All posts in “termite control”

Wood rot

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Wood rot and your home.

Wood rot = wood decaying fungus as a type of fungus that digests wet/moist wood causing it to rot. Often times the mere correction of the wood is enough to salvage the wood. Is the wood in contact with the dirt? Is there a water leak and the wood is getting wet or staying wet for extended periods of time? Obviously if you see a fungus growing in the wood, it would be a dead giveaway (in the picture above). If you’ve read any of my blogs you know that I highly recommend performing a monthly home inspection. What should the homeowner look for?

  • Any water leaks, no matter how insignificant should be investigated.
  • Lingering moisture around the foundation of your home, correct sprinklers and/or flood irrigation.
  • Some times bushes can hold the water close to the house, avoid vines.
  • Inspect window sills, door frames and underneath sinks.
  • Painting or resealing wood really helps to prevent the water from getting in.
  • Decks need to be checked often.
  • Roofs should be checked.
  • Caulking can also help, but make sure you’re not covering up a problem.

Problems and Issues

The key is to find the problems and issues before they become major catastrophes. An ounce of prevention may save you $1000s of dollars and a real headache. Homeowners can simply get screens fixed and may keep the bugs out and in the same way a simple fix of a gutter leak may save you hours of time to rebuild a section of your house. Did you know that its usually a moisture content of over 20% that causes the problem, and I know you’re thinking we don’t have that kind of moisture in Arizona. Remember that thing we call monsoon?  That fungus really needs good temps, oxygen and a food source and that could be your home.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsSWmS-A1uY[/embedyt]

 

wood rot

 

Home-seal 10 tips

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Home-seal Top 10 Tips video

Home-seal is the best method to keep out the bugs, nothing works better. It seems that almost anything you do and the scorpions still get inside.  But I consider it whatever you can do to reduce the numbers. Sealing is  #1, then pest control to reduce population of feeder bugs.  Black-lighting to reduce population on your property. Then finally patching any holes, including weatherstripping on doors and windows. Often times we unknowingly do things that help the pests, planting trees and bushes to close to the home, over watering to close to the foundation and not repairing or replacing screens. Home repairs and upkeep is important to keeping the bugs out.

Home-Seal Storm Shield

Home-Seal Storm Shield

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suiWKtQ97zs[/embedyt]

Termites build tubes.

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Termites build tubes

Termites tube on block wall.

Termites tube on block wall.

Termites build these tubes for several reasons, to protect them from air and sunlight and to protect them predators. They go in search for wood and when they find it they let the others know where the food is. They work 24/7/365 and even in the case above they might think they are heading for wood, they won’t find any here so eventually they will give up and move along.

They are small about 1/4 inch but it’s their numbers that make the difference, here in Arizona probably between 100,000 and 250,000 all working towards the goal of feeding everyone.

So keep a look out and if you see anything like this please give ProBest Pest Management a call at 602-249-7378

35th Anniversary to ProBest Pest Management.

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    1981 -2016            Happy Anniversary

Anniversary of ProBest Pest Management – in 1981 Donna and Jerry Probst started ProBest and in 2005 they sold to us. It has been fun and there have been tribulations and a major housing collapse. But that which doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, right?

We offer a host of services including Termite post construction, termite inspections and the occasional pretreat. We also offer pest control, from ants to scorpions and rodent control. we also offer weed control including pre-emergents and the elimination of the weeds.

We are here to lend you a hand on pest control, many people say well we can do that? Many start out doing a good job and then fail to adequately identify the insect or forget to make it a monthly event. We are the experts and we have on staff a Associate Certified Entomologist who can identify that pests.

Anniversary Pro Best Logo

ProBest Logo

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

Active Arizona Termites

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Active Arizona Termites

Our Active Arizona Termites like water and there generally isn’t a lot of it for them.  So after it starts raining they get a little more active. So keep a sharp look out for them. Arizona termites are sneaky. They often follow lines such as this metal bracket or they will follow concrete lines and or pipes. So what should you look for?

  1. Wood to ground, this gives termites a free pass into your home.
  2. Excessive moisture, don’t water to near the foundation of the house. Check drip irrigation and only water was is necessary for the plant if possible. In Arizona we often use flood irrigation, so be careful you are not interfering with the termiticide along the foundation of the home.
  3. Don’t store firewood or wood on the ground.
  4. Look for visible signs of termites, mud tubes, tunnels and/or drop tubes and damage.
  5. Garages are a noted area, so keep a watch for termite tubes coming up the foundation or in the expansion joint.
  6. Sometimes  you might see little spots of dirt, check it and if it continues to grow get a pest professional to take a look. Our Arizona termites make some funky little drop tubes, it’s their way of trying to get back to the ground.

 

Active Arizona Termites  20151209_085004

 

Termites and pictures

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2014-06-26 09.10.10

 

 

 

 

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 602-249-7378

 

Water can cause a problem

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Water rot

Water rot

 

 

 

 

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.

Why a little fungus can cause serious issues?

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Water will find the path of least resistance and often times can cause more and more issues with a home. Let’s imagine that a chimney at the roofline is not sealed correctly and water makes it way to the ground. This water goes through the termiticide and eventually the termiticide is completely gone. The termites gain access into your home and more damage continues. So I would say that this is something we all need to consider when doing a quarterly inspection of our homes.

If you spot a water issue, figure it out and repair it ASAP or if you don’t want to just keep my phone number handy for the termite work that may be coming your way – 602-249-7378.

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