Earth Guard's Blog

My next-door neighbor is going to have his house treated for termites. Are the termites going to attack my house next?

The answer to this and lots of other questions about termites can be found at The Termite Institute website, http://www.termiteinstitute.com.

The Termite Institute is a program developed by the experts at Termidor® termiticide/insecticide, a product that Earth Guard uses where appropriate, and that has revolutionized termite prevention and control.

The website is full of great information about how to identify a termite infestation, steps you can take to avoid an infestation, how to locate and hire a creditable pest control professional if and when you need help, even audio recordings of termite sounds! (Ewwww)

We have a brief respite with the recent rain and chilly temperatures in our Sacramento pest control region, but termite swarm season is just around the corner. See our earlier article on termites at http://earthguardpest.com/blog/?p=103, or give us a call at 916-457-7605 to schedule an inspection.

One of the best things you can do to protect the value of your home or commercial property is to schedule an annual inspection for termites and other wood-destroying organisms, conducted by a certified, licensed pest control professional. A small cost today (usually around $100 for a single-family home) can result in savings of tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars in future property damage.

A professional termite/WDO inspection not only will identify termite inspections, it also will provide you with a checklist of problem areas that could result in future damages—issues like plumbing leaks, leaky window frames or doorsills, dry rot, cracks or places where wooden structural supports are in contact with soil. Often you’ll end up with a list of easy and inexpensive fixes you can make now to keep your property pest-free and structurally sound for the future. Sometimes a fix can be as simple as recaulking, screening or fixing a dripping pipe. If it turns out you do have a termite problem, there are modern effective treatments available to eliminate the infestation and prevent a recurrence.

Termites and other wood destroying organisms cause some $2 billion worth of property damage each year in the United States alone, according to the Louisiana State University Agriculture Center, destroying or damaging some 2 million homes or buildings. Don’t be a statistic—apply an ounce of prevention in the form of a professional WDO inspection today to avoid a pound of expensive cure tomorrow.

For more information about California termites, their life cycles and signs of termite infestation, see our earlier article, “Termite Swarm Season is Here!” (http://earthguardpest.com/blog/?p=103).