What Does a Termite Professional Do During an Inspection?

Have you scheduled your very first termite inspection? Are you a little anxious about what will happen and how to prepare? An inspection is one of the wisest things you can do to protect your home. It ensures no pesky homewreckers have moved in and started chewing on your home. Having a stranger come in and look through all your house’s nooks and crannies can be overwhelming for some. It need not be. Termite professionals are well-trained to ignore any ‘clutter’ and seek out the signs of a potential infestation. You will find that the termite inspection of your Hayward home is efficient and stress-free. The professionals know what they are looking for and how to handle the results so that you can rest easy.

Termite Inspection: What to Expect and How to Prepare

Even with words of encouragement, you may wonder if there is anything you need to do and what to expect. Understanding the following steps will make things much easier for all parties involved. During an inspection, your inspector will:

1. Look for signs of activity. They understand how termites tick, which helps them locate potential spots of activity. They will look at the inside and outside perimeter of your home. These areas include your foundation, basement, crawlspace, and attic. Some specific items they will look for include:
   • Blistered or warped surfaces. They will check your doors, door frames, ceilings, and floors. They are checking for water damage or buckled wood and blistered paint.
   • Hollow sounds. They will also check spots that sound hollow. These are areas that termites have eaten, which have now become so soft that a screwdriver can easily push through the outer material.
   • Frass. Your inspector will look for termite droppings called ‘frass.’ It can be mistaken for sawdust, but it is not.
   • Exit holes. This is typical in drywood termites in search of a mate. They will drill through wood to allow for swarming, which is the regular mating season.
   • Discarded wings. Reproductive termites drop their wings once they mate. They are often found on windowsills, foundation walls, and spider webs.
   • Mud tubes. Your inspector will check for mud tubes made of dirt, feces, and saliva and allow the bugs to move between your home and their nest.
2. Ways to prepare for an inspection. You don’t have to go to a lot of fuss, but taking a few steps will help the inspection go smoothly and quickly, including:
   • Ensure the attic is accessible. Drywood termites love attics. Your inspector will want to check this area out. It’s helpful to have easy access to this part of your home.
   • Unblock your crawl space. They will want to check for moisture and mud tubes under your home.
   • Pull furniture away from the walls. The inspector will spend most of their time inspecting the boundary areas of your home. Pulling the furniture away from the wall will help them immensely.

Keep Your Home Termite-Free with Regular Inspections

Call in the professionals from Times Up Termite for your next termite inspection. Our well-trained technicians conduct thorough examinations to aid you in keeping your home free of unwanted pests. We are here to help with different treatment options, such as the eco-friendly, reduced-risk solution called Altriset. It is an excellent choice for homes where children, pets, or pregnant moms reside. We also recommend bait monitoring and bait stations by BASF. Give us a call today to learn more!

Call 510-568-7200 to speak with our team of experienced, licensed professionals at Times Up Termite, Inc. You can also contact us online to request a free termite inspection and book a termite treatment in Hayward.