Preparing Your Knoxville Home Against Termites This Spring

Preparing Your Knoxville Home Against Termites This Spring

Winter is coming to a close and whether you experienced termites throughout the winter or not, it’s time to start looking ahead. You can start preparing your Knoxville home for the spring termite swarmers that are about to emerge. If you plan ahead you can avoid a lot of stress, headaches, and serious damage to your home.

In the spring mature termite colonies send out swarmers. You will only see them for a short period of time (if you see them at all) as they are going out to develop new termite colonies. They will typically present themselves as winged insects gathered in a large mass on windowsills and around the walls of your foundation.

Once these new colonies develop, the once small termite problem you may have encountered previously is bound to get much larger. Large populations of termites can damage the structure of your home and any wood inside including furniture and personal items. Signs of damage are hollow or damaged wood, as well as, bowing floors, warped walls, and sagging ceilings. If structural beams are affected by termites, it could compromise its strength. Simply put, termite damage can be serious and the repairs can be very costly.

To get started, follow these preventative measures, but in the end, you will want to seek professional help for an active infestation:

  • Keep your home dry by using dehumidifiers in damp areas around your home, especially the basement. You should also make sure your attic and crawl spaces are well ventilated. Repair leaks inside and outside of your home as soon as possible. Finally, don’t allow standing water too close to your home.
  • Keep piles of firewood, debris, and junk up off of the ground and at least 20 feet away from your home. You should also leave an 18” space directly around your home by using crushed rock or other non-wood material.
  • Repair any rotted wood or damaged siding found on your home.
  • Routinely inspect your property for termite mud tubes.

If you have tried your hand at prevention and you are still experiencing termite-related problems, or if you’d rather get the professionals onboard from the start, call on the experts at Russell’s Pest Control in Eastern Tennessee. Give us a call today to learn more about termites, the problems they cause and the termite control options Russell’s Pest Control offers to help protect your home from these damaging pests.

Learn How To Identify Swarming Termites

Learn How To Identify Swarming Termites

Have you ever come home, stepped out of your car, and noticed a mass of crawling, winged insects on your windowsills or foundation walls? Would you be able to tell if that mass of insects was a swarm of flying ants or termite swarmers? In case you don’t know the difference, this article will explain how to identify termite swarmers, the damages termites cause, and what you can do if you discover your structure has been infested by termites.

A termite colony, when it matures, will send out what are called alates, or termite swarmers, to start new colonies. These swarmers only appear briefly, for around a half an hour, a couple of times a year, so they are easily missed. If you see termite swarmers, be aware that there is certainly a mature colony somewhere nearby. And, if that place happens to be your home, you need to take action before damages go beyond repair.

Visually identifying termite swarmers is very important, since termites cost United States property owners billions of dollars each year. First, when looking at a swarmer, look at the four wings. If they stack evenly on top of one another, you are looking at a termite. Termite wings are white, whereas the wings on a carpenter ant swarmer are tan. Also, notice if the wings go beyond the abdomen. If they are only slightly longer, you are looking at an ant. If the wings go far beyond the abdomen, this is a termite.  And termite swarmers are much smaller than ants, measuring around 3/8 of an inch long while ant swarmers can be 5/8 of an inch. Two other ways to tell termite swarmers are that they have antennae that are mostly straight, and they have a distinct pinch between their thorax and abdomen.

Damages Done By Termites

Termites can do damage to a structure for years without being detected, damage that looks like long grooves stacked on top of each other inside wood. This causes the wood to have a tattered look, almost like stacked cardboard edges. When termites feed on wood, it becomes brittle and hollow. But you are unlikely to see this unless you are doing renovations. If you break off a piece of wood and it feels light, it could have been eaten by termites. Similarly, if you tap on a support beam and it sounds hollow, this is another good indication.

Secondary damages of termites include peeling wallpaper, bulging walls, sagging floors and ceilings and windows and doors that don’t open or close properly.

If you see termite swarmers, or are noticing the signs termites leave behind, Russel’s Pest Control is here to help. For more information, or to schedule termite service, reach out to us today.

