Category Archives:termites
Termite Inspection: Five Places You Should Look! share
A termite Inspection of your home is an important part of your home maintenance. Where you look, is as important as looking itself. In this article, we will go over the 5 places you should do as part on your termite inspection. Additionally, we will explain what to look for.
#1 The Attic
Your home’s attic is typically framed from wood. This makes it an ideal place for termite colonies to expand unchecked. If you do not have an attic, equally important is your home’s eaves. When inspecting the attic and eaves, look for the most recognizable item: termite tubes, droppings, or wings.
#2 The Deck or Pergola
Paint or stain untreated wood used in inexpensive deck and pergola options. Next, inspect the support beams. Out of sight and out of mind, is not a good thing. Look for the common signs of termites: mud tubes, discarded wings, and droppings.
#3 Wood Piles
Don’t forget to check your outdoor wood. Neatly stacked firewood is a perfect place for pests. The closer the pile of wood is to the house, the bigger the danger for termites going into your home. In fact, spiders, like the Black Widow, make homes in wood piles.
Dead tree limbs and branches are important to include in your termite inspection. Soon after a storm dispose of discarded or old tree and shrubbery pieces as soo as possible.
#4 Basements
If you have a basement, it is imperative to do your termite inspection there too. Your basement is not frequently visited, similar to your attic. This creates a quiet, rarely disturbed place for termites to set up their homes. Furthermore, your home’s wood posts, joints, dampness, and the sub-floor are all exposed. Inspect these the same as the attic.
#5 Crawlspaces
Crawlspaces, for instance, are similar to basements, all that exposed wood and rarely a human visitor. Adding to possibility of a termite infestation is the fact that the soil is completely exposed. This makes a quicker route for termites to crawl from the soil and munch on your wooden undercarriage. Do an annual termite inspection in your crawlspace. In conclusion, you need a professional inspection annually.
Contact Us
A professional termite inspector identifies small issues you may have missed. We recommend annual termite inspections.
Absolute Pest Control is dedicated to making your home safe. If you have a question about pests or any other pest problem, please call us at 615-220-1933 or click HERE to email us. We service most of Middle Tennessee including Smyrna, Murfreesboro, and LaVergne.
5 Little Known Termite Facts share
All Termites Are Not Created Equal
There are multiple species and sub-species of termites. The two largest classifications are Drywood and Subterranean. Drywood termites build their colonies in wood. Subterranean Termites build their colonies under the ground. The Subterranean Termites do they most damage to homes in the United States. Numbers go into the billions! Drywood Termites do damage as well. Their damage reports go into the millions!
Winged Termites are not their own species of termites
Many black termites with white wings are often wrongly identified. These caste termites sent out to start new colonies.
Termites Never Sleep
How can termites quickly do damage? In other words- they never sleep! They are one of Earth’s few living species that are awake 24 hours a day, 365 days a week. Could you imagine how much work human’s could accomplish if they never sleep.
Winged Termites Do Not Always Foretell An Infestation
If you see a small amount of winged termites around your windows, there is no need to panic. A small number of winged termites usually signifies an aging colony. If you see any termites, it is imperative that you have a home termite inspection.
Swarmers Flock To Light
In the evening, if you have a lot of outside porch and house lights you may be attracting termites to your home. It’s true. Termites are attracted to the light. In conclusion, the lack of outdoor lighting can have consequences, but it is important for safety.
Contact Us
Absolute Pest Control is dedicated to making your home safe for you family. If you have a question about pests or any other pest problem, please call us at 615-220-1933 or click HERE to email us. We service most of Middle Tennessee including Smyrna, Murfreesboro, and LaVergne.
5 Ways Your Home is Attractive to Pests share
5 Ways Your Home is Attractive to Pests
Some homes are more prone to pest control issues than others. And, it isn’t just because they are dirty. Below are the most common 5 Ways Your Home is Attractive to Pests.
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Moisture
Pests are attracted to moisture from your HVAC unit, leaky pipes, and standing water. All insects need water to survive. Your HVAC drain pipe must be diverted away from your home. Occasional inspections of visible pipe and easily seen water sources like toilets and sinks. If you see discoloration from a leaky pipe behind a wall, you must fix it quickly. No insect loves standing water more than a mosquito. They are a breeding zones for annoying mosquitoes. Never leave a bucket out to fill with rain water.
