The short answer? Yes. Over the next few minutes, we will discuss the reasons why, but the shortest, simplest answer is yes. When establishing new services, considering all of the options can get a little overwhelming. It seems like each industry has its own vocabulary. Therm, for instance. I only measure my natural gas in therms, and would have to research exactly what that is. Combine that with marketing, and it can be enough to make your head spin. Our preferred baiting stations are Advance, and our inspection interval is quarterly. Here are some reasons why we think it’s your best choice.
Are Quarterly Inspections Better Than Annual?
If we see your property more often, we have more opportunities to help. Checking baiting stations shouldn’t be as simple as popping the top on the stations, replacing bait, and calling it good until we see them again. A good pest technician is always alert, taking a proactive approach for protecting the home from ever-changing conditions that could encourage termite activity.
Annual termite inspections limit the conditions your home is inspected in. Seasonal changes can present new challenges that can result in circumstances conducive for termite populations. Clogged gutters can result in saturation of the soil at the home’s foundation, for instance. Rising moisture content in a crawl space or basement may be the result of poor drainage, leaks, or water damage, providing an environment in which termites can thrive. If only inspected annually, not only is establishing baselines for these standards difficult, but the opportunity for these problems to exist for an extended period of time increases. While inspecting the foundation for signs of Eastern Subterranean Termites, we can take note of any number of challenges that may be contributing to their ability to thrive.
With regard to the actual stations themselves, more regular visits allow us to more closely monitor the bait levels remaining in each station to ensure proper colony elimination. We can also repair damaged or replace missing bait stations. Whether incidentally battered during yard maintenance or covered in a landscape redesign, compromised bait stations mean compromised monitoring. The same goes for renovations, additions, or the installation of features like pools. We can add or change the locations of stations to offer the same amount of monitoring for your newest investments.
Termites work 24/7. They don’t stop. Once present, they can cause thousands of dollars worth of damage in a short period of time. By seeing your property more often, we can catch them earlier, limiting the damage potential. Beyond termites, we also have the ability to head off other pest concerns, and do interior inspections more often.
What Other Advantages Come With Quarterly Inspections?
Our quarterly baiting systems allow us to eliminate pumping hundreds of gallons of termiticide into the soil, or drilling concrete around the structure limiting cosmetic issues created by treatment. They allow us to team up with you, embracing integrated pest management strategies to more effectively limit populations, damages, and costly repairs to your property.
With every inspection, you will receive a report that provides details of any termite activity, and suggests corrective actions to keep the house termite free. This is more often, and in more seasonal conditions, meaning the opportunity for more dynamic suggestions based on seasons, weather, and other dynamic challenges. Furthermore, quarterly inspections don’t typically cost any more than annual inspections. The cost is simply amortized over 4 separate inspections instead of 1, meaning we are not only there more often, but each inspection is cheaper.
Important Takeaways:
- Quarterly inspections are simply better.
- We are there more often, meaning we can reduce the duration of damage created by termites, see your home in more conditions, and suggest more dynamic suggestions for corrective actions that keep your home termite free.
- More regular monitoring means more frequent checks on bait levels so we can better ensure colony elimination.
- Replacement, repair, or the addition of stations can be done more often in the event of mower damage, landscape redesign or additions. This limits gaps in monitoring.
- More frequent inspections means better opportunity to employ integrated pest management, aimed at diversifying control tactics, resulting in the reduced need for termiticides.
- The cost is often no more than an annual inspection, but rather amortized over 4 visits. We are seeing your home more often, able to offer more attention at a similar cost to a single, expensive annual visit.
