Underground Journal

Termite exterminators – basic info

Termites have quickly become one of the largest problem facing homeowners today. These pests can have thousands per colony and can quickly devour wood used in homes, causing serious structural damage. There are three main types of termites which are dry wood, damp wood and subterranean. The subterranean termite is the most common and is usually found living in moist soil. These tiny pests are one of the main reason homeowners are considering selling homes that they are in love with.

Termite exterminators are professionals that work for pest companies that aid in the eradication of termites from the home. They are highly skilled in their areas and have the experience and expertise to deal with these nuisances quickly and effectively. In the beginning being a pest exterminator was a long and tedious job but thanks to new technology it has become a pinpoint precision skill.

The skilled termite exterminator has a wide variety of tools and techniques to help rid the customer of their wood eating pests. Some of the products and technology they use are termite baits(both in home and below ground) liquid pesticides, tenting and fumigation.

Below ground termite baits or termite steaks work by driving the steaks into the ground surrounding the home. The pest exterminator will determine the best places to drive the steaks around the property needing service. The termites will dig up to the steaks and take the “bait” which is usually a mix of wood and pesticides the termite exterminator mixes and applies to the steaks. The worker termites will then take the bait back to the colony to share, eventually leading to the poisoning of the entire colony. The great thing about the termite steaks is that the poison usually finds the queen and kills it, without killing the queen the termites would just rebuild over and over.

In home baits are another tool for the termite exterminator and are easily places through out the home wherever termites have been spotted. They can be placed in crawl spaces, foundation cracks and anywhere termites may be. The only downside to using the in home baits is that it may take some time for the termites to actually find the baits and take them back to the colony. Once the bait is taken though the effects can happen quite fast.

One of the main tools of a pest exterminator is the use of liquid pesticides. These have been used for years and is an effective way of keeping new pests at bay. An exterminator will spray a barrier around the home and any fences or sidewalks creating a “force field” to keep termites and other pests away. Since rain will wash away the pesticide over time it is necessary to repeat this process every few years.

Tenting and fumigation are also methods used to help relieve the stress of wood eating termites. The home is covered by a large rubber tent and sealed up tight. Then several different chemicals are released into the house and lets sit for up to a week to penetrate into the wood and kill all pests. Because of all the chemicals used only a licensed exterminator is allowed to used the tenting process.

If you suspect a major termite problem has occurred in your home and you are left without answers, call a professional exterminator. The skills and knowledge they possess will help you in solving your pest problem.

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