Water spots, have you ever noticed in your shower or bath that the water condensates on the ceiling. The steam build up and a water droplet forms much like a wet cave. These marks can be misidentified as termites, but they are just water which has dried leaving behind minerals. You might have to enlarge the picture to see what I’m talking about. I guess the take away is you need venting in the bathroom, that steam can cause a lot of issues. Water, steam etc can make drywall get moldy and damage the integrity of the product and even cause interior issues. Then if the water runs down the 2×4, termites may come up through the weakened termite barrier. Big problems, all caused by water – so think of those water spots as a alarm to open a window or turn that fan on.
Termite sign – Look no tubes at the bottom, but they are on the top of the shelving. This is a post tension home, so how did they do that? A little investigative work and what did I spy. No tubes outside, but there is a set of pipes at the washer/dryer. So it must be that, this one was a little easier than some.
You have to think about it, and make the best educated guess as to how they are getting in. Not always easy but the work must be done to stop them from getting in. Termites cause approximately $5 – 8 billion in damage each year so doing a monthly check for termite sign is important in keeping your home in tip top shape.
New Tech and/or technology is and can be a great assistance in the battle against termites. Termites have been around 250 millions year or more and they will continue to find novel ways into our home. I see from time to time, new devices that help in the struggle or pest versus us. They have FLIR machine which can pinpoint termites, honeybees but I like the good old method of seeing it with my own eyes. By the way I’m not gloating but I’m pretty good at finding those gals.
Typically termites tend to follow lines, they go up a 2×4, get to a header and follow with the grain. If they are in the center of the home there is a crack or pipe letting them in. Since our termites don’t build nest in walls, that FLIR machine is nothing more that a lot of money. Now I’m not saying they don’t work, but your only able to see temperature differences and you are following tubes. Is does work on bee colonies, because they congratulate together. Call ProBest Pest Management today to check out your most valuable asset your home 602-249-7378.
Generic versus Termidor, so lets imagine if you will. BASF the original maker of Termidor bought the fipronil from their source and manufactured the original with inert ingredients. Then came at least 10 years of testing, we did 16 homes with none having issues in Arizona.
Now when the patent comes off companies come out of the woodwork to make something just as good. So they can’t get their hands on the inert ingredient list from BASF so they concoct their own – see the problem? So is there an issue with Generics versus Termidor, I believe there is. Choose the original.
- Not the same ingredients.
- No testing has to be done. They piggyback off the data from BASF, not fair but legal.
- Not all generics are the same, formulations are not the same. Stick with the real product from BASF fipronil Termidor.
Tree termites or the grass eaters are prevalent in Arizona and can be seen in dry dying grass or on trees. They really are just eating the dead damaged wood not the interior good wood. They are natures cleaner uppers, they redistribute the nutrients back into the soil. Things grow and things die, just like leaves and then back into the soil to help another tree live on.
What we don’t realize is that we build right on top of their homes. We expect them to leave us allow and they are just doing what they were born to do. They work 24/7/365 and it doesn’t matter if its your house or not. If it isn’t protected then it’s your turn. No if but when they decide it’s time. So keep a watch and call ProBest Pest Management if you see dirt tubes or tunnels 602-249-7378 or 623-414-0176
Bath-Trap – “You are traveling through another dimension, a dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind. A journey into a wondrous land whose boundaries are that of imagination. Your next stop, the Termite Zone!
That was from the Twilight Zone – I loved watching that as a kid, sometimes scaring me.
So you are finally having that special first time house built and you see this when you are walking through one day. Hence my problem, home builders are not termite experts and vice-versa. When we pretreated that soil it was all nice and only dirt. Then we sprayed around it and now the builder will take the dirt and chemical termiticide away. Guess where the first place for termite to break the barrier will be, yep the bath-trap or garage (cause its last to be treated and people will walk all over it.
That’s why we put in bath-trap access into the walls of bathrooms!
Termite weird tubes and how I’m constantly amazed by their handiwork. I’ve seen drop tubes down from the ceiling at least 5 foot. I’ve also seen dead grass castles that are almost artwork. While termites are considered destructive, sometimes they are creative in their overall job out in nature. In nature they start to decompose wood and return nutrients to the soil. The never ending grow and die and return to the earth.
Signs:
- Tubes on foundation slab wall.
- Drop tubes.
- Small little holes with soil or dirt growing over time.
- Baseboard looks like its crumbling from inside to outside.
- When in doubt call ProBest 602-249-7378.
ProBest Pest Management #8411 will provide 1-year FREE Termite Treatment Warranty. *25 a year thereafter for remainder of Amera’s warranty*
*Applies only to warranties invalidated due to sale of Amera.
Call 623-414-0176 or 602-249-7378
Sub Termites
Sub Termites – They are creepy and they are always trying to find wood = your home or business. 24/7/365 ALWAYS LOOKING. Look for signs and don’t encourage them to come to your dinner plate. Stop them by eliminating what they want.
- Check your home monthly for sign of bugs/pests.
- Don’t over water.
- Reduce plants, bushes and trees under the eave of the house.
- Don’t plant vines.
- Maintain a few inches of space between stucco and ground or rock.
- Look for tubes, grass eating termites and castles. Don’t put items over the expansion joint in garage, make it visible.
- Once every few years have a Pest Management Professional do an inspection. Pay them its worth it.
- Don’t cheap out – your home is an investment. Make it last.
$1000 phone
RANT!
You know what gets my goat? The pricing ($1000 phone) of the newest technology and the pricing of termite work. People are willing to spend $1000 but are shocked by the cost of termite work. There was a report in Florida that compared pricing in 1937 compared to today. A treatment in 1930 cost something like $327 would compare to over $1500 today. Everyday I battle the low price companies, and you get what you pay for. I guess there are companies willing to do it cheap, but we do quality work and stand behind it. We have always tried to do the right thing, it helps me sleep at night.
So think about this when you compare 4-5 hours of work, usually 2 people trenching and applying termiticide. Are you willing to gamble your single biggest investment to a cheap price? Is it going to be done according to Label? What chemical and % is to be used. Are they doing a complete exterior? Is there a warranty and have you checked their reviews (don’t trust them all, but compare and see what they did to fix it)? $1000 phone or technology?
