How Often Should You Get a Termite Inspection?

You’ve successfully purchased your home after it passed its termite inspection, and now you’re enjoying the fruits of your labor and building equity. But beware — a house being termite-free doesn’t mean termites will never show up. So, how often should you get a termite inspection?

Regular termite inspections can help you prevent costly damage to your home and protect your living space and your investment. Below, we’ll explain why termite inspections matter, when to call pest control professionals, and how often to get your home inspected.

Importance of Termite Inspections

Termite inspections can help protect your home in more than one way: by preventing a problem before it starts, and by identifying and rectifying a small problem before it gets bigger.

With regular home inspections, pest control professionals and homeowners can take preventive measures before a termite problem grows out of hand. Specialized subterranean termite treatments, including professional pest control sprays and subterranean bait stations, can intercept termites tunneling toward your home before they can establish a new colony. Many of these treatments are non-toxic to children and animals, but can quickly repel or even kill a termite colony on your property.

If you don’t think your home is currently infested with pests of any kind, regular inspections are still recommended and can be hugely beneficial. Termite prevention is important because most homeowners insurance policies will not cover the cost of repairs for termite damage. Insurance companies consider regular termite inspections to be a vital part of home maintenance, so schedule an inspection before you see signs of termite activity.

During a pest inspection, pest control technicians will look for signs of termites in and around your home, especially in hard-to-reach areas with exposed dirt like crawl spaces. Signs of termite infestations in your home include wood damage, mud tubes, bubbling paint, termite droppings (known as frass), and even termites themselves.

If signs of a termite infestation are present, the termite inspector will work with you to develop a plan to kill the existing colony and provide ongoing, regular termite control treatments, usually via a termite bond.

When You Should Get a Termite Inspection

Pest control companies and insurance companies both recommend scheduling an inspection every year. Annual inspections can help mitigate termite infestations and damage in most homes, but older homes and those in high-risk, termite-rich environments might benefit from more frequent inspections.

If you’re unsure if your home is in an area with a high risk of termite infestation, call your local professional pest control company and ask! Even without scheduling an inspection, most can tell you about your home’s local climate and conditions.

Termite colonies tend to grow, swarm, and relocate as temperatures rise in early spring, so schedule regular annual termite inspections in late spring or summer to detect newcomers early.

What to Expect During a Termite Inspection

Scheduled inspections take an average of 1 to 1.5 hours to complete, depending on the size and intricacy of your property. A trained and qualified inspector will give you a detailed summary of what the inspection will include.

The inspector will look at the property’s interior and exterior, including attics, patios, porches, garages, and sub-areas (basements, crawl spaces, etc.). The inspector will search for prospective leaks in high-moisture regions, places with impaired structural integrity, and indicators of subterranean termites themselves in each of these areas.

After the inspection, the technician will write up a detailed report of any pests or signs of pests found on the property. After sharing their findings, they will propose potential treatments and preventive measures to correct or prevent infestations in the home.

Dodson Pest Control- Termite Service