questions, and explain the whole termite WDO inspection process.
We will focus on your property areas that might be conducive to termites or other wood-destroying insects and check whether you have an active termite colony nearby.
What to Expect from A WDO Inspection
After introducing ourselves and answering any pre-inspection questions you might have, we will start the inspection. We begin on the exterior with an intricate inspection of siding locations, soffits, fascia boards, and all contusive conditions relevant to a termite infestation. Once the exterior termite inspection is completed, we then start indoors at the front door, examining the header, frame, and molding, then adjacent baseboards. Our qualified termite WDO inspectors are the best in the industry. With over 14,000 WDO inspections performed to date, we lead Volusia and Flagler counties of Florida. Our WDO Termite inspectors find anomalies by sounding baseboards, trim boards, and framing locations. If any irregularities are discovered, we document such termite or Wood Destroying organism locations.
Next, we will look at the walls and baseboards and then the closets and all living space locations. If the closet is too full of items for a proper inspection, this will be noted on the report as this can become a liability concern. It is recommended when purchasing a home, to instruct your representing realtor to try and have as much exposure as possible while performing a WDO inspection..
We pay attention to the door frame of the bathrooms plus under the sinks. We will take a close look at the plumbing lines since any water leaks might attract termites.
A check of the bedrooms and living rooms is next, and we will pay close attention to the walls, windows, and baseboards, looking for gaps or cracks where termites could enter the house. Moisture stains, cobweb locations, and windows can also be a great indicator of a previous termite swarm during a WDO inspection.
When all the house rooms have been carefully examined, we will head up into the attic and carefully inspect the trusses, attic framing, gable wall locations, fascia boards, as well as the roof sheathing to look for any visible signs of Wood Destroying Organisms.
Roof decking is notorious and most common for wood rot damage or leaks. Attic exhaust vents and gable vents are included in this comprehensive termite WDO inspection and checked for any openings or holes.
AC units are usually installed next to the house's foundation to take a look at those. Subterranean termite colonies are capable of can survive for years with just the moisture produced from the AC runoff. This also applies to rainwater runoff from gutter spouts and roofs.
Stored firewood, mulch, and decaying tree stumps are all attractive to termites. Wooden storage sheds, primarily when located near a pond or stream, can also invite these bugs.
It's possible to have an underground termite colony living under the ground by your house for years and never notice it. Termites do help recycle dead wood from branches and trees, but at some point, they will also start to feed on our homes, and that's when you have to act fast to avoid expensive damage.
How To Reduce A Termite Infestation
Many homeowners ask themselves What Do If I See A termite Swarm? There are many Things That Attract Termites to Your Home. It's an excellent idea to take a few steps to keep termites out of your property. Clean up debris, replace wet, damaged wood, and fix leaking gutters. Removing these will be very helpful in keeping the house free of termites.
Do Termites Attack Crawl Spaces and Attics Only?
It is a good idea to inspect crawl spaces for termites since they can live under a crawl space for years and be especially drawn to it if you have unnoticed plumbing leaks.
Some crawl spaces are direct earth soil and others may have a plastic vapor barrier that was put there when the home was first built. If there is moisture from a plumbing line or leak, moisture can accumulate on the plastic vapor barrier. This results in a buildup of humidity and makes it the perfect habitat for cockroaches, fleas, and flies, gnats, drain flies, and even ants along with rats and mice occasionally, and don't forget about termites and spiders also.
Other Wood-Destroying Organisms
Termites probably come to mind first when thinking about wood-destroying bugs, but they aren't the only species that can cause a threat.
Carpenter bees (technically not a wood destroying organism not technically consuming wood), Drywood termites, and wood-decaying fungi are more examples of wood-destroying organisms, along with powder post beetles and old house borers.
Powder Post Beetles
What Are Powder Post Beetles? These wood destroying beetles are another wood-destroying organism. Powder post Beetles tunnel into wood and then feed on the cellulose as termites do. They make small tunnels through wood and leave behind a talk like frass (another word for waste), a combination of feces and timber. As opposed to termite frass which are six sided concave pellets, powder post beetle frass is powdery and fine. This is how these beetles got their name.
