Termites are small insects that eat wood from the inside out, making them difficult to detect. A licensed and certified termite inspector can examine a home for signs of termites, including mud tubes and damage to wooden beams. The inspector will also check soil moisture and provide recommendations for treatment if necessary.
Termites are tiny insects that look like ants and work under the surface of your home, eating away at the cellulose in your wood. They work from the inside out, making them imperceptible to the untrained eye. Termites are often not discovered until an infestation has occurred and massive amounts of damage has been done to your home. That’s why it’s recommended to hire a termite inspector to thoroughly examine your home for signs of termites. There are several steps a termite inspector takes during your home inspection.
In most areas of the United States, a termite inspector must be licensed and certified to perform a termite inspection. In addition to these requirements, inspectors must keep current with state termite inspection rules and regulations, which change periodically. Most professional pest control services require their termite inspectors to be trained in termite biology and local building regulations.
When performing a termite inspection, an inspector wears personal protective clothing to crawl in dark and dirty places. This outfit usually consists of overalls, a helmet, gloves, knee pads, and a dust mask. Other items needed to perform the inspection include a flashlight, screwdriver, masonry hammer, inspection mirror, moisture gauge, ice pick, camera, ladder, and a clipboard with pen and graph paper.
There are several clues that a termite inspector looks for during the inspection. One of the most important signs of an underground termite infestation is the presence of mud tubes. These tubes are made by termites to traverse open areas without drying out or becoming lunch for predators. Mud tubes are found on the inside and outside of foundation walls, in cracks of structural areas, under home siding, and in piers and pillars.
During the course of the inspection, the inspector crawls under the house and examines the wooden beams for damage. When termites eat wood, they work in the direction of the grain rather than across it, leaving distinctive marks. When termites feed on the wood, they also leave a mud-like substance on the edges. A termite inspector will document this on your inspection forms, with a diagram noting the location.
Termite inspectors go deeper than just what they can see with the naked eye. Part of a termite inspector’s job is to tap wooden beams with a blunt instrument to hear whether termites have damaged the interior of the wood. If there are termites, a hollow sound will be produced. Another method to tell if damage has been done is to gently probe the wood with an ice pick.
A termite inspector’s job doesn’t end with the inspection. He will also check the soil moisture content and crawl space to see if the area is at high risk for termites in the future. When the inspection is complete, he will provide a recommendation for termite treatment if needed.
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