Termite Control & Termite Inspections
If you even think you might have a termite problem, call today. Without a proper termite treatment, your home or business could be significantly damaged by termites in less than a year, and most home owners policies do not cover termite damage.
Termite Control Services:
- Termite Inspection – detailed evaluation of current termite conditions through thorough inspection of home by licensed technician.
- Termite Treatment – custom plan to meet your budget
- Termite Control – for both preventative and curative termite issues
- Termite Warranty – we offer a one year warranty and a five year warranty
New Construction Termite Protection
Protect your investment in your new home by pre-treating your home during the construction phase! Call us today or have your builder contact us at 830-431-1960 for your termite protection service.
Signs of Termite Infestation
Generally, the first indirect sign of infestation is the discovery of fecal pellets or the presence of alates on windowsills or near lights. Alates found inside the house (if windows and doors have been closed), are an indication of infestation within the structure. Another indication of infestation is the presence of discarded wings near emergence sites, on windowsills or caught up in cobwebs. The presence of alates outdoors is a natural phenomenon and is not an implication of home infestation.
Drywood termites spend their entire lives inside wood. They construct round “kick holes” in infested wood, through which the fecal pellets are eliminated from the galleries or tunnels. These pellets accumulate in small piles below the kick holes, or will be scattered if the distance between the kick hole and the surface below is very great. Fecal pellets also may be found caught in spider webs.
Subterranean termites are the most destructive insect pests of wood in the United States. They cause billions of dollars in damage each year and have a negative impact on a family’s most valuable possession— the home. In nature, subterranean termites are beneficial because they break down cellulose into usable nutrients. The biomass resulting from this process is recycled to the soil as humus. Subterranean termites are, therefore, considered important in our ecosystem.
Problems occur when termites attack the wooden elements of homes, businesses and warehouses built by humans. The presence of termites is often not readily noticed because their activity is hidden behind wallboards, siding or wood trim. Homeowners in all areas of Texas should watch for subterranean termites and take precautions against infestations.
Subterranean termites are social insects that live in colonies within the soil, hence their name “subterranean.” The best way to identify them is to look out for Mud Tunnels: Subterranean termites maintain their headquarters in the ground and build “mud tubes”, pencil-size, that connect the nest (moisture) to the food source (wood).The tunnels may contain broken mud particles with fecal materials. Mud tubes or shelter tubes are proof of termite infestation, but their absence does not necessarily mean that a structure is free of termites. The insects may reach sills and other wood members through cracks or voids in the foundation wall, under the outside stucco, or from earth-filled porches, steps, terraces, or patios. You can break open tubes to determine if termites are still active inside. Termites often rebuild damaged tubes, another indication of continued activity. Old tubes are dry and will crumble easily.
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We are here to help you from 8am to 5:30pm. Our office is located at 39340 Interstate 10 West, Boerne, TX 78006.
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830-431-1960
Termite Inspection, Treatment, and Control FAQs
How do I know if I have termites?
Termites can present themselves in a variety of ways. Commons signs to look for include:
- Swarming insects around your home
- Pinholes in wood
- Tunnels in wood
- Raised dirt or mud tubes on the surface of the foundation or siding on the outside of the home or on the walls and ceilings inside the home
- Rotted out or hollow sounding wood where no water damage is present
- Sagging floors and ceilings
- Termite droppings – often found on windowsills, these droppings resemble saw dust
- Tapping or clicking noises from inside the walls – Termites may bang their heads on the walls to warn of danger.
- Visibly spotting termites around the home – Termites look like white ant-like bugs.
- Discarded wings – especially in piles. Termites drop their wings once they establish a new colony.
When you are inspecting your home for termites be sure to look inside cabinets, on walls, near windows and vents, attics, siding, porches, decks, mulch and wood piles. Termites can be easy to miss. Inspection by trained professionals is recommended.
Are there termites in the Texas Hill Country?
Yes, unfortunately termites are very common in Boerne, Comfort and the rest of the Texas Hill Country. In fact, most of the buildings on Boerne Main Street have had to utilize termite treatments to prevent termite damage to the building.
What type of termites are in Texas?
Boerne and the Hill Country have both Dry Wood Termites and Subterranean Termites. That means that your home could be affected both by termites that live inside the walls and those that live in the ground around your home but enter the home to feed on the wood framing.
How often should I get a termite inspection?
In general, a home should have a termite inspection each year. While you probably won’t need a certified inspection each year, you should have a certified pest control technician inspect the home for any signs of recent termite activity each year.
What does a termite inspection include?
A licensed inspector will examine your home from attic to foundation, inside cabinets and closets, and other typical areas of termite activity. We’ll look for signs of termite activity that homeowners may not recognize like termite kick holes. If we find evidence of termite activity, we’ll identify the type of termite and recommend a treatment plan to eradicate the termites as quickly as possible.
How does Covenant Pest Control typically treat for termites?
Covenant Pest Control will determine the treatment based on the type of termites in the home and the location and infestation level of the termites. Subterranean termites are typically treated with injections around the foundation of the home and at areas where plumbing enters the home. Drywood termites typically require the treatment of all exposed wood (pier & beam, paneling, and attic) and injections into the walls at termite kick holes.
How long does a termite treatment last?
Treatments for subterranean termites are guaranteed for one year. The guarantee for drywood termite treatments vary from 1-5 years depending on the level of treatment chosen. If a spot treatment is utilized, it will come with a 1-year warranty while a treatment involving the entire structure is guaranteed for 5 years.
What can I do to prevent termites?
Since termites migrate from one place to another, you may not be able to completely prevent a termite attack. However, there are things you can do to make your home less attractive to traveling termites.
- Remove any decaying lumber or firewood from your yard
- Prevent moisture from accumulating around your home
- Keep firewood at least 6 inches off the ground
- Don’t store firewood against the exterior walls of your home
- Keep mulch as far away from the foundation as possible
- Preventatively treat your home with a termiticide
If I’m buying a house, will my home inspector also perform a termite inspection?
Most home inspectors are not trained or licensed to correctly inspect for termites. If you are purchasing a home, it’s best to have a certified termite inspector perform a thorough inspection for termites, wood destroying insects (WDI), and fungi. They should inspect the home from the ground up for signs of a problem and give you a certified inspection notice.
Covenant Pest Control is a Texas Pest Control Company serving in and around the Texas Hill Country
Pest Control in & near: Bergheim, Boerne, Bulverde, Comfort, Cross Mountain, The Dominion of San Antonio, Grey Forest, Fair Oaks Ranch, Helotes, Kendalia, Leon Springs, Nelson City, Pipe Creek, Sisterdale, Spring Branch, Waring, Welfare.
Neighborhoods of : Cordillera, Esperanza, Herff Ranch, River Crossing, Tapatio Springs and more
Pest Control for ants | scorpions | centipedes | spiders | sugar ants | fleas | ticks | grub worms | chiggers | fire ants | flying insects | hornets | wasps | yellow jackets | ground nesting hornets | mosquitoes | cockroaches | silverfish | crickets | termites | wood destroying insects | carpenter ants | acrobat ants | rodents | barn swallows