Conducive Condition: Insufficient Ventilation Pests Termites, Most Other Insects Description Construction standards dictate a minimum amount of ventilation in attics, crawlspaces, and walls.  Sometimes those aren’t included because of poor building practices or subsequent owners cover the ventilation.  For attics, there are ridge vents, soffit screens, or turbines.  Crawl spaces have vent screens. Walls have vent screens or weep holes. Why it’s a problem Insufficient Ventilation can lead to massive …Read More

Conducive Condition: Planter Box Abutting Structure Pests Termites, Other Insects Description Planter boxes containing soil that are attached to the house or constructed against the house. Why it’s a problem Termites must maintain contact with the soil to survive.  This does not mean that it has to be the earth itself they are in contact with.  Even small containers of soil can easily maintain a termite colony.  Large containers like …Read More

Conducive Condition: Standing Water Pests Mosquitoes, Rodents, Other Pests Description Standing water is water outside that remains for more than a week after rain or irrigation.  Toys, tarps, bird baths, trash cans, buckets, poor drainage, leaky plumbing, leaky faucets, or leaky sprinklers can all result in standing water.   Why it’s a problem Mosquito larvae develop in water, so standing water increases mosquito abundance.  Also, most other insects thrive in …Read More

Conducive Condition: Moisture Damaged or Damp Wood Pests Termites, Carpenter Ants, Other Ants Description Wood on the interior or exterior of the house that has become water damaged and rotted.   Why it’s a problem Termites can prefer damp, rotting wood over sound wood and can detect changes in moisture through the soil profile.  Carpenter ants, as well as many other ants prefer moisture damaged wood over sound wood for …Read More

Conducive Condition: Wood to Soil Contact Pests Termites Description Wood from the structure is touching the soil surface.  Wood that’s not part of the structure is touching both the structure and the soil surface (wood or lumber pile, for example) Why it’s a problem Termites live in the soil and have to maintain contact with the soil to have enough moisture to survive.  When infesting a house, they must build …Read More

Conducive Condition: Heavy Foliage Pests Termites, Carpenter Ants, Mosquitoes, Rodents, Snakes Most Other Pests Description Heavy foliage refers to limbs or foliage touching or growing against the house, dense plantings in the yard, or overgrown turf. Why it’s a problem There are a number of pests, including carpenter ants, that normally live in trees or shrubs and will use foliage as a bridge to infest your house.  Heavy foliage near …Read More

Conducive conditions are structural or environmental conditions that can lead to pest problems by providing pests with food, water, or shelter.  Conducive conditions usually arise from faulty or outdated construction methods or poor maintenance of structures or landscaping.   The main Conducive Conditions for termite infestation include: Soil Line Too High or Foundation Too Low Heavy Foliage Wood to Soil Contact Moisture Damaged or Damp Wood Standing Water Planter Box …Read More

Conducive Condition: Soil Line Too High or Footing Too Low Pests Termites, Earwigs, Millipedes Description A high soil line means that the soil line is above the foundation and actually touching the brick, stucco, or other siding.  It doesn’t have to be soil, but mulch stacked above the foundation is also considered a high soil line. Why it’s a problem Termites live in the soil and have to maintain soil …Read More

ATTENTION: After you use our one of a kind pest key below to figure out what is in you attic, fill out the form at the bottom of the page to obtain a FREE NO OBLIGATION TREATMENT REPORT that will provide more details about the pest in your attic, the treatment options, and average costs for control. When homeowners call us with concerns about mysterious noises in their attic, we …Read More