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Damaged Screens
One of the easiest ways for insects to get into your home is through ripped, missing, or damaged screens. Inspecting your screens twice a year will reduce the path of the insects tenfold. Screens are especially effective at keeping flies out. House flies are strongly suspected of transmitting at least 65 diseases to humans, including typhoid fever, dysentery, cholera, poliomyelitis, yaws, anthrax,tularemia, leprosy and tuberculosis.
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Crumbs or Food Debris
Crumbs lying around the counter will attract pests in no time. After cooking always put your food away and wipe down counters. Occasionally sweeping beside the stove and behind the refrigerator is helpful. Pantry shelves are a common place for crumbs to gather and move to the back. Cleaning your trash cans and verifying they have latching lids will keep animals like raccoons out of them.
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Clutter
When you have a cluttered home, even if it’s clean, you are asking for inspects and pests to move in. Stacks of magazines next to a table creates a very nice, dark, safe space for spiders. Multiple small appliances on counters may hide debris. Over filled kitchen cabinets can host silver fish.
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Cracks and Holes
Cracks in your exterior allows insects to find shelter from the elements. A hole allows larger animals to make there way into your home, attic, basement, or crawlspace. Fill or repair minor cracks and perform inspections. Holes can be patched, have screens installed, or covered. Make sure you hire an expert for complicated repairs.
5 Ways Your Home is Attractive to Pests
About Absolute Pest Control
Absolute Pest Control is dedicated to making your home safe for you family. If you have a question about insect treatment or any other pest problem, please call us at 615-220-1933 or click HERE to email us.
How Long Does Termite Treatment Last? share
FAQ: How Long Does Termite Treatment Last?
In the United States homeowners spend approximately $5 Billion annually for termite treatment every year. That is approximately 600,000 homes! After spending that much on treatment many clients ask, How Long Does Termite Treatment Last?
Length of Treatment
Most liquid termite treatment solutions last between 3 to 5 years. Some new chemical solutions are rumored to last 10 years. However, that length of time means you can never stop having your home inspected. At least, if you want to protect your largest investment.
Termite Statistics
- Scientists believe that most termite species eat 2 or 3 percent of their body weight each day.
- A single termite queen can lay 30,000 eggs in a day if conditions are right.
- A termite colony eats…24 hours a day – they never stop!
- An active and healthy termite queen can live 25 years. (That is a lot of years of reproducing!)
- The estimated number of active termite species alive on the planet is 2,500!
Can You Treat Your Home Yourself
There are chemicals available for the average person to purchase and treat their own home for termites. But, should the average homeowner attempt it? No. Considering the expense in not treating your home or treating it incorrectly, you should not attempt termite treatment yourself. The chemicals can be very dangerous in untrained hands. Keeping chemicals safely out of the reach of children is another important factor.
About Absolute Pest Control
Absolute Pest Control is dedicated to making your home safe for you family. If you have a question about termite treatment or any other pest problem, please call us at 615-220-1933 or click HERE to email us.
How Much Does Termite Tenting Cost? share
FAQ: How Much Does Termite Tenting Cost?
As a homeowner what the most expensive pest control service they fear and it’s termites. As a Tennessee resident, you know that it isn’t if, but when, you’ll have termites. And, one of the more expensive termite treatments is tenting. Once a termite infestation is diagnosed we rate it based on severity. If we have to go as far as tenting, we are then asked how much does termite tenting cost?
Inspection
The first step in the process is to have a termite inspection. If termites are found, next we rate the infestation. After that, we figure in the square footage of the home, is there a deck or garage connected and needing treatment. At that point, we determine if tenting is needed.
Countrywide Average
Across the US the average cost for termite treatment that includes tenting is $1-$4 per square feet. If we split the difference, the average cost is over $2 per square foot. So, the average home would cost $3000; $2 x 1500 square feet.
Extra Charges
There are factors that will increase the cost of termite tenting that do not come from the pest control company. Because tenting takes multiple days, you will need to stay somewhere else during treatment. If you need additional cleaning after treatment, it will incur more charges.
What Happens
After we are asked How Much Does Termite Tenting Cost? The next question is What Happens During Treatment? As the fumigation process begins, first the technicians will place a rubber tent over your home. Second, they secure it to the ground. It is important to secure the tent because of the toxic fumes created during treatment. Last, the chemicals used for fumigation are released. Stay away from the tent until your pest control company gives you the green light.
We hope this answer your question: How Much Does Termite Tenting Cost?
About Absolute Pest Control
Absolute Pest Control is dedicated to making your home safe for you family. If you have a question about termite treatment or any other pest problem, please call us at 615-220-1933 or click HERE to email us.