Why Every Home Needs A Termite Inspection

Why Every Home Needs A Termite Inspection

Termites. They are called “silent destroyers,” and for good reason. These pesky little critters can sneak into a home and start eating away at the insides of walls and support structures for months, and even years, without anyone in the home being aware of their presence. And if you think you would know if termites were eating away at your home, consider the fact that termites avoided detection in the White House. Yup. With all the security, and comings and goings in the White House, termites got into the walls and ate away at the West Wing for years, until the day termite swarmers were found crawling around on the interior walls, a mere 30 feet from the Oval Office!

Because termites are so sneaky, they end up costing property owners in the United States alone around $5 billion a year. They are simple organisms that do not require sleep, therefore, they are able to devour the wood of a home, nonstop, 24 hours a day. This is why it is so important to get a termite inspection and find these home-destroying insects before they have a chance to do irreversible damage.

How termites operate:

Termites build underground nests, and termite workers venture out from the nest in order to find food to feed the colony. Termites feed on the cellulose found in wood, leaves and soil. As they search, they do not care if they find a tree, a pile of leaves, or your home. And if they are able to get into your home through a crack in your foundation or walls, they will travel underneath floors and behind walls until they reach the wood they need to survive. They will then travel back and forth to the colony through mud tubes that they build between the soil and your home. And they will establish new colonies within your walls.

When these colonies mature, is when termite swarmers (winged termites) are sent out. But these can also go undetected, since they are only outside the walls for about a half an hour before they mate and disappear again. In fact, the only clue they leave behind is their translucent wings, which they shed after mating.

Why a home inspection isn’t enough:

Certified home inspectors are trained to inspect a home to make sure it has no defects that would cause problems for the lender when a home is being sold. While they may detect signs of a termite infestation, it is unlikely. However, professional inspectors that are specifically educated on detecting termite activity can tell if these silent destroyers are present.

Why choose Russell’s:

Our pest control technicians have a Category 7 certification (General Pest and Rodent Control AND Wood-Destroying Organisms). These highly educated technicians are specifically trained to know the signs of a termite infestation with the use of specialized equipment.

With experience in detecting and eliminating termites since 1971, you can trust Russell’s Pest Control.

Pre-Construction Termite Protection

Pre-Construction Termite Protection

Are you having a new home built? If you’re like most Americans, this will be one of the most significant investments you will ever make and one that you will be spending years to pay off, which is why it is vital to consider termite protection “before” your home is even built.

The Danger Of Subterranean Termites

Subterranean termites, like the name indicates, are insects that live underground. If you decide to build a home on, or near, these termites, you could be setting yourself up for a heart-wrenching crisis. Here are the reasons why:

  • Subterranean termites are silent invaders. These pests can be go undetected for years while infesting and feeding on homes. These wood eaters come up from the soil and eat channels through the wood of a home without showing themselves until it is too late. When a termite colony matures, it will produce swarmers. But, when this obvious sign of termite infestation appears, a lot of damage has already been done. Even worse, termite swarms don’t last long, and can sometimes go unnoticed when they appear on the outside of a home. This can cause a termite infestation to grow beyond the destructive capability of a single colony.

  • Subterranean termites can already be in the ground where you intend to build your home. These insects don’t wait for a home to be built, then move onto a piece of property. They can already be in the soil, living on dead trees and other decaying wood products, and this fact makes it very important to treat the soil before constructing a home, because the last thing you want to do is have your home built on top of an existing and thriving termite colony.

  • Subterranean worker termites are made for finding your new home. These insects can tunnel through soil as far as the length of a football field in search of an appropriate food source to feed their colony. They are also simple organisms that do not require sleep. They will tunnel and feed 24 hours a day, with no need for rest.

At Russell’s Pest Control, we don’t wait for termites to attack. We offer services that will protect the entire ground surface beneath your new home and stop subterranean termites in their tracks. We also install Sentricon® Termite Colony Elimination System bait stations to pre-treat your property and kill off any colonies present. With proactive termite prevention, you can know that your property is safe.

Don’t wait for termites to strike. Get pre-construction termite protection from Russel’s Pest Control and protect your investment from these silent invaders.

When Should You Get A Termite Inspection?

When Should You Get A Termite Inspection?

When you’re standing on the side of the highway and your car is in a ditch, it is too late to get car insurance. If the doctor comes out with clipboard in hand and tells you you’re going to need a series of operations to correct some complicated abnormality in your body, it is too late to get medical insurance. You’re probably thinking you see where this article is going, but give it a chance. You will be surprised where we end up.

