Educate Yourself

Keeping your home pest and termite free requires a team effort. The professionals at Palmetto Exterminators not only provide you with the highest quality service, but also arm their customers with valuable knowledge to keep their homes pest and termite free. Palmetto Exterminators’ Annual Inspections are the best in the business. Our technicians are on the lookout for conditions conducive to a termite infestation and will document these conditions on the Annual Inspection Report so that the customer can correct the situation.

Of course, if you have questions and concerns, we invite you to “Ask The Experts” or “Request A Free Inspection” so that you can talk to the professionals at Palmetto Exterminators directly.

Some Helpful Hints From The Professionals At Palmetto Exterminators

• Because termites are attracted to moisture, avoid water accumulation near your home’s foundation. Divert water away from your home with properly functioning downspouts, gutters and splash blocks.
• Quickly repair any house damage caused by moisture, such as a roof leak or plumbing leak.
• Perform routine maintenance on your home, just as you do on your automobiles. You should routinely caulk, paint and clean your gutters.
• Reduce humidity in crawl spaces.
• Prevent shrubs, vines and other vegetation from growing over and covering vents and also from growing on the exterior of your home.
• Eliminate wood contact with the ground around your home.
• Remove any wood or construction debris from your crawl space or around your home.

F.A.Q.

How can I tell the difference between flying ants and termites?

Termites are often confused with ants; however, a few simple things distinguish the two. Termites have straight antennae; a broad waist; short legs; and both wings are the same size and shape with a lace-like appearance. On the other hand, ants have an elbowed antennae; a thin, pinched waist; long legs; and their hind wings are smaller than the front wings. Differences in ants and termites: View Diagram

If the swarmers are gone, I don’t really have termites, right?

Swarmers do not go away. As a matter of fact, they may be an indication that termites have infested your home for quite some time. The sole purpose of swarmers is to set up new colonies. These new colonies will only increase the destructive damage termites can inflict on your home. If you see swarmers, call a professional at Palmetto Exterminators today. Swarmers: View Diagram

Could the way my home is built make it more susceptible to termites?

Absolutely! If you have a hollow block foundation wall versus a poured wall, it creates access for termites. If you have stucco construction, and it is in contact with the soil around your home – that too can create access for termites. If your home rests on a slab or you have an attached slab, such as a garage, and the slab contains settling cracks, once again, termites have a point of entry. If there are wood structures attached to the home, such as a deck, porch or stair rail and steps and the wood is not treated, termites have a direct conduit to your home’s structure. During Annual Inspections, our trained technicians will pay particular attention to areas of your home that require closer scrutiny and will highlight this information on your Annual Inspection Report.

Why should I hire a professional pest control operator when I can do it myself?

Do-it-yourself pest control is certainly an option; however, most homeowners lack the knowledge and training that professionals have to treat pest problems effectively. An essential component in treating a pest problem effectively is correctly identifying the insect species and developing a course of treatment that takes the insect's biology and habits into account. It is also critical that the treatment materials used are handled properly to ensure effective treatment. A professional pest control operator at Palmetto Exterminators has the training and expertise to do these things, leading to the most effective solution to your pest problem.

Truth vs. Gimmick

Be Aware! In the Southeast, there are four species of subterranean termites. The FORMOSAN termite is one of these four species and has been in the Southeast since the 1950’s. Some consumers believe that the FORMOSAN termite is new to this area and a type of super termite, rather than a subterranean termite. Some companies have taken advantage of this misconception, which is wrong!

A Bulletin from the Department of Pesticide Regulation at Clemson University states: “Standard ground treatment methods at the same concentration levels used for other termite species are effective against Formosan Subterranean termites. . .” No special treatments or baits are needed as long as thorough inspections of the structure are performed annually.

Do not be fooled into paying extra or buying additional treatments for FORMOSAN coverage!