Termite Heat Treatment Riverside

Heat is a relatively new treatment option for termites. Much like fumigation, heat will penetrate areas of the structure that cannot be reached by traditional pesticide applications. Heat treatments can be completed in a matter of hours and do not require occupants to be out of the house for more than an afternoon.

Before beginning any treatment for termites, our state licensed technicians will perform a thorough inspection of your home or commercial property. They will make a recommendation based on their findings. If heat treatment is the chosen option, our technicians will schedule it during a time where you or the occupants can be out of the home for a 4-6 hour period.

spot treatment termite control riverside
termite heat treatment riverside

How Does Heat Treatment Work?

All bugs, termites included, have a thermal death point of about 120 degrees. This temperature is hot enough to kill termites, but not so hot that it destroys property or electronics. Think of it like parking your car in the sun on a hot summer day. Your car’s interior will reach about the same temperature, but it doesn’t destroy your electronics or dashboard. Heat treatments are very similar. The temperature in your property is brought up to between 120 and 130 degrees for about 4 hours using specialized heating equipment and fans that are strategically placed around the property to maximize the treatment area. Once the heat treatment is complete, technicians will inspect the property and open doors and windows to allow the temperature to return to normal. Occupants will be allowed to return. The whole process including set-up and take-down takes approximately 6 hours.

Other Termite Treatment Options

There are a few treatment options available for termite control. Based on your needs and budget, our termite inspectors will make their recommendations after a thorough inspection of your structure.

termite fumigation riverside

Fumigation

During fumigation, the building is tented for 24-48 hours. Vikane gas is then pumped into the sealed structure, replacing the oxygen. Vikane penetrates hard to reach areas like walls voids, attic spaces, eaves and door frames. After treatment, our technicians will remove the tent and air out the structure. We will thoroughly inspect the structure before we allow occupants to return. Fumigation service is warrantied for 3 years after service.

termite spot treatment riverside

Local Treatment

Local treatment is a great option for small scale infestations or smaller budgets. After a thorough inspection is completed, our technicians may recommend localized spot treatment based on their findings. You will not need to leave the house for this treatment and prep, if any, will be minimal.

orange oil termite treatment riverside

Orange Oil

Orange oil is a non-traditional treatment option used to rid exposed wood structures of termites. It works by injecting the product into the wood structures. Orange oil destroys termites and their eggs quickly and without using traditional pesticide methods like fumigation. Service time is quick and easy and doesn’t require you to be out of the home during treatment.

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Termite Wood Damage & Structural Defects

Natural forces like earthquakes and tornadoes can cause a wake of destruction. Fortunately, they have taught us something about the kind of home they are most likely to damage. It turns out that strong forces “pick on” homes and buildings that have structural defects. Homes that are well built and maintained are more likely to come through a major calamity in much better shape.

A structural defect can be the result of a design or construction flaw and makes your home weaker. Weakening can also be caused by anything that attacks the structural wood. This includes beetles, fungi, termites and carpenter ants. Unchecked, these pests can reduce the strength of wood by as much as 80%, leaving your home susceptible to widespread damage. The stronger the force, the more likely that force will cause severe, and perhaps irreparable, damage to the home.

The porch column that has a masonry exterior can conceal termite- damaged wood inside. The column could break during an earthquake. Had the wood been intact, the column may very well have come through unharmed. Be vigilant in keeping your home in good repair and free of wood-destroying pests. Don’t hesitate to have inaccessible areas opened so they can be inspected for hidden damage.

Termite Trouble Spots

Any structure with wood looks and smells like a big juicy steak to termites. These pests have an uncanny ability to locate wood both by smell and by random searching, even when dirt, cement, or stucco hides the wood. There are certain situations that encourage problems with termites. Here are some common termite trouble spots.

  • Cracks in concrete foundations and foundation walls allow termites hidden access to wood.
  • Soil in contact with wood allows termites easy access. This includes posts set in the ground, soil pushed up against the wood in a structure, concrete porches filled with soil that rests against wood structural members, wooden porch steps that rest on soil, etc. Do-it-yourselfers often erect wooden trellises or fences with posts directly in the ground, and then connect these to the house.
  • Unsolved moisture problems like poor grading that directs water toward a structure, dripping faucets, and leaking pipes all attract termites, which need moisture to survive. Shrubbery or vines that block the airflow through ventilation openings also cause problems.
  • Extra wood like tree stumps and large dead roots, buried form boards, wood chip mulching, and firewood stacked on the ground attracts termites. The pests get started in these, then find their way into a structure.

These are just some of the many, many situations that can lead to trouble with termites. A professional Southland Pest Control’s inspection can spot these and other, less obvious conditions that can lead to problems with various wood-damaging pests.