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Following are answers to
some of the most commonly asked questions. These
will help explain some of our Green and
Alternative Termite Control Treatments. If
you don't see the answers you are looking for
contact us through our
Contact page,
and we will find the answer to your question.
Termites look similar to flying ants, except they have elongated bodies rather than separated body parts. They also have two pairs of wings. In Southern California, we deal mostly with two types: Subterranean and Drywood. Subterranean termites live within the ground and travel to the structure in mud tunnels. Drywood termites live in the wood and produce small round pellets that resemble coffee grounds.
The Electro-Gun is a hand-held device that emits 90,000 volts of electricity in order to treat Drywood termites. The termites then conduct the current because their bodies are 90% water. Wood, however, is not a good conductor of electricity. The electric current seeks the path of least resistance therefore it enters the termite tunnels and shocks them.
The Microwave Treatment is similar to the microwave you have at home. It has been redesigned, however, to treat flat surfaces such as walls or wood beams. It cooks the termites and will treat one square foot area at a time.
Heat is a completely non-chemical process. It kills termites and deodorizes the treatment area by raising the temperature above 130 degrees using hot air. The process takes about 4-8 hours and does not require leaving overnight or bagging your food as fumigation does, nor does it damage roof tiles.
Tim-Bor is a borate/sodium solution that is formulated to penetrate through wood. It not only kills the termites, but also helps protect against re-infestation and stays in the wood indefinitely.
Boracare is also a borate/sodium solution but has an additive that allows the product not only penetrate the wood but will last longer. Boracare offers a long lasting residual against future infestation.
Premise 2 is used to treat for subterranean termites as well as drywood termites. It is not a repellent to the termites and is very effective because the termites do not know it is there. They take it back to the colony and it is transferred to the other termites as they groom each other. Premise 2 is also orderless.
Termidor works very similar to Premise for the exception that Termidor works slower on the termites therefore there is a better chance of the product being carried deeper into the colony which means more termites will die. Termidor is also very effective in the control of ants as well.
Treatment Cost will vary depending upon the size and accessibility of the structure and the extent of the infestation. We also need to know what type of termites you have and what method of treatment is required. These are factors that the inspector will be discussing with you and he can give you an exact cost at the time of the inspection and there is no obligations to have work done.
All of the methods kill termites. Heat and fumigation are the
only whole structure all encompassing treatments. Fumigation
requires vacating the structure for several days whereas heat does not.
White Spots In The Wood are usually a form of fungus and not a sign of termites. If you point it out to your inspector, he will identify it for you and give you a recommendation to correct any problem.
An Inspection on an average single family home usually takes about an hour and includes all accessible areas including the attic, and sub area. Be sure to make all areas accessible for inspection.
Swarmers are the mature reproductive termites that swarm to
start new colonies.
The Termites are swarming everywhere - What can I do?
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The swarming termites are more of a nuisance than a hazard. They swarm in bunches and usually loose their wings and die without establishing new colonies or damaging the structure. There will be less each time they swarm until they empty their colony and stop. You can spray them with water then they can be vacuumed up. It will be helpful to the technician if you point out any areas you see them swarm from.
Why do I still see droppings or evidence of termites?
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Most products take time for actually work effectively throughout the termite colony. A termite may have been infected with a product but not show signs of being sick for 24 hours. As each termite travels throughout the colony it transfers the product to other termites. The process can take up to a few weeks before we really see a difference. Also, the termites that were the farthest from the treatment area will come to aide or rescue the injured and will travel to the treatment area. Those are the termites you will actively see most after a treatment. More so than not, you will see the termites trying to flee from the treated areas.
The length of time for mortality to occur will vary depending
on the treatment methods used. Usually within 4 to 6 weeks
mortality from all methods should occur.
What if I continue to see termite droppings?
Does this mean the treatment didn't work?
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The "droppings" that you see as a result of drywood termite activity are fecal pellets. These hard, dry pellets will remain within the termite galleries long after the termites are dead. If you break open a damaged area, droppings will be present. Droppings will also fall out from vibrations weeks, months even years after the termites are no longer active.
What should I do if I see droppings after the treatment?
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It is common to see fecal pellets after treatment. The pellets may continue to sift out of broken galleries. To determine if you have activity or simply "fall-out" of inactive galleries, tap on the area with your fist or a rubber mallet. This will shake down the loose pellets. Then vacuum or sweep them up. Observe area undisturbed 3 to 4 weeks. If there is an accumulation of fecal pellets, contact our office and we will inspect the area and re-treat, if necessary.
What can I do to protect my home from future infestations of termites?
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Drywood termites gain entry into your home by finding damaged or unfinished wood by borrowing a hole into it and starting the colony. Replacing previously damaged wood and applying two coats of good quality paint to all wood surfaces is an excellent preventative measure. Sealing or caulking the cut ends of fascia (trim boards) will also help prevent entry of drywood termites.
