TERMITES. I need my house treated but they said they can't treat when weather is below 32 degrees. This true?

Question

Selling my house, and have almost got everything done, but the pest inspection came back saying we have evidence of termites, so now I have to pay $1000 to have my house treated and my realtor keeps calling me over and over saying that it has to be treated NOW (today or Monday) to close and the termite exterminator said they can't treat unless the weather is above 32 degrees. My realtor claims HIS extermination company (more expensive) can come out and treat it NOW and he doesn't understand why this company won't. I personally think his company is just out to get people's money and that's why they are doing this. HELP! I need an expert to let me know what the conditions are that will prevent a termite treatment. (We live in the cold weather states)

Answer 1

Your realtor is a crook. Report him, unless he is on the board of realtors in your area, then you are screwed. Temite poison is 99% water water freezes below 32 deg f. It will freeze in the tank and pump and hoses. It will freeze on the ground and not soak in. Termites nests are away from the house and the ground and any wood needs to be treated. Call another exterminator. i think $1000 is way too much. I also bet this company "found" the termites.

Answer 2

You have a 40% rate of best answers. So I'll direct you in the direction you need to do this yourself.

For me I use Diatomaceaous Earth or Boric Acid, it is a lot better than what any exteminator will do. Better get you Ducks in a row however. I would first use the commercially available chemicals available at Lowes or Home Depot, the search for the Traps used with DE or Boric Acid to take back to the nest. Yeah they are taking you for a ride. What is their evidence. Look at the footings and concrete foundations and most of the time Termites need a tunnel to protect them entering your house. It is a mud tunnel, that looks like a dirt dabbers nest only in a contigous line not a blocky looky nest. it runs from the soil up to the house. The answer to permant and no termite is to buy some of the commercially available bait stations , place as described and when the bait begins to disappear read Boric Acid formula and use it instead they will take it back to the entire colony, getting the queen and all.

Answer 3

Termites live below ground most of the time. If the temperature is below freezing then they are too far down for the treatment to have an effect. Any reliable extermination company will not do treatments when the ambient temp is below freezing.

Answer 4

What kind of termites? What material? Those are the 2 ?'s you need to ask. It depends on what termites to what type of treatment. Subs and Formosans are/can be in the soil. Drywoods and Dampwoods are not. There are treatments that can be done but I would get a second opinion.

Answer 5

Someone is making a big problem out of a small one. All you need to do is, with the help of your attorney, put the money for the treatment into escrow. When the ground thaws, the attorney will release the money to the new owner for the service.