Termite Talk – Prime Exterminators

Magic or Marketing Madness?

Orange Oil is bad

Marketing Or Truth?

Orange oil is a marketing tool to play on people wanting to go green. Going green and having your termites taken care of with the least amount of toxic exposure is not a bad thing. We all want that, and most termite companies can provide that.

The big advertisers of recent months may be charging consumers 200% and more for “their” orange oil then other companies would charge for their Green products and promising to eliminate all your termites. If you believe that then you stay away from all salesmen!

Dozens of green products are either better or just as good as d-limonene (orange oil). All of them are only local treatments and have no “transfer effect” (except imidacloprid and fipronil), meaning they only kill what they touch. The “wicking” mentioned in the commercials is a huge exaggeration!

Did you know there are many, many non toxic or hardly toxic chemicals for eliminating termites? There are products containing thyme oils, rosemary oils, peppermint oils, wintergreen oils, mineral oils and borates.

Final Words

Orange oil is D-limonene. D-limonene contains Terpene and Terpenoid. Terpenes are natural products derived from plants. “The biological and ecochemical functions of terpenes have not yet been fully investigated!” However, this is taken from a 2007 study.

Prime Exterminators charges a fee for a complete termite inspection and the prices vary based on the size of the house. I’ve been doing this a long time now and know how it all works. Now I am sharing some of that with you. I hope it helps! After reading this, feel free to e mail me any questions. I’m always here to help

Patrick Smith, President

* A termite company performing strictly “free” inspections generally pays its inspectors on commission. That means “if they can’t sell something they don’t get paid”. These inspectors usually do not have a lot of experience in all facets of the business. They are usually better trained at the “sales” portion

* A termite company that normally charges for inspections generally uses very experienced inspectors that get compensated by time, not sales. The inspector usually starts out his career young with a termite company, performing the wood repairs and chemical treatments. They then go on to start the job of being an inspector. They typically get trained by the owner of the company. They know not only where to find the termites and the damage, but know what it would take to repair the areas, since they have likely been there and done that

* A termite company that normally charges for inspections will usually send you a report and do not generally try to get you to sign a contract before they leave your house. The inspection quality and prices speak for themselves

* A termite company performing strictly free inspections generally does not perform inspections for the purchase or sale of a property. This type of inspection requires an experienced inspector. There is a lot of liability imposed on the company who inspects for a sale or purchase. Most experienced inspectors will not work on commission. A quality inspection is truly a learned art and those kinds of inspectors are valuable. A quality inspector cannot be simply taught to be one, or taught by just anyone

* Most commissioned based inspectors will try to sell you a yearly service program. Stay away from it. Ask me why.

* Most commissioned based inspectors will try to sell you a termite bait station. Stay away from it. Ask me why.

* If you’re paying for a true inspection, it should cover (here we go)

Infestation: Drywood termites, subterranean termites, dampwood termites, carpenter bees, carpenter ants, wood boring beetles

Infection: White fungus, brown fungus and poria incrassata, the house eating fungus. Each kind of fungus has its different characteristics and it takes an experienced inspector to know the difference

Conducive conditions (items deemed likely to lead to future infestation or infection):

Plumbing leaks, caulking problems, loose toilets, leaking rain gutters, improperly flashed exterior concrete or siding, faulty grades, poor drainage, excessive moisture, inadequate subarea ventilation, leaking roofs, windows, chimney saddles, earth to wood contacts, leaking shower pans. The list can go on and on, but without the right inspector the problems to your house will go on and on.

Patrick Smith

Prime Exterminators