The metamorphosis cycle of powder post beetles is egg, larvae, pupa, and then adult. It is during the larvae stage the powder post beetle damages the wood. Powder Post Beetle larvae that resemble grubs, tunnel into the wood and stay undiscovered for years, causing extensive damage deep inside the wood. They are typically only noticed when there is evidence of their frass emerging from the exit holes which resemble buckshot.
Interesting Termites Facts
Termites have been around for many billions of years. Their fossils have been discovered preserved in amber, which is hardened tree sap. This sap has solidified and hardened over millions of years.
The main enemy of termites is ants since they are a lot bigger and can decimate an entire termite colony in several hours.
Termites are eaten as a protein source in some countries in Asia, Africa, and South America, where other proteins can be scarce. Some termite mounds in these places can grow from 3 to 6 feet tall.
Are Termites Bad In Florida?
Every year, subterranean termites in Florida cause damage, reaching billions of damage. Drywood and Formosan termites are common in Flagler and Volusia counties.
We often find infestations in Daytona Beach, Port Orange, New Smyrna Beach, Palm Coast, and Ormond Beach. Termites can also be found further inland in Deland, Deltona, Orange City, and Debary.
Termites feed on wood, and cellulose material which is digested with enzymes in their saliva break it down. Termites also have hundreds or even thousands of microbes which assist in the break down of the wood further.
The name given to these gut bacteria is ''protozoa''. Without it, termites would starve to death. ''Mutualism'' is the name given to the symbiotic relationship between protozoa and termites. You can also find protozoa in Bed Bugs, Palmetto Bugs and cockroaches.
If you don't exterminate Drywood or subterranean termites fast, they will expand into several colonies and attack every vulnerable area of your house or business. The more colonies there are, the more costly the potential damage will be.
At Imperial Pest Prevention, termite customers get a full inspection every year to ensure their properties remain termite-free. This includes a documented guide to any outdoor areas which are inviting to termites.
Are Drywood Termites Bad In Florida?
Drywood termites do not use mud tubes to travel between the colony, and the house like their subterranean cousins do. They get their required moisture from the actual wood instead.
After feeding on wood, Drywood termites leave the frass behind. The six sided concave pellets noted prior. These pellets are similar to petrified wood. The frass will fall out of tiny holes in the wood. This resembles coffee grounds and has a uniform shape, color, and size. Coloration of the frass will vary and usually will follow the color of the wood in which they have fed on.
You won't find any mud left behind by Drywood termites. Their galleries will look clean and smooth, apart from many holes, which are known as kick-out holes. The kick out holes are utilized for the Drywood Termite to dispose of the waste and clear out the galleys they are utilizing as a shelter.
Drywood termites are only 100% eradicated by the use of a tent fumigation service. Small nesting sites in certain locations can be spot treated by utilizing previous Drywood Termite exit holes or drilling into the kick-out holes and then applying a termiticide foam which expands into all the galleries and tunnels made by the Drywood termites.
Thermal Imaging Detection Device For Termites
It's not at all uncommon to find termites when you are remodeling your home. They might be feeding on the wall studs after you remove drywall.
If we discover a suspicious area when performing the inspection, there are techniques we can use to tell what is happening behind the walls.
Unless there is visual evidence, it is hard to know whether the wall might contain termites. We use a device known as a Thermal Imaging Camera, which uses thermal imaging to detect surface temperatures. These temperatures will reflect images of congregated live termites nesting in a large colony. Thermal imaging cameras are also an excellent tool in detecting moisture locations.
When the inspection is over, we will draw a graph showing areas of concern and areas that need treatment. We will put an inspection sticker under your kitchen cabinet. All structures that have had a Wood Destroying Organism Treatment, or a WDO inspection, must have a sticker affixed to the structure.
At Imperial Pest Prevention, we offer both liquid termiticide treatments with Fiprinol (the active ingredient in Taurus SC and Termidor) and Trelona Bait Stations.
Whether you are purchasing a new property, applying for equity financing, or want a termite WDO inspection in your current home or business, Imperial Pest Prevention can provide you with a termite WDO inspection and free estimate, so contact us today.