This case can be made for any unexpected disaster from hurricanes to floods and house fires to burglary. When you’re standing in the wreckage of an unexpected event, it is easy to see what you should have done to protect yourself. But there is a difference between termite protection and a termite inspection. We firmly believe that every home and business should have some form of termite protection; we are, after all, a pest control company. But not everyone needs a termite inspection. Here are the cases when a termite inspection is needed.

Selling A Home

If you’re planning on selling your home, you should make sure to get a termite inspection. Termites have been known to evade detection by certified home inspectors. These silent invaders live inside the wood of a home and often leave few signs of their presence. Make sure you have a pest professional do a certified termite inspection to prevent being left holding the bill. Like in the examples above, if the real estate agent for your buyer hands you a paper that shows that they found termites in your house, it is too late; but if you find the termites first, you can have the problem fixed and put the costs into the asking price of your home.

Buying A Home

If you’re planning on buying a home, the last thing you want to do is inherit someone else’s problem. When the papers are signed and you move in, it is too late. Don’t get stuck holding the bill. Make sure you get a certified termite inspection done on that new home before you finish the deal.

When You Suspect Termites

If you’re noticing that the fence in your backyard, the back deck, the patio, or any other wood item on your property has been chewed by termites, it is time to get a termite inspection. This damage will look like someone took a wood carving tool to these wood items.

If you notice a swarm of insects or shed wings around your home, it is time to get a termite inspection. Outside swarms are a warning of a potential infestation and inside swarmers are a sign that you have unknowingly harbored termites for years. In either case, it is important to get a professional involved.

Don’t wait till you are sitting in the middle of a disaster. Protect yourself with a certified termite inspection by calling us today. Here at Russell’s Pest Control we have the training and expertise to inspect and eliminate your termite issues quickly and discreetly.

 

Benefits Of Quarterly Pest Control

Benefits Of Quarterly Pest Control

This article is not meant to sell you on a pest service or treatment plan. It simply outlines why many homeowners decide to get quarterly pest control. The goal it to help you make an informed decision and decide what is best for your family and your home.

Pests encroach. If you’ve owned your home for any length of time you know that pests are ever encroaching upon your property and almost continually assaulting your exterior walls. Homeowners that get a yearly visit from a pest control technician realize quickly that it isn’t enough. Some pests can grow their populations significantly in a year.

Illness is unseen. When pests like cockroaches, rodents, flies, ants, ticks, fleas and mosquitoes come carrying disease and harmful bacteria families often miss the connection. When flu-like symptoms strike they assume it IS the flu. But when homeowners are shown that quarterly visits from a pest technician can reduce sickness in their homes, they make the commitment.

Pest damage is hard to repair. Finding wood damage caused by termites, carpenter ants, and other wood-destroying organisms is horrifying. They burrow deep into support beams and weaken the structure of a home. This can bend the studs in load-bearing walls and cause irreparable warping. These pests should never be allowed into a home. Quarterly visits and the monitoring of bait stations stop wood damage before it can happen.

Extermination is more costly than protection. For many homeowners, the choice to wait on investing in a year-round pest treatment isn’t because they love bugs. It is a financial decision. But when they have to spend money on hiring an exterminator, they quickly realize that quarterly visits would have cost them less.

That’s it. No sales pitch. No link for you to buy now. Just the facts. If you’ve been holding off on getting quarterly visits from a pest control company, we understand. Life is filled with hundreds of little costs, and the number of people holding their hand out to receive your hard-earned money can seem endless. But when it comes to pest control, it isn’t just a matter of improving your comfort and your standard of living, it is a decision that can actually save you more money in the long run. Hopefully, these insights will help you prevent some of the pitfalls mentioned above. But in the end, what matters most is that you have the information to make an informed decision.

The Sentricon System: Combining Termite Control And Earth Day Celebrations

Let us at Russell’s Pest Control wish you a happy, though somewhat belated, Earth Day (Earth Day is celebrated annually on April 22 in case you didn’t know). Lots of people think that the pest control industry and any event celebrating the earth and the environment are probably at odds with one another. We’re here to tell you that this is simply not the case. And, since it is termite season, let us give you the low down on why the Sentricon® Termite Colony Elimination System with Always Active Technology is such good news to Earth-lovers around the globe.

