Orange County, CA.
What You Should Know When Finding Termite dropping in your Orange County home.
The ultimate question you will ask, “how do I kill termites in my Orange County home?”
Termite dropping indicates you have an infestation in your home. The next question would be, “to what degree of infestation and the best option to the kill termites?”
The first thing to consider, having a termite inspection done by a experienced termite inspector is essential. After all, most termite exterminators will conduct a free inspection. Selecting a trusted exterminator will determine your best options.
In the meantime, here are things to consider when choosing a termite inspector:
- From 0% to 100%, what level of termite infestation do I have?
- How many years of termite inspection does my exterminator have? (The actual person who comes out)
- Did they take pictures to show the damage? How is your full report?
Why are the three questions above the fundamental knowledge one must have to make an informed decision? Because your home foundation is a paramount.
Questions other Orange County homeowners have asked:
What do termite droppings look like
Drywood termite particles are tiny, oval-shaped pellets. They come in small capsules with concave sides and rounded edges. These pellets measure approximately 1 millimeter in size and can form small mounds below kick out holes. The mounds might look like small piles with salt or pepper.
How to stop wood rot
For decks, make sure to use pressure-treated or decay-resistant lumber. Pressure-treated lumber that is rated for ground contact should never touch wood.
Stain or paint every side of any lumber piece that you use to build an exterior project using wood.
You should not lean on your siding with anything, including old plywood, tools, and ladders.
Regularly clean your gutters to avoid waterlogging and leaking onto siding or fascia.
How to fix wood rot
To fix wood rot will depend on the severity of the damage. There is a point where it may be necessary to cut it out and have a professional fix the wood damage. It’s best to connect with a termite inspector not only to determine if it’s wood rot or termite damage but also it’s best to get a full termite inspection.
Drywood Termite droppings found in Orange County Home. What to do!
When you find the termite droppings, you most likely see the wood droppings in a closet, a window area, or perhaps in the attic. The only question now is, how many colonies have spread throughout your home.
While you read the options about managing subterranean termites or dry wood termites, keep in mind the last time your home had a full termite fumigation tent.
Takeaway: If a home has not been tented for the last ten years AND the house has not had any termite inspections within that time, keep an open mind that a fumigation tent may be the only option to kill all colonies to 100%.
If you buy a home, it would be wise to push for complete tent fumigation. Why? Because even the best of termite inspectors may come short of finding all colonies. Many termite colonies will enter into inaccessible areas in the home where no one can reach. Therefore, an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure. Keep a yearly inspection going.
Termite droppings are a clear sign of termite infestation. You may consider three options for an attack on the termites. They are the following:
- Orange Oil Treatment: Orange oil treatment is popular because it uses natural oils to permeate the ex-skeleton of the termite to kill them.
- Learn about the advantages vs. the disadvantage of orange oil treatment.
Orange oil is an exemplary process of maintaining termites, but in our opinion, only after a full fumigation tent has been established. Why? Because only a full tenting can guarantee to kill the queen.
- Vikane Pesticide Treatment: Instead of using orange oil, wherein the orange oils have to rub against a termite exoskeleton to be effective, Vikane permeates the wood, and that food, i.e., wood, is carried to the queen. When she eats the infected wood, she dies and thus the colonies. Remember, it’s all about finding the queen or perhaps queens on the property.
The Vikane pesticide treatment process uses a liquid to be sprayed in and around termite-infested areas. That liquid is odorless and colorless. Due to the odorless factor, the termites will eat the permeated wood, unknowing that the wood will ultimately kill the queen.
- Fumigation Tenting: We see it in two ways.
- If you buy a home that has not been tented within the last three years and has had no yearly termite treatment program, opt for a full fumigation tent.
- A Local spot treatment program can be considered a good idea if the home has had a full tent and yearly inspections.
Local spot treatments are considered the orange oil treatment (natural/organic) vs. the pesticide treatment, e.g., Vikane.
Differences between orange oil vs. Vikane?
If they are the same, one may think they might as well use an organic process. Yes, that is a viable option, but remember, the orange oil process hopes that the queen will be infected via the touch from a termite. The Vikane process expects the queen’s killing to happen via her eating the pesticide.
So when you see drywood termite droppings, call an expert terminator from Gentry & Associates. Not only you’ll receive a free inspection, but a well-thought-out attack plan to kill the termites.
Termite Infestation? Seeing wood rot? Needing Tenting Fumigation Service?
If you have seen “ termite with wings, i.e., termite swarmer’s” and piles of tiny wood pellets in your closets, attic, window seals, etc., it may be time to protect your home and have a full termite inspection!
Typically a home should be tented around every 7-10 years, depending on various scenarios especially on the quality of the local treatments. During the seven years to ten years, you would set up a yearly termite inspection, and this type of proactivity will save you tens of thousands of woodwork damage.
Corona Del Mar and its surrounding cities are prone to termite infestation. Our recommendation is to call us at 1-888-838-3764 to set up a free inspection report. Don’t allow a $10k, $15k, $20k damage to occur. Keep your home termite-free by initially tenting the property and then adding the yearly inspection.
Why Gentry & Associates Termite Control
Gentry & Associates specializes in termite control in Corona Del Mar and surrounding cities. Feel free to look around to learn more about Termite Infestation prevention. Here at G&A, we are confident you will be pleased with our courteous service. Fill out the contact form, and one of our courteous team members will call you to discuss setting up a free termite inspection.
We look forward to assisting you!
GENTRY & ASSOCIATES – TERMITE INSPECTION ORANGE COUNTY
Gentry & Associates Termite Control and Wood Repair program is currently serving Orange County that includes San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Aliso Viejo, Mission Viejo, Laguna Hills, Lake Forest, Irvine, Lake Forest, Newport Beach, Corona Del Mar, Santa Ana, Dana Point, Laguna Niguel, Coto De Caza, Laguna Beach, Ladera Ranch and all other surrounding cities.
BEFORE

AFTER


Termite Inspection and treatment
Keeping up-to-date on your yearly home inspection and treatment mitigates such damage. It is said that not completing yearly local treatments creates multiple infestations all at once! With Gentry & Associates, our custom inspection programs is designed for your type of home!

BEFORE

AFTER


Termite Inspection
Spray For Termites
Did you find small termite droppings in your attic or closet? If you did, it's essential to find a termite inspector who has experience! Not all inspectors are the same! Here at Gentry & Associates, we've been exterminating termites for over 30 years and found termites in the strangest places. Termite infestation treatment is easy with an abundent of options. (Learn more)
- Termite treatment for house
Tent Fumigation
Tent Fumigation
When you find not only droplets throughout the house but also termites with wings, it's essential to have a full inpection for house termites. From your attic to your basement, it's vitally important to protect your home with a proper termite treatment.
- Cost for tenting a home for termites
- Tentless termite treatment | Termite treatment without tenting