How to Prepare Your Property for a Termiticide Treatment

Termites are a very serious problem, and so termite protection and the treatment of them need to be equally serious. You cannot take the risk of allowing them to become established in your property because of the extensive damage they can cause in a very short time.

You need to arrange regular inspections to check for the presence of termites and, if they are present, take prompt action to eradicate them with the appropriate termiticide treatment. Before this happens, you must prepare for termiticide treatment and inspections in order to ensure the process goes smoothly.

A failure to do so can cause delays, prevent procedures from being as thorough as they should be and may also result in additional costs being incurred. The preparation you need to undertake, however, will depend on what is being done.

Preparing for a Termite Inspection

When a termite inspection is due, preparation should aim to make the inspector's task as easy and effective as possible:

• If you suspect termite activity in certain areas, inform the inspector in order to focus attention on those areas.
• Move items away from interior walls and from cupboards so that they do not obstruct the inspection. Pay particular attention to damp areas, such as bathrooms and kitchens, clearing articles from under sinks and away from pipes.
• Provide access to basements and attics, which are areas where termites frequently build nests.
• Clear obstructions, such as garden furniture, from the exterior walls of the property and trim back trees and shrubs that are close to or touching the walls.
• Do not disturb termites if you spot them because this may cause them to scatter to other parts of the property.
• Do not undertake any extensive mopping of floors or take long showers with windows closed just before the inspection takes place. This can cause a build-up of moisture, which will reduce the effectiveness of moisture meters that may be used to detect dampness behind walls that is caused by termite activity (they convert cellulose-based materials such as wood and cardboard into a wet mush).

The more you can do to facilitate the inspection, the better the process and outcome.

Preparing for Liquid Soil Treatments

Subterranean termites live under the ground and are eradicated by putting termiticide into the soil and under concrete around the building's foundations so that a protective barrier is created. So that this work can be carried out, you need to make certain preparations:

• Make sure the technician can easily access the exterior of the property by removing any obstructions, such as potted plants and garden furniture, that are against the walls. Try to create a clear space of about one metre (three feet) so that signs of termite activity are not obscured.
• Cut back any trees and shrubs that are touching or close to the exterior of the building. This not only allows the technician to move freely but also reduces access for termites and other pests.
• Water the soil around the building the day before the treatment since this can help the termiticide to spread better.
• The removal of obstructions is also necessary when baits are being placed. No preparation is needed, however, for the interior of the building.

Preparing for Fumigation

Drywood termites get into your furniture, behind the walls and into the very structure of your property and are extremely destructive. They are quite elusive and generally need to be killed using a gas that permeates throughout the whole property, with a tent placed over the building to contain the gas.

Preparation for fumigation, therefore, needs to be much more thorough:

• You will need to move out of the property during the treatment and afterwards for aeration, which can take up to 72 hours. So you will need to arrange alternative accommodation.
• Open all interior doors, shutters, cupboards and drawers so that the gas can penetrate everywhere and do its job.
• Turn off and unplug all electrical appliances and make sure any gas supply to your property is also turned off.
• Do not put plastic covers over furniture since this can trap the gas.
• Food and medication in sealed containers such as glass jars or metal cans will be okay but anything in plastic or cardboard containers needs to be removed or placed in special fumigation bags. Any perishable food items or those in open containers must be removed from the premises.
• Ensure full access is available for pest technicians.

Making the Treatment Process More Effective

The main aims of preparation are to ensure the pest professional can work properly, that all processes are simplified so the work is carried out efficiently and effectively, and that everyone is kept safe. At Dentec Pest Solutions , we will always let you know about everything you need to do before we call and will keep you fully informed of the process.

Our aim is to keep your home free from pests so that it and its occupants are fully protected in the most affordable and convenient manner possible. We will always operate in a fully professional manner and will ensure we cause minimal disruption.

Dealing with pests is not an enjoyable process, but it is necessary. So contact us now, and we will show you how we will keep your property protected from all pests in the best and most convenient manner.