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If you own your own home, this is a question you really need to ask yourself.
The invasion of the damaging termites can literally destroy a home, in a relatively short amount of time. So, how do you know if you need to have a professional termite inspection?
First, let's identify what exactly a termite inspection is.
A termite inspection is basically a visual check of a home or property for the presence of termites. Generally it is performed by a licensed exterminator. Often times, a termite inspection is a condition of the sales agreement when you buy a new home. If you have purchased a new home in the last couple of years, you most likely had a termite inspection done on your home.
You can generally get a termite inspection for free from your local pest control company. You can find links above to some termite control companies as well.
The inspector will usually give you a written report of any findings he/she has after the inspection. Be prepared for a sales pitch at the end as well. Since your inspection was free, pest control companies need a way to compensate for the inspector's time. They will generally try to sell you a "worry-free" maintenance program to make sure you never get termites, or to ensure they will get rid of termites if they found some doing the inspection.
The average termite inspection lasts around 30 minutes or so.
If termites are found at your home, be prepared to pay some high fees. Termite control is not cheap, but considering the treatment could save you tens of thousands of dollars in damage, it is definately a good idea to have the termite problem resolved as soon as possible. Termite treatment prices will vary from $300 to over $3,000 depending on the amount of infestation, size of home and if you require a regular treatment program and/or termite bond.
Termites are attributed to millions of dollars in damage every year. You must be aware of the damage they can do and learn ways of preventing them from destroying your home.
There are two basic types of termites. One type lives entirely in wood, and the other can tunnel it's way into the ground.
Wood termites come in multiple types as well. There are rotten wood termites, damp wood termites and dry wood termites to name the most popular. Dry wood termites are common in homes & furniture, and they can really do some damage if not treated.
Most termites belong to the subterranean termite classification. This means they are able to tunnel their way into the soil. This enables they to find multiple pieces of wood to feed on. Subterranean termites are able to rapidly grow their colony size up to several million large in a relatively short amount of time.
Subterranean termites are a little harder to detect in homes as they leave little evidence as compared to wood termites. You can generally find a subterranean termite infestation by finding a mud shelter tube on the side of a wall.
In general, the majority of termites are thought to be a beneficial species in that they help break down dead wood and provide food for other life forms. Of course, when they get into the walls of your home, you may have a different feeling towards them.
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