The Trouble with Termites- Wenatchee Real Estate and Pest Inspections

Here on the western flank of the Cascade Mountains the number one wood destroying insect that I find is the Western Subterranean termite. I find activity in about 10 percent of the homes I inspect. I would assume that the actual number of infestations is higher due to the difficulty of finding these creatures.

In the Wenatchee valley we live in area of many orchards, step shrub and wheat that is all a great food sources fortermites. They seem to love cardboard.

Here in the Wenatchee Valley they tend to swarm in the spring time so this is a great time to check spider webs and window areas around the home for the wings that they shed. The winged reproductives (or alates) have 1/4 to 3/8 inch long pale yellow-brown to black bodies and bear four wings of about equal size that may be smoky gray to brown and have few wing veins.

You also want to look for their mud tubes.

New construction is not a guarantee that you will not have them. Many times we build our new homes over an existing colony and then it is only time before they will make their way into the home.

Some builders use poor practices in their form materials that may make it very difficult to remove after they are done with the concrete pour.

My recommendation to all homeowners is to keep your crawlspaces clear of any materials that are not structural in nature. Crawlspaces are not for storage!

Make sure that any wood around the home is not in contact with the soil. Make sure the crawlspace is properly ventilated.

Keep wood away from the home, keep plantings twelve inches or better from the home.

Repair any leaks in water lines and faucets. Make sure that gutters and sprinklers are not contributing water sources around the home.

Perform or have a performed a yearly inspection of the crawlspace and home for any evidence of termite activity and conditions that may be advantageous to them. They are slow workers so if they are found early the damage will usually be minor.

“For you to sleep well at night, the aesthetic, the quality, has to be carried all the way through.”

Steve Jobs

NCW Home Inspections, LLC  is a Licensed Washington State Home Inspection service located in Wenatchee Washington serving Chelan County, Douglas County, Kittitas County, Okanogan County and Grant County Washington and the cities of Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Cashmere, Orville, Cle Elum, East Wenatchee, Quincy and many more…
     
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