What to do in a termite swarm

Homeowners may never actually see termites because they live in the ground or potentially in the walls of the home.

Most of the time, a termite swarm  is the only time homeowners actually see termites or find out they have termites before damage is discovered. Mature termite colonies will produce winged reproductive termites that will fly off from the colony in great numbers. This is nature’s way of termites spreading and establishing new colonies. Termite swarms can occur both  indoors and outside.

When termites swarm indoors, they will come out of walls or wooden construction (baseboards, door frames, posts, etc.) through small holes. These are called “exit holes” and were created by worker termites. A swarm will last about 30-40 minutes and the swarming termites will fly toward a light source, typically collecting around windows and sliding glass doors. If these termites can not find soil, they will die in a few hours from dehydration. Often homeowners come home from work to find many dead swarmers (or sometimes just their wings) on window sills, counter tops, around furniture, etc. This is the aftermath of a termite swarm.

Some Do’s and Don’ts if you see a swarm:

• DON’T panic.
• DON’T spray the swarmers with a can of insect spray. They will die naturally in the air and emptying a can of insect spray is unnecessary.
• DON’T try to seal the exit holes. Swarmers must escape and sealing the holes with tape or other materials will only cause them to make new holes to escape from.

• DO try to contain them. This can be done by shutting the door to the room that they are swarming in. Sometimes, a clear plastic baggie can be attached over the exit hole so the swarmers fly into the bag.
• DO vacuum them up and throw the full bag into the garbage. The swarmers in the bag will die and they can not spread.
• DO save a bag full of insets to show a trained inspector.
• DO call a reputable termite company. A trained inspector will be able to make a positive identification of the type of termite and recommend the best control method to solve the problem.

Think you’ve had a swarm in your home? Want to learn more about our Termite Treatment Options? Schedule a Free Inspection or call us at 1-888-2MASSEY (262-7739).

So you have a brick home and think it’s impervious to termites?  Think again!

Every year, termites cause millions of dollars in damage to homes in the US, damage that is not covered by homeowners insurance.  These tiny insects find cellulose material in any home construction type, including brick and steel framed homes.

Subterranean termites reside in the soil and can form tunnels, called mud tubes, up the base of the foundation and get into homes.  Once in the home, they tunnel their way into baseboards and wall studs without you even knowing.  Subterranean termites can also gain entry through plumbing openings in bathrooms and kitchens.

Drywood termites live in the wood they eat and find their way into homes through cracks and gaps in the eaves.  Once in the home, they are typically found in attics or rafters.

In both cases, termites eat wood from the inside out and most homeowners don’t know they have termites until the damage is discovered.

So no matter what your home construction is, you should have a termite protection program in place.  Contact Massey Services to get a Free Termite Inspection and to find out about our termite protection programs.

Did you buy a new home? A pre-owned home? You may not know this, but pre-construction termite treatments don’t last forever. And because termites thrive in the Southeast, all homes are susceptible – and damage is not covered by Homeowners Insurance. Ultimately, the cost of termite protection is probably a fraction of what it would take to repair damage caused by termites.If you’re not sure what kind of termite coverage you have, it’s a good idea to contact the company that provided the initial treatment on your home and get a copy of your termite coverage. Most of the time termite companies place a sticker on your water heater or inside the breaker box that will have their contact information. If you can’t identify the company that provided the initial treatment, it’s a good idea to call a qualified professional to get a termite inspection.

Massey Services has been in the business of protecting homes from termites for more than 75 years and we currently provide service to over 180,000 satisfied customers throughout the Southeast. Contact Massey Services for your free, thorough termite inspection today.

Because termites need water to survive, excess water near the house can encourage termite activity. Here are a few common moisture issues:

• Inadequate property grade. Ideally, your home should sit on a small “hill” as opposed to in a “bowl.” If the finished property grade drains towards the foundation, water from rainstorms or sprinklers can accumulate next to your house and can create moisture conditions which can lead to termite infestation, as well as wood-decay. What to do: You may need to modify the physical grade of your property in order to drain excess water away from the structure.
• Lawn sprinklers spraying walls. If water from sprinklers regularly contacts the walls of your house, you are providing enough moisture for termites to survive within the walls. Spraying the walls can also lead to wood-decay. What to do: Adjust your irrigation heads to keep them from hitting the house.Check your irrigation system frequently for proper coverage.
• Lack of rain gutters. Rain gutters serve to divert water runoff from the roof away from your house. Without them, excess water can accumulate around your foundation, which may create a build up of moisture, a condition that attracts termites. What to do: Make sure gutters drain water away from your home. Make sure that water is drained no less than 3 feet from your foundation.If you have overhangs or eaves, make sure they are long enough to keep water runoff away from the exterior walls.

Check our Termite Home Maintenance Tips area for more information.