The Sentricon System has been given the Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award, an honor presented by the Environmental Protection Agency for scientific developments that show a marked interest in changing old habits to help reduce the number of hazardous materials released into the world. In the past, the only way to treat a home for termites was to use hundreds of gallons of a diluted chemical around the entire foundation of a home. The Sentricon System completely turned the industry on its head by introducing a method where we can use very small amounts of bait to draw termites into the Sentricon Stations. This means that all of the bait that will be used to eliminate the termite colony is contained in one place, and those stations are equipped with a slide lock on the top so they can’t be opened by a child or by a digging dog.

However, my favorite thing about the Sentricon System is the bait that’s placed inside each station. Most of the time, when you think of a pesticide, you probably imagine that its box or bottle would come with a clear warning on it. We’re used to seeing things like that; in fact, most of us probably have several items in our homes with various warning labels saying things like CAUTION or WARNING. The most potent products get the high-level DANGER rating, which indicates that the ingredients in that item can be deadly if handled improperly. The bait used in the Sentricon System has no such label. Seriously. This means that the cleaner you use to scrub your shower is considered more dangerous to humans than the bait inside the Sentricon System! This is because the bait is specifically designed to target termites. Their digestion process breaks down the bait in such a way that it becomes deadly to them. No wonder the Sentricon System received that Green Chemistry Award!

I’ve got a whole list of reasons why the Sentricon System is an environmentally sound choice for termite prevention and elimination, but perhaps you get the idea already. You can hear more information by calling us at 865.584.8549 for a free termite inspection, or you can visit our contact page.

A Wet Season Is A Termite’s Delight

Let it never be said that an East Tennessee season change is anything but unpredictable! Over the last few weeks, we’ve basked in the glow of the spring sunshine and shivered through the return of a late-winter snow. However, one thing that Knoxville residents have done a lot of in 2013 is dodge rain drops. January was an astonishingly wet month, and March also dealt us above-average rainfalls. While Knoxville homeowners may have mixed feelings about this damp weather, you can be sure that one portion of the population is perfectly pleased by all this moisture: That would be the millions of termites that reside in Knoxville, Maryville, Lenoir City, Sevierville, and other surrounding cities.

As we’ve mentioned before, termites thrive in wet environments. Termites are the clean-up crews of our world. They cheerfully consume dead and rotting (in other words, moist) wood that we view as unsightly clutter. Unfortunately, termites aren’t picky about what they eat. You might be glad that they’re busily getting rid of the fallen tree in the back of your property, but you would probably be less pleased to find that they’re hollowing out the support beams in your crawl space.

Because termites are completely moisture dependent, they must make mud tubes or tunnels for themselves so that they can cross spaces above ground. When a crawlspace or basement holds dampness for an extended amount of time, this makes the termites’ job a lot easier. They can chew through damp wood very quickly and access areas that might otherwise be unappealing in dryer times. So, if you have excessive condensation in your crawl space or water pooling near your slab foundation, you are at a greater risk for termite invasion.

We try to make sure that this blog is as full of self-help tips as possible because we want Knoxville homeowners and business owners to be actively involved in preventing unwanted pest invasions. But, termites are tricky. The average person will likely have a hard time spotting termite activity (which can lie hidden inside your walls for an extended period of time), and effective over-the-counter termite treatments are extremely rare.

Because of this dilemma, we at Russell’s Pest Control like to make the termite prevention process as painless as possible. We do free inspections for termites, so you can have professional eyes on your property without having to pledge your first-born as collateral. Additionally, we use the Sentricon® Termite Colony Elimination System with Always Active Technology.  That’s a long, intimidating product name, but let us assure you that it’s the best termite prevention and elimination system out there. The Sentricon System uses cutting-edge baiting technology to ensure that this product ends up in the mouths of every termite in the invading colony. And, because this system takes advantage of the specific structure of termite biology, we can achieve colony elimination without employing harsh chemicals that could have negative side effects on other bugs or animals in the area.

After just a few more warm, sunny days, the termites are going to wake up and start swarming, and that has potential to add unneeded stress to your already overly-busy life. We can’t make sure that you don’t get stuck in a traffic jam on the way to work or that your dog doesn’t track mud across the kitchen. Termite maintenance, however, is one stressful detail that Russell’s would be happy to take off your plate. Questions? You can always reach us on our contact page.