How To Inspect For Termites In New Jersey

How We Inspect for Termites

Whether you need an inspection for a real estate transaction or your peace of mind, all reviews are conducted the same way. Here are some common steps that you can expect during this process.

1. Look for Signs of Trouble

Pest control professionals arrive on your property with their keen senses on high alert. They’ve had ample training and are familiar with how to spot these insects. They will look for the following issues to indicate an infestation:

• Entry points like mud tubes or knockout holes

• Structures that have become weakened by chewing – this includes structural beams, ceilings, and targeted areas within the home.

• Discarded wings during the swarming (spring) season.

• Wood piles or tree stumps around the perimeter with activity

• Signs of termite nests, also known as mud tubes, connect the nesting area and the location of a food source.

• Checking baseboards, structural components, and hollow-sounding walls

• Scan for a higher-than-average amount of moisture in walls that can indicate an infestation.

Using Termite Inspection Equipment

One of the advantages of calling in professional help is we have equipment that most people don’t possess. Termite infestations can be challenging to spot, especially if they haven’t been there long. However, using tools of the trade can help us provide you with pertinent information.

1. Thermal Imaging Cameras

One of the most helpful tools is a camera that can detect temperature changes. While we can quickly check the temperature of a room, we can’t see behind walls and into the floors. Thankfully, thermal imaging helps us understand what’s going on by showing us these essential temperature changes.

2. Endoscope

You might recognize the name of this instrument as doctors use one similar when they need to see what’s going on inside your gut. An endoscope can see into areas that we usually wouldn’t be able to access. It’s a flexible camera that can get into the smallest of spaces to ensure there is no activity behind your walls.

3. Sounding Devices

While our technicians can tap on the walls and wooden structures around your home, a tool can detect any hollowness much more efficiently. When there’s wood decay from termites, a specific sound is omitted, and this machine can pick up the slightest pitch differences.

4. Moisture Gauge

Though termites may be tiny, they chew as they feed on the cellulose in the wood. All this extra saliva going into an area changes moisture readings. While one termite isn’t going to do as much damage, imagine what 1,000 in a tiny space could do.

Doing the initial inspection of your home may show minor signs of activity. However, if our technicians suspect anything is out of the ordinary, they will use equipment to get a more detailed look at what’s happening inside your home. The information gathered using these tools will help us know what treatment plan is warranted.

Understanding the Termite Infestation Evaluation

Once our analysis is complete, we will provide an inspection report. This report is given to the lender or the homeowner to plan the next steps. We strive to get these reports back to you as soon as possible, and they’re very detailed documents. You can expect the report to show the following things:

• A drawing of the property with any location or hot spots marked.

• A detailed list of repairs that must be made due to damage from these insects.

• Notations where thermal imaging detected higher levels of moisture than acceptable.

• The type of termite invading your home and any details you need about this subspecies.

• A treatment plan to help you get rid of these pests.

• Estimated cost to eradicate the problem.

• A list of any chemicals, tools, or other equipment that our technicians need to treat your property.

Following the Treatment Plan

Our treatment plans are designed to bring your home to a pest-free status. The treatment plan is a big part of this step. We put everything in writing, so you know the costs and what to expect. Your approval of this part of the process is imperative as we try to keep everything upfront from the start. The goal is to eradicate the infestation and keep them at bay.

Drywood Termites

Dealing with drywood termites involves tenting the home so we can fumigate it. The areas of concern are treated to kill the colony. Tenting requires you to leave the house so that we can safely treat it. It can take anywhere from a few days to a week to complete the process, depending on the infestation’s severity.

It’s also important to note that you must remove any pets or plants from the area too. The chemicals used in the tenting process are dangerous, so it’s unsafe for anything that breathes oxygen to be within the tented area.

Subterranean Termites

Dealing with subterranean species requires a different approach, as tenting won’t work when the insects travel underground. We use a liquid pesticide that goes into the soil under the structure for these termites. Small holes are drilled into the walls to inject chemicals into the foundation and other areas.

The chemical is a foamy substance sprayed to cover every part of your home, even the structural elements. In the future, these tiny holes where the house is treated show a pest control professional if there’s been a problem.

Having a Long-Term Plan in Place

When it comes to pest control, many people think all they need is one quick treatment, and they’re done. However, if you want to keep your home termite-free, you need to have a plan in place for the long haul.

It’s possible that termites can re-colonize and go to another part of your property, so having an inspection done periodically is beneficial. Some folks prefer to use bait stations that can kill any new activity before they can start nesting again.

Finding a Pest Control Company

So many homeowners let issues go because they think they can’t afford the cost. When it comes to closing on a loan, the Wood Destroying Insect Report is required, and it’s not very expensive. This report gives the bank peace of mind before they allocate funding to a property.

Getting this vital inspection isn’t as expensive as you might think. For a homeowner, you’re looking at around $100 for the detailed report. It’s a small price to pay to get the peace of mind you need. There are determining factors such as the location and size of the property, but it’s affordable.

Finding the right pest control company to handle your inspection and potential treatment is essential. You want a company that puts everything in writing for you, has been in the business with a track record of success, and has good reviews from fellow consumers.

If you need an inspection because you believe you have an issue or you’re looking to buy a home and need the documentation for your lender, call us today for help.

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