Information for this article was seen on MyTermiteTreatmentCosts.com.
How Much Does Termite Treatment Cost? share
We are often asked: “How Much Does Termite Treatment Cost?”
The answer to that question has a huge varying range. The cost depends on:
- size of home
- size of infestation
- length of time termites have been at the home
- if you have a single family home
- which company you hire to alleviate the termite infestation
Furthermore there are other factors that can only be determined during the termite inspection. Which is why we recommend an annual termite inspection. In Tennessee, it isn’t if you’ll get termites, but when! As a result of not having their homes inspected regularly, almost 40% of homes will have termites this year .
We did research to bring you the best possible answer to How Much Does Termite Treatment Cost?
Image courtesy of Wikipedia
Our first place was on Manta.com. You can read their information and report HERE. They report a range between $73 to $721 in Davidson County.
Our second place of research was HomeAdvisor.com. You can read their information and report HERE. They report a national average of $528. A typical range of $218 to $869. The low end of $65. The high end $1400.
Our third place was a local pest control company. They report the typical slab or basement home of $800 to $1500.
How Much Does Termite Treatment Cost if tenting is used?
First of all, it is not common to need tenting. However, if tenting is used on your home because of a termite infestation, it is more expensive. We cannot say the exact amount without an inspection. Absolute Pest Control with give you a full termite inspection report, including pictures, with your estimate.
So, What Can You Do?
Have annual termite inspections by a reputable pest control company. Similarly, protect your home with your own visual inspections looking for obvious tubes. Finally, another thing you can do is avoid the use of cut wood around your home.
Above all Absolute Pest Control is dedicated to making your home safe for you family. If you have a question about termite treatment or any other pest problem, please call us at 615-220-1933 or click HERE to email us.
Fun Termite Facts! share
Termite Facts
These pesky bugs cost American Homeowners billions of dollars every year on structural damage. Don’t be one of these homeowners. Call us for your free termite inspection.
Here are 10 fun facts about Termites.
Fact 1 – Great at Hide and Seek.
The first of our Termite facts are that they build funnels through the material your house is made from, rarely coming out from hiding. This is one of the reasons they can cause so much damage. They are not easy to find. They are busy destroying the wood your house is made of. Feeding on paper, books, insulation, and wood they can be located almost anywhere, making them hard to locate.
Fact 2 – Termite Season.
This pest strikes year-round. Though the rain and temperatures in Spring encourage the bug to emerge and fly into the air, looking for a new feast.
Fact 3 – Zombies?
Another of our fun Termite Facts is that they eat 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They do not stop to rest.
Fact 4 – Deadbeat Dads. 
The father’s step up to the plate for their young. Him and his queen share the duties of child rearing. Helping feed the young, predigested food.
Fact 5 – That’s A Lot of Eggs!
Queens can live 15-25 years. She will lay one egg every 15 seconds. That is 30,000 eggs per day. Fast reproduction can create extremely large mounds. One was discovered at 42 feet tall. How’s that for another Termite Fact!
Fact 6 – Termite’s Have Wings.
Hatch-lings leave the colony in large swarms. In this swarm they locate their mate. Kings and Queens then break their wings to settle down and raise a family.
Fact 7 – Well-groomed Termites.
Time underground makes parasites and harmful bacteria a large threat to termites. They spend a great deal of time grooming themselves and each other to eliminate this threat. Good hygiene is important for survival.
Fact 8 – Termites Are Social.
Staying together as a family for at least two decades these insects raise families as a group.
Fact 9 – Termite’s Weigh More Than Humans.
If you put all the termites in the world on a scale and compared their weight to all the humans in the world, the termites would weigh more.
Fact 10 – Subterranean Termites.
This is the most destructive kind. Eating a lot of wood, they cause expensive damage to houses. Often tunneling through support beams, plastic plumbing pipes, flooring, trees and shrubs. Tampa Bay Florida is home to most of these insects.
Contact Us
Absolute Pest Control is dedicated to making your home safe for you family. If you have a question about these or any other pest problem, please call us at 615-220-1933 or click HERE to email us.
Fighting Termites Before Selling Your Home To Save On Costs share
Fighting Termites Before Selling Your Home To Save On Costs
Termites are one of the most expensive insects. These little insects can ruin the foundation, walls, doors, window sills, etc. of your home. The annoying thing is that most times, you do not realize that your home is infested till it’s too late. Like being on the verge of selling your house.
