How can I reduce my chances for
getting termites?
Termite
infestation can occur in any unprotected home. If the home was
treated in the past but regular inspections have not been done, gaps
in the treatment may have occurred which would allow termites to
damage your home. Certain factors will increase the chances for
termite infestation. It boils down to moisture, food sources and
access.
To prevent termites
and excess
moisture around your home consider the following recommendations:
·
Avoid having a sprinkler system that
splashes onto your home or a sprinkler system where the emitter
heads are nearly adjacent to the outside walls of your home.
·
Be certain that the downspouts from
gutters and air conditioner drains lead away from your home.
·
If you have a leaking water
spigot/faucet on the outside of your home, have the leak fixed.
·
Be certain that the finished soil
grade drains away from the home.
·
Don’t plant excess shrubberies or
other plants too near to the foundation of your home.
·
Un-repaired cracks along patios and
other slabs will allow water to enter and weaken the treated zone as
well as attract termites to the area.
·
Have stumps that are within ten feet
of your home removed.
·
Avoid allowing wood or cellulose
containing products remain on the ground under and/or around the
home.
·
Masonry cracks, whether in slab
floors, poured wall or concrete block foundations should be
repaired.
·
Certain types of stucco are easily
penetrated by termites and provide concealment while they attack
your home.
·
Areas where plumbing pipes, air
conditioning vents or electrical service penetrate a slab may allow
termites to enter.
·
Crawl spaces under homes must have
adequate ventilation to prevent condensation on the substructure.
·
Untreated wooden trellises, porch
posts, fences or any other lumber not rated for ground contact will
provide food for termites and draw them toward the home.
·
Firewood should be kept at least six
inches off the ground on bricks or metal racks. Storing firewood
inside the home will risk bringing wood destroying beetles into your
home.
My house is built on
a slab - doesn't that make it termite proof?
As we have
discussed, there are many ways for termites to gain access to slab
homes. In addition, once termites establish themselves under a slab
home the required treatment will be more labor intensive due to
floor covering removal. Also, inspection of the slab for termites
or cracks is restricted.
What makes Termidor
different from other termite treatments?
Termites can
sense and avoid areas treated with traditional termiticides. With
Termidor, termites can't detect it. As worker termites forage in a
treated area they ingest or contact Termidor. When they return to
feed the colony the Termidor is transferred throughout the colony
ending your termite problem.
How quickly does
Termidor work?
Termites that
come in contact with Termidor (either directly or through contact
with infected termites) will die in 3 months or less.
Will it kill all of
the termites, or just some?
Termidor's
unique mode of action achieves 100% control of termites in 3 months
or less. This 'termite control' is not just limited to the termites
who happen to forage in the soil treated with Termidor. Termites are
social insects living in large colonies, mostly underground. Research has shown that termites foraging through treated soil come
in contact with Termidor, but do not die quickly. These contaminated
termites contact others in the colony (by food transfer, grooming or
just climbing over and rubbing against each other) and transfer
Termidor to these other termites. No other termiticide or
termite-control system has achieved the same level of efficacy as
Termidor.
Does Termidor have an
odor?
No, Termidor is odor free.
Is Termidor safe?
Termidor is a fipronil based termiticide. Fipronil
has been in use since 1995 to safely treat pets for fleas and ticks
and on agricultural crops to protect food supplies. New studies have
shown that the product is safe not only for termite control where
the material is applied beneath the soil or masonry, but can be used
safely as a surface application for ants and other pests.
Can I apply it myself?
No. Termidor can and must only be applied by a
Certified Termidor Professional.
Is Termidor
Available Everywhere?
Currently, Termidor is registered in all states
except New York and Alaska. |