How can I tell if the Electro-Gun is right for
my house?
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Only a licensed
inspector who has been trained and certified by
Etex Ltd. on the proper use of the Electro-Gun
can make that determination or recommendation.
The same is true for all other "alternative"
treatment methods, since they too all have their
own unique advantages and disadvantages. Beware of
the inspector who quickly dismisses fumigation
alternatives or won't discuss the subject with
you. Only in cases where an infestation is
widespread or inaccessible should an inspector
offer you only the option of fumigation.
Always ask if the inspector's company uses
non-chemical alternatives, if he/she says no,
find out why. If you are told "They don't work",
don't believe it. All of the alternatives
have been proven to work, and even if "whole
house treatment" is required in your case, you
may want to compare heat fumigation to chemical
fumigation before deciding. The Electro-Gun is
not the only alternative.
Can my whole house be treated with the
Electro-Gun?
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The Electro-Gun
is not a "whole-house" treatment
method for extensive or generalized
infestations. The Electro-Gun is intended for
treatment of localized infestations. Several
localized infestations can be successfully
treated in the same house using the Electro-Gun,
and combining the Electro-Gun with other
alternatives, including mild borates, can
greatly expand its utility. If the infestations
are extensive, or if they are in completely
inaccessible areas, fumigation with toxic chemicals or
Direct HeatTM may be the only choices
available. The key, as with cancer, is regular
checkups for early detection and treatment
before it spreads.
In most cases,
yes! In proper applications the Electro-Gun,
even when used by itself, will kill from 98% to
100% of the termites which are exposed to its
current within 4 weeks of treatment, as
confirmed by recent testing. We offer a warranty
on our work, so if termites do persist, you are
not charged for a re-treatment.
If you kill all the termites now, are my termite
problems solved forever?
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Probably not,
unless further precautions are taken. Termites
swarm annually and are continually on the
lookout for a new residence. If you treat
successfully and kill all the termites in a
residence, you still leave their tunnels behind
to serve as ready-made condos for new swarms. To
help reduce the possibility of re-infestations
you should consider a borate or other residual
treatment, spraying all unfinished exposed wood
by injecting all tunnels making these areas
unattractive to termites. Also you should
consider caulking around all windows, removing
all wood and debris under or next to your house,
keeping your exterior wood properly painted, as
well as placing a very tight meshed screen wire
on all attic and sub-area air vents.
No, except that
some very small holes (1/8") may be drilled
during treatment to allow access to difficult to
treat areas or for injection of the borate or
other residual to prevent re-infestation. In
spite of the high voltage, the low current and
high frequency of the current provides not only
safety for people in the area, but also does
not allow for significant temperature
increases even in the areas treated. Household
and telephone wiring is unaffected, however,
electrical devices which may have sensitive
circuits, such as the telephone itself, TVs,
stereos, alarm systems and the like must be
disconnected to avoid damaging their
sensitive circuits. These items will be listed
in the Customer Preparation Guide given to you
by the inspector if the Electro-Gun is going to
be used in your home or building. Prior to
treatment, the technician should do a
"walk-thru" to assure all identifiable
electronic items are safely disconnected.
90,000 volts sounds awfully high. Could I get electrocuted?
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Current is
the dangerous part of electricity not voltage.
The Electro-Gun operates at less than 1/2 amp of
current. In addition, the high frequency (60,000
Hz) of the system creates what is known as "skin
effect" which means that if the flow is
accidentally encountered, the electricity will
dissipate out and around the skin, finding its
way to ground without penetrating body tissue or
adversely affecting the nervous system. The
person experiencing this will certainly feel a
"jolt", but no serious damage will be done. This
same phenomenon does not apply to the termites
though because their bodies are too small;
without the benefit of the skin effect the
current is lethal to them.
People with
pacemakers are required to leave the treatment location.
Is there any harmful radiation from the
Electro-Gun?
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No! The
Electro-Gun operates only on the principal of
the flow of electricity from the wall socket,
through circuits in the equipment, through the
termites and then to ground. Being in the
vicinity while the equipment is operating is no
different than being near your refrigerator or
electric stove while it is running.
People with
pacemakers are required to leave the treatment location.
Can we stay in the house while Electro-Gun
treatment is being done?
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Yes, but we don't
recommend it ..... its boring. All your toys
such as TV, radios, stereo, computer and
telephone will be disconnected. Go shopping with
some of the money you are saving. If you stay
home, the technician probably won't allow you in
the immediate work area because of insurance
requirements.
It depends
greatly on the extent of the infestation and
whether augmentation with another alternative method is
required. However, in most cases, the treatment
can be done in one day. Ask your inspector, as
he/she can give you a reasonable estimate after
seeing and evaluating the problem and
formulating the treatment plan.
Contact ECOLA Services
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