Full Disclosure
Fighting termites before selling your home can incur unnecessary costs and this can be frustrating. It is required by law that home owners must disclose any termite activity and damage to their potential buyers. It is very difficult to sell a house or a home with termite infestation. Which is why fighting termites before selling your home is very important.
Here are tips on how to fight termites before selling your home and how to save on costs while doing so.
The best cost effective way to fighting termites is by preventing them in the first place.
Soil
Termites love soil; this is their mode of transportation. Seek ways to avoid soil from getting into your homes. Seems crazy, right? Avoid soil. But general cleanliness is important.
Decaying Vegetation
Get rid of any decaying vegetation around your homes; plants, twigs, dead plants, and mulch. These things must be cleared regularly to avoid a termite problems. Many homes in our area spread mulch around their homes twice a year. Don’t buy the cheapest mulch. We recommend Cypress Heartwood mulch; which is termite resistant. Another option is cedar. Termites do not like cedar wood.
Scrap Wood
You must store all wooden building materials away from the house. Any left over wood scraps will attract termites. Rotting wood is especially tempting to termites. Besides fighting termites before selling your home, get the yard cleaned up for a good showing.
Preventative Treatment
This also prevents termites from seeking refuge within your homes. This method would ensure that you get to sell your home, without having to worry about the cost you would incur in trying to get rid of termites.
Termites Are A Menace
Termites are a constant menace to homes. There are ways to treat brand new homes and you will not have termite issues. The law stands behind the buyer in a termite infestation situation. Have your home inspected before it is on the market.
If your home is infested, please give us a call at 615-220-1933 to determine how much treatment is really needed or click HERE to contact us via email.
How To Identify Termites - Video share
How To Identify Termites
As a homeowner, it can be difficult to identify a termite problem until it’s a big problem. This video will show you how to identify termites (several kinds). We offer a Free Termite Inspection annually. Pease get your coupon HERE.
The EPA also provides documentation on How To Identify Termites on their website. You can access those documents HERE.
Termites could cause major structural issues to your property. If you see signs of termite infestation, it is best to call the professionals at Absolute Pest Control.
Absolute Pest Control is dedicated to making your home safe for you family. If you have a question about termites or any other pest problem, please call us at 615-220-1933 or click HERE to email us.
Check the likelihood of your home getting termites on this map.
Here is a real photo of termite damage from a customer’s home in Middle Tennessee.
Signs of a Termite Infestation share
Signs of a Termite Infestation
The Termite is considered one of the worst pests in terms of harm and damage to your home. It is essential to act quickly when these pests are detected in your house or the surrounding area. Termites are winged insects that are frequently confused with ants. Unlike ants, termites have wings of the same size and have straight antennae as well.
Obvious Signs of a Termite Infestation
The initial step to control termite infestation is to detect the level of invasion. Below are the signs of termite infestation inside your home:
- Once you see a flurry, rotten wood, or feel weakened wood- you have termites.
- Another sign of termite infestation are mud tubes on wood, ceilings or walls. Termites make mud tubes for their shelter. Even when mud tubes are empty, you should begin treatment right away.
- Pocked wood is another indication that termites have invaded your home.
Eliminating Termites
- DIY Baiting is a very popular ways of fighting termites. Like all types of pests out there, they are fall prey to bait. Many people try to use DIY methods to get rid of termites themselves. It is not recommended. You might not totally eliminate the problem if the queen and king of the colony aren’t poisoned by the baits.
- The best way to get rid of termites is to call our trained technicians at Absolute Pest Control. We will complete a thorough inspection, present a quote, and offer the best plan for your situation.
- Termites can attack your lawn, don’t strong chemicals because they will damage your grass. Use borate, this is a colorless and odorless chemical that is liquified in water and sprayed on the soil. You might need to spray this chemical on a daily basis to control infestation of termites.
Avoiding Termites
- Termites are avoided by keeping your surrounding areas dry and using pressure treated wood. In spite of those efforts, once you detect termites it’s too late for prevention. You will need expert help to identify the locations of infestation and totally exterminate it.
- Keep your AC drain pipe facing away from your home.
- Don’t use wood mulch.
- Read more HERE
Termites could cause major structural issues to your property. If you see signs of termite infestation, it is best to call the professionals at Absolute Pest Control.
Absolute Pest Control is dedicated to making your home safe for you family. If you have a question about termites or any other pest problem, please call us at 615-220-1933 or click HERE to email us.
Check the likelihood of your home getting termites on this map.
We offer a FREE Termite Inspection.