Clark Exterminating Home

It’s that time of year again. Termites are on the move, and it’s our job to stop them. Here is our Top 10 List of Tips for Termite Control in Arkansas.

1. Get a yearly inspection from a professional

Termites can do serious damage to your home so it’s vital to stop them before they start. Most people don’t realize they have a termite problem until noticeable damage has already been done. By having a trained professional inspect your home and property for termites annually you greatly reduce the risk of expensive problems in the future.

2. Watch out for the tunnels

When it comes to traveling to a food source, termites like to stay in a dark, moist environment. So how do they do that you might ask? They build tunnels! The workers spend their days creating these tunnels to the food source, and when the tunnel is complete there is much rejoicing throughout the termite colony. It’s almost like Thanksgiving Day for the termites, except they don’t take naps.

3. Non-Repellents are best

When it comes to stopping termites, non-repellents are a must. A non-repellent is a slow- acting ingredient that kills termites. It is applied to areas where termites travel through, where they nest, and where signs of the termites are abundant. At Clark Exterminating, we use Termidor 80 WG and have seen great results.

4. Termites are attracted to moisture

For a termite, nothing is better than kicking back and relaxing in some wet soil that is located right next to your house. Make sure drains and gutters push water away from your home to reduce moisture around your foundation.

5. Keep vents open under your house for air circulation

Air circulation under your home is important for many reasons. Leaving the vents closed under your home traps moisture inside making it a prime spot for termites to set up camp. Termites also enjoy the darkness underneath the house, and enjoy being close to a prime food source.

6. Get plumbing leaks fixed A.S.A.P.

There is nothing worse than coming home from a long day of work to find a leak in your home. You might want to overlook it and not worry about it at first, but it’s important to get it stopped immediately. Remember the moisture thing we talked about earlier? Yep, it’s bad news.

7. Keep wood on house out of contact with the ground

Make sure the soil in your flower beds and areas around your home does not come in contact with the wood on your home. This includes, but not limited to, wood siding, door frames, and window frames. They must be at least six inches above ground to prevent the entry, nesting, and damage of termites.  

8. Keep firewood, leaf litter, and plant debris away from foundations

Nothing is better than sitting by the fireplace in your house on a cold night, but be cautious with the wood you bring into your home. Firewood is like Southwest Airlines for termites. It’s quick transportation into your home and can lead to serious issues.

9. Lay Visqueen in crawl spaces

We cannot stress the importance of controlling moisture in and around the home enough. Visqueen, a brand of polyethylene plastic sheeting, can create a vapor barrier. This helps prevent moisture from humidifying up and causing the subfloor to rot, which makes an ideal place for termites to live. 

10. Watch for swarmers in Springtime

Swarmers, or winged termites,  are matured male and female termites that fly out of the colony to mate. Once paired, they shed their wings and start their own colony. Spring is the ideal climate for this migration with warmer temperatures and increased rainfall. The best place to look for swarmers is near windows and doors because they are attracted to light. If you see swarmers in your home, you know you have a termite problem.

So when was the last time you had your house checked for termites?

Click the link to receive a 10% off termite treatment offer from Clark: http://www.mybugproblem.com/termite-treatment

As a locally owned and operated franchise that has served Central Arkansas for more than 30 years, it’s important for us to set an example for community oriented, socially responsible businesses in the area. Our business succeeds or fails based on our level customer service, so the open dialogue between our customers and ourselves is something we value immeasurably. That level of communication and service has been around since Johnny started the business, and as a result we've been accredited members of the Arkansas Better Business Bureau for over a decade, maintaining an A+ Rating.

The BBS’s accreditation standards are, in their most basic form, a general set of guidelines for running a business responsibly while adding value to the community. Any local company that displays trustworthiness, honesty, integrity and responsiveness fits the bill for accreditation, but it’s what a company does once they’ve received accreditation that determines their rating. We’ve stayed consistent in the way we do business, and we’ve earned our A+ as the area’s leading pest control experts. We’re darn proud of it and we love what we do. Everybody deserves a pest-free home, and we like helping people achieve peace of mind through one.

Termite season is right around the corner in Central Arkansas. Typically we start seeing termites swarms around late February. Below is footage from a home that Clark Exterminating inspected in the spring of 2010. As you can see termites have destroyed the siding at the base of the house. 

If need a new termite contract and you are not a current Clark Exterminating customer, click here for coupons.