JUST WHAT IS
NO TENT TERMITE CONTROL ANYWAY?

Does it really work? Or is it a scam? 

Learn how many unscrupulous pest control operators take advantage of the fact that most homeowners do not want to have their home tented.

Many homeowners have been deceived into thinking that NO TENT termite control actually works. They are told that merely spraying the wood with various chemicals will take care of the termite problem. But before we explore the process and find out for ourselves if this is true, we need to know a few facts about Drywood termites and simple construction. After you read this eye-opening report you will be able to make a “common sense” decision whether your property can be effectively treated using the “no tent” method and not get ripped off as have many misinformed South Florida property owners.

THE NO TENT “BAIT AND SWITCH” CON 

Unscrupulous pest control operators use this “bait and switch” method.  They know the average property owner usually does not want to “tent” their building because it’s such a big deal - you have to move out, take the food out, worry about damaged shrubbery and people walking on your roof, to name just a few concerns.  If someone tells them that “tenting” is unnecessary they’re all ears.

So here’s how this con works.  The inspector checks your home and then gives you the bad news. Your home does not qualify for the “no tent” method because the Drywood termite infestation has spread too far. He further states that your home will have to be fumigated to eliminate the infestation.  Do you really want to do business with people who gain access to you by using false premises?

 THE ACTUAL “NO TENT” CON

Most of us who do termite control know if you treat a certain area where a visible termite colony exists, the termites will not return to that area again as long as the chemical remains active.  Many times this gives the property owner a false sense of security since they see no more activity in the visible treated area(s). They assume that the termite problem has been eliminated.  They don’t realize that the termites could also be active (and causing continuous damage) in  many areas inaccessible to visual inspection. Unscrupulous pest control operators neglect to mention this fact to their prospective customers. They actually convince the unknowing customer they can treat all the wood in the home with chemicals to eliminate all infestations of Drywood termites including the roof, the walls and all other areas where the termites can form colonies.

Let’s examine the following
examples to see if this is true

Drywood termites are the species with which the "no tent" treatment method is used. This is because the entire colony of these termites lives in a small localized area above the ground in any piece of dry wood from the roof to the floor and also the furniture. Since we know this we can kill them either by “tenting’ or with a “spot treatment” - which is effective only if the infestation made by the entire colony is visible and accessible. 

Termite droppings are found in a door, a door frame, or a baseboard. The entire termite colony is located in a piece of wood where the infestation is visible and accessible for treatment.  A “spot treatment” using the ELECTRO-GUN and/or the drill and treat method could solve the problem here because the technician could treat the entire infestation.  (Remember the entire Drywood termite colony lives in a small local area).

Termite droppings are found in an attic.  If the technician can get into the attic and then crawl over to where the infestation is found, then a “spot treatment” may solve the problem (NOTE:  this is rarely the case).  But if the technician can’t reach the infestation and then tries to spray it from a distance, there is simply no way of telling whether the chemical actually covered all the wood. Property owners must be on guard against an inspector/salesman who promises that simply spraying the infested area from a distance will eliminate existing infestations. Without actually injecting the infested wood with a chemical or electricity you will not, in most cases, kill the termites inside.

Termites are found in an attic. Some of the areas are accessible for treatment and some are not.  Beware of an inspector who tells you that spraying the entire attic will eliminate all the infestations, whether they be visible or hidden. They may also tell you that the termites inside the wood will eventually come to the outside surface of the wood which was sprayed, eat through the toxic chemical and die.  If one simply takes the time to check how an attic is constructed, they would soon see that it is impossible to treat the entire attic area simply because you can’t get to all of the areas to treat them. REMEMBER:  DRYWOOD TERMITES CAN INFEST ANY PIECE OF WOOD ANYWHERE IN AN ATTIC.

INSULATED ATTICS  -  Forget it.  I have yet to meet a termite inspector who will put on coveralls and a mask  and then crawl throughout an insulated attic to treat all the wood in attic temperatures which can reach over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Any termite inspector who tells you he can properly treat an insulated attic without “tenting” is scamming you.  Tell him thanks but no thanks. This is where you need to use your “common sense”.  (See insulated attic example pictured below.)

SWARMERS ONLY  - Every spring thousands of South Florida property owners experience a “swarm” of Drywood termites.  These termites swarm out of existing colonies to establish new colonies.  In many cases there is no visible sign (such as droppings) to indicate the location of these existing colonies.  Beware of the unscrupulous pest control operators who will try to sell you a “no tent” termite treatment even when they can’t  locate the infestation.

As you can see, many areas of a building are inaccessible for inspection and/or  treatment such as insulated attics, interior wood walls, wood behind built-in furniture and kitchen cabinets. These are just a few examples.

If you can’t find the infestation how can you say that your treatment worked. You can’t!  That’s just COMMON SENSE.

SO LET’S SUM UP

There are only two legitimate ways to treat Drywood termite infestations.

Spot treatments as discussed above only work if the infestation is accessible.  An example of such an area is: ELECTRO-GUN OF OPEN BEAM CEILING

Fumigation (tenting)

If you can’t visually locate the infestation(s) then the only proven method is fumigation.

Is “no tent” termite control a scam? 
Use your “common sense”.

Call us now and we will:

  Evaluate your particular problem correctly!

 

  Give you a no nonsense “spot treatment” or 

              "tenting" proposal!