All posts in “damage”

Does this look like your dryer vent?

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Is this what your Dryer vent looks like? We offer cleaning service. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates that 15,500 fires associated with clothes dryers occur annually. These fires account for an average of 10 deaths and 310 injuries and more than $84.4 million in property damage annually.

  • One of the most common causes of dryer fires is lack of maintenance. When lint traps aren’t cleaned as often as they should be, the resulting build-up in the screen or other areas can cause the dryer to perform poorly, operate at elevated temperatures and possibly overheat – with dangerous consequences. Vent systems must also be checked and cleaned to maintain proper air flow for the same reasons.
  • Lint accumulation and reduced exhaust airflow feed on each other to provide conditions ripe for a fire. Lint is highly combustible and decreased airflow causes overheating of the exhaust environment, demanding excessive cycling of the high temperature limit switch and eventual failure.
  • If your clothes are taking longer to dry or if the velocity of air exhausting from the dryer vent hood is minimal, maintenance is needed. Clothes dryers are prone to lint build up if there are numerous 90’s in the system or the distance is excessive.
  • Call ProBest Services today for a quote, 480-831-9328 or 623-414-0176
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OK what do you see?

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Well if you guessed Drywood termites pellets, you guessed right? Those little brownish colored things at the bottom of the picture are the fecal remains of wood eaten by Drywood termites. Subterranean termites mix their fecal material with the mud/soil and construct mud tunnels or tubes while Drywood termite fecal pellets are kicked out of their colony. These little pellets have little ridges and are fairly easy to identify. Drywood termites which are located within structures are often tented and just a side-note not usually a very big deal in Arizona but we do have them here. The more water we bring in, such as flood or drip irrigation helps to increase the humidity level and allow these termites to gain a strong-hold here. Even after a fumigation takes place, those pellets will continue to fall out – so the only real way to know that you still have them is by an actual swarm. Just one more thing to keep you from sleeping!

By the way this is generally not a “Do It Yourself” project, unless you are able to remove all the wood. In the case above it was a small shed, which I would just remove and rebuild. Which by the way falls into my model of IPM.

 

Termites and pictures

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So the termites found their way into your home via the foundation slab wall and you didn’t notice them them. But one day you noticed a smudge on the nicely framed picture hanging on the wall. So you thought it was weird so you investigated and look what you found?

Yep termites! It’s time to call a Professional. Enter your zip code or better yet if your in AZ call ProBest Pest Management at 480-831-9328

 

Water can cause a problem

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Water rot

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Water in wood can become an issue within  a home or structure. No fungus among us, why yes there is. That little bit of moisture can cause a few problems if not caught in time. Notice the wood splitting and since there is enough moisture the fungus can grow. What if the house has a pipe leaking or rain enters the house, it will take the path of least resistance, so always conduct a thorough investigation if you notice something like wood damage or wood splitting. As it meets the ground it might also continue to wash away any termiticide that was there. So termites might be on the way next.

What is a pretreat and why do I see termites in garages more often?

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A pretreat is done just before the pouring of concrete and is designed to prevent termites from coming up penetrations of the slab of concrete. Post construction treatment is done after a home is built.

I often see termites in garages and have been intrigued as to why they occur in those circumstances rather than inside homes. I have watched homes being built and I think I see the garages being worked on last. Sometimes the concrete is poured in the home and the garage is poured last. I also seem to remember that the pretreat originally was done on the home part and wasn’t redone or even done for the garage. Now I may be wrong but I have seen that and I think this is why I see more issues within the garages rather than inside the home.

Termites and their search for food

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Workers are the main caste in the termite colony for the digestion of cellulose in the food and are the most likely to be found in the infested wood. Workers are out and about 24/7/365 and constantly searching for wood.

One of the key areas in homes in my opinion is the garage, so keep an eye for the the expansion joint. I also recommend not placing wood, boxes or anything cellulose on the expansion joint.

Termites are always looking for food.

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Termites are always looking for food and guess what, that could be your home. What do you look for:

  1. Mud tubes.
  2. Look at your foundation, check at your ceiling for down tubes or just dirt.
  3. Look for damage to baseboard.
  4. As always if your not sure call a Professional.

What’s up with those crazy little termites?

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Enlarge the picture and notice the down tube (in the middle of the left hand basket). Our Arizona termites make these tubes to reach the ground and often times they can be in the strangest places.

 

The termites find wood and then focus on taking it back home, they are smart and they are attempting to find a quicker and easier, way back to the ground. Yep, amazing.

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