Because termites need water to survive, excess water near the house can encourage termite activity. Here are a few common moisture issues:

• Inadequate property grade. Ideally, your home should sit on a small “hill” as opposed to in a “bowl.” If the finished property grade drains towards the foundation, water from rainstorms or sprinklers can accumulate next to your house and can create moisture conditions which can lead to termite infestation, as well as wood-decay. What to do: You may need to modify the physical grade of your property in order to drain excess water away from the structure.
• Lawn sprinklers spraying walls. If water from sprinklers regularly contacts the walls of your house, you are providing enough moisture for termites to survive within the walls. Spraying the walls can also lead to wood-decay. What to do: Adjust your irrigation heads to keep them from hitting the house.Check your irrigation system frequently for proper coverage.
• Lack of rain gutters. Rain gutters serve to divert water runoff from the roof away from your house. Without them, excess water can accumulate around your foundation, which may create a build up of moisture, a condition that attracts termites. What to do: Make sure gutters drain water away from your home. Make sure that water is drained no less than 3 feet from your foundation.If you have overhangs or eaves, make sure they are long enough to keep water runoff away from the exterior walls.

Check our Termite Home Maintenance Tips area for more information.

Termites cause more damage to homes and businesses each year than all the fires, floods, and natural disasters combined.  Termites are found throughout the U.S. but are more densely populated in the Southeast. In fact, up to six colonies can thrive in a single acre plot, with each colony containing thousands or even millions of termites.

You should also realize that termites can get into any home or business structure, including brick, block and stucco. They enter through tiny cracks and crevices in the foundation, eaves and walls in, under and around your home. These cracks don’t have to be huge holes or gaps – termites can get through hairline cracks no wider than 1/64 of an inch!

With so much potential for damage, it’s important to have a termite inspection every year. If you haven’t already, contact Massey Servicesfor your free, detailed termite inspection today.

Termites don’t distinguish between residential homes and commercial businesses. They forage, eat and multiply – 24/7. Because they live underground, there’s a good chance they can find a way into your business without you even knowing it. That’s because they get in through tiny cracks,in, under and around your building’s structure. So it doesn’t matter what your building is made from – concrete, brick or stucco. Remember, termites get in through the cracks – and every building has cracks. That’s why it makes sense to get your business inspected for termites at least once a year. Think of it as your security system against termites. Contact Massey Services for your free, thorough termite inspection today.

Termites don’t distinguish between residential homes and commercial businesses. They forage, eat and multiply – 24/7. Because they live underground, there’s a good chance they can find a way into your business without you even knowing it. That’s because they get in through tiny cracks,in, under and around your building’s structure. So it doesn’t matter what your building is made from – concrete, brick or stucco. Remember, termites get in through the cracks – and every building has cracks. That’s why it makes sense to get your business inspected for termites at least once a year. Think of it as your security system against termites. Contact Massey Services for your free, thorough termite inspection today.

All of the extra moisture that summer rains bring also makes conditions favorable for termites. While it can be hard to detect termites yourself,there are precautions you can take to keep termites out:

• Repair any water leaks and moisture problems. Water leaks in roofs, attics, bathrooms and sink areas create favorable conditions for termites to cause damage.
• Clean gutters and downspouts. Keep gutters free flowing and clean to avoid clogs, which could cause a back-up and lead to water damage.
• Drain all water away from exterior walls and foundation.Make sure drain spouts and air conditioner drainage are flowing away from the home. Use splash blocks to prevent soil erosion around the foundation.

Check our Termite Home Maintenance Tips area for more information.

The most common types of wood destroying insect in Florida are the subterranean termites.  There are several different species of subterranean termites but they all require basically the same methods for their control.  The problem is so widespread and the likelihood of your home becoming infested by subterranean termites is so great, that the State of Florida requires that all new construction must be pretreated by a licensed Pest Control Operator during the construction phase and prior to receiving a certificate of occupancy.

Unfortunately, there are other wood destroying insects that can and do infest structures in Florida.  While these “other” insects are not as common as subterranean termites, they do infest homes fairly regularly throughout the State.  These “other” insects include the Old House Borer, Powder Post Beetles, and Drywood termites.  For years, the only acceptable process for eliminating an infestation by one of these organisms has been tent fumigation.  The process of tent fumigation is invasive and expensive and provides no residual protection against future infestations.  Basically, your home is at risk of re-infestation the very day the tent is removed from the home.  Due to the methods and materials available to us in the past, we were unable to provide retreatment and repair coverage for these organisms without fumigating an active infestation.  Over the years, many customers have asked us to provide them with a way in which they can have coverage for all wood destroying insects so as to gain peace of mind that they are covered for everything.

Several years ago, our company began developing new methods and procedures for curatively and preventatively treating structures for these organisms using newer materials that have recently come onto the market.  As a result, we are now able to provide less invasive and less expensive services for management of these other types of wood destroying insects.  These new methods also enable us to add or upgrade existing Subterranean Termite Service Agreements to Total Coverage Agreements. Not all homes qualify because some homes are not able to be treated preventatively due to their construction type.

For customers that qualify but do not currently have Total Coverage Termite Protection, Massey Services offers an upgrade to their protection at the time of the annual inspection.  “Our goal is to ensure that our customers’ homes are protected from all types of wood destroying insects,” says Adam Jones, Massey Services VP Director of Quality Assurance. “It is what our customers want, need and expect from us and that is why we created Total Coverage,” says Mr. Jones.

If you have any questions about Total Coverage Termite Protection, please contact Massey Services at 1-888-2MASSEY.

Adam W. Jones
Vice President,
Director of Quality Assurance