Ohio State University Extension says swarming is the most common way a subterranean termite infestation is detected, and that termite treatment typically needs a professional pest-management firm. A Lancaster inspection looks for the swarm evidence, the wood at grade and the moisture at the foundation, and records each finding before any option is set out.
Key takeaways
- Swarming is the most common way a subterranean infestation is detected, according to OSU Extension.
- The Eastern subterranean termite is the species the Ohio extension material names as common.
- A secondary Ohio source rates the subterranean termite risk in the state as moderate to heavy; the rating is from 1994 and is treated as context, not fact about a single house.
- An inspection checks the wood at grade, the moisture, the crawl space or basement where access is safe, and any swarm evidence.
- Treatment typically needs a professional firm, so the household is given the options in writing before any product is applied.
What is the most common way an infestation is found?
Ohio State University Extension says swarming is the most common way a subterranean termite infestation is detected. A household that sees swarmers has the most useful clue it can offer, and the inspection starts from the swarm.
Subterranean termites live in the soil and reach the wood of a house through the ground, through mud tubes and through any path that keeps them out of the air. Most of the colony is out of sight, which is why a house can have a colony for years before anyone notices it. The swarm is the moment the colony sends out its winged reproductives, and that is when the house is most likely to be noticed.
The extension material is clear that swarming is the most common way the infestation is detected. A household that has seen swarmers, or shed wings in a sill, has the best starting point for an inspection, and it should keep the evidence and tell the technician.
A house without a swarm can still have a colony. An inspection looks for the wood, the moisture and the soil contact that a colony depends on, and it does not wait for a swarm to show the problem.
Which species does the Ohio material name, and what risk does it describe?
The Ohio extension material names the Eastern subterranean termite as the common species in Ohio. A secondary Ohio source rates the risk as moderate to heavy, citing a 1994 study, and that rating is context rather than a statement about any single house.
The Eastern subterranean termite is the species the Ohio State University Extension material names as common in Ohio. The name is the starting point for an inspection, though the walk records what is found in each house rather than assuming the species.
A secondary Ohio source, citing work from 1994, describes the subterranean termite risk in the state as moderate to heavy. The rating is useful to explain why an inspection is sensible for a house with wood close to the soil. It does not say whether a particular house has termites, and this guide does not use it to make that claim.
Taken together, the species and the risk rating mean that a Lancaster household has a reason to have the inspection done when the house has the features that colonies use, rather than waiting for the swarm to appear.
What does the inspection check in a house?
The inspection checks the wood that touches the soil, the sills and posts, the crawl space or basement where access is safe, the grade around the foundation and any swarm evidence. Each finding is recorded with its position.
The walk starts outside, at the foundation and the grade. Soil or debris built up against the wood is noted, and so are gutters that discharge near the wall. The sills, the porch posts, the steps and any timber in contact with the ground are checked, with a probe where it can be reached safely.
The crawl space or basement is checked where access is safe. The joists, the sills and the moisture are looked at, and any area the household should keep dry is noted. Where access is not safe, the walk records the area as not checked rather than guessing.
Swarm evidence is checked last, or first if the household has a sample. Shed wings, a trail of mud along the foundation and insects at the windows are recorded with their places, and the sample is checked as described in the identification guide.
Why is treatment typically a professional job?
The Ohio extension material says termite treatment typically needs a professional pest-management firm. The household is therefore given the options and the firm that would carry them out, and the price is confirmed on site before any product is applied.
Treatment for subterranean termites is a job that depends on the soil, the wood and the labels that govern the product. The extension material says it typically needs a professional firm, and that is the reason the plan names the firm that would do the work.
The household is told the product class, the method, the placement and the time before people and pets can return, all from the label. The firm answers to the state for what it applies and records, and the household can ask for that record.
A treatment is one of the options in the plan. The others are repairs to damaged wood, moisture work for the owner and a monitoring schedule. The household chooses the combination it wants, with the findings in front of it.
What should a household do after the inspection?
Read the written plan, keep the record, do the moisture and grade items the plan lists, and set a spring check if the plan recommends one. Those steps make any treatment more likely to hold.
The plan is the document to keep. It records the findings, the options and the price, and it names the items for the owner. A household that keeps the plan can compare it with any later check on the same basis.
Keep soil, mulch and firewood away from the wood at the foundation, and keep gutters discharging away from the wall. Dry the crawl space and the basement corners where the plan says to. These steps cost little and they help any treatment hold.
Set the spring check if the plan recommends one. The swarm season runs from spring into early summer, so the spring check is the most useful one the household can book.
What does a finding of damaged wood mean for the plan?
Damaged wood at grade is a finding that changes the plan. The plan lists the wood, the reason it is damaged, its extent and the repair or the treatment options for it, so the household can decide with the evidence in front of it.
Wood that is soft, hollow or crumbling when probed is recorded with its position and a photograph. The technician notes whether the damage looks old, whether it is still damp and whether it is in contact with the soil. Each of those points matters for the choice between a repair, a treatment and a monitoring plan.
A repair is usually done by a carpenter rather than the pest firm, and the plan says so. The repair is listed with the wood it applies to, so the household can take the list to the right person. The treatment option is set out separately, and the household chooses which combination to take.
A monitoring option is set out where the damage is old and dry and the walk finds no active sign. The plan then sets the spring check and the criteria for calling again, which gives the household a clear way to act if a new sign appears.
What does a household do while it waits for a treatment decision?
While the decision is made, the household keeps soil and mulch away from the wood, clears the gutters, dries the damp spots and keeps the record of any new sign. Those steps do not replace a treatment, but they make any treatment more likely to hold.
Keep soil, mulch and firewood a short distance from the wood at the foundation. Soil against a sill or a post gives a colony a path to the house and holds moisture against the timber, and removing it is one of the simplest steps a household can take.
Clear the gutters and the downspouts so water runs away from the wall. Damp at the foundation keeps the wood wet, and a wet timber is more likely to hold a colony than a dry one. The walk records the gutters and the grade, and the plan says which items are for the owner to address.
Note any new sign with its date and place, and keep any sample sealed. A new sign during the decision period is useful to the technician, because it shows whether the activity is continuing.
Frequently asked questions
Can an inspection find termites that have not swarmed?
The inspection looks for the wood, the moisture and the soil contact that a colony depends on, not only for a swarm. It records what is found, and it does not claim to find every colony.
Is the risk in Ohio high?
A secondary Ohio source rates the subterranean termite risk as moderate to heavy, citing a 1994 study. That is context for why an inspection is sensible, and it does not say whether a particular house has termites.
Do I need a professional to treat termites?
The Ohio State University Extension material says termite treatment typically needs a professional pest-management firm. The household is given the options and the firm's name before any product is applied.
How long does an inspection take?
A first inspection of the whole house takes longer than a repeat one. The time is set on the phone and the walk covers the foundation, the wood, the crawl space or basement and the grade.
This guide is general information for Fairfield County homeowners, not a substitute for an on-site inspection. Prices are estimates. See our disclaimer.