Detecting Termites Through Infrared Technology

One of the most exciting innovations in the pest control industry is the use of infrared technology and termite inspection. Infrared technology is used to detect heat in small spaces and is perfect for use in the termite inspection because it can detect colonies that are massed together and make it easier for the pest control operator to pinpoint the location of the infestation and effectively get rid of the problem in one fell swoop.

Finding termites can be difficult, yet knowing where they are located is important when deciding on the correct eradication program. The traditional method is to simply tap on the wood with the back of a screwdriver, or to poke holes in walls or even pull them apart.

Infrared technology and termite inspect now offers a new, high technological detection system that is quick, effective and does not require any damage to houses.

Infrared technology and termite inspection is being used with an increased frequency because it can easily detect the presence of termites by simply inserting a small camera at the end of a thin rod and then manipulating the camera around to find the termite swarms.

Because termites mass together to work on the wood, where there is one, there is always more. That's why infrared technology and termite inspection go hand in hand.

Thermal imaging technology detects heat patterns. When termites invade buildings, the normal heat patterns of the walls, floors and roof are changed due to the presence of termites. The thermal camera records this change in heat patterns and indicates the exact location of any termite infestation.

A color image shows hot spots as red or yellow and cold spots as blue or purple and these heat patterns indicate termite infestations. That means that infrared technology and termite inspection can be much more effective than the normal ways of doing a termite inspection.

However, termites are considered cold blooded insects, so how can they generate heat? Termites are hosts to bacteria, which live in their gut, and these bacteria help break down and digest cellulose, the main component of wood. It is this digestion and chemical reaction that generates the heat.

That's why infrared technology and termite inspection makes the location of termites much easier thus allowing the pest control company to target the specific areas where termites are located and make the treatment effective.

The pest control company that pairs infrared technology and termite inspection together is one that is highly effective and employing the latest tools in pest control so that they can do a great job for you - the consumer.

When the termite inspector is looking for termites, often, they will have to cause a certain amount of damage to the home in order to see if there is any evidence that termites have been there. That means opening up holes in walls, floors, etc.

With infrared technology and infrared cameras, all the pest control operator has to do is make a hole the size of the camera. The camera is mounted at the small end of a pipe much like what doctors use to perform arthroscopic surgery.

What that means is that the hole that needs to be made is very small. Once the camera is inserted through the hole, it sends back a very clear image that allows the termite inspector to see any possible damage inside walls and floors.

Of course, any type of disturbance to an area that may have termite damage will cause the active termites to move to a new location to avoid the disturbance. That can interfere with any localized treatment that the inspector will suggest.

However, the camera can move about stealthily in a way that will help the termite inspector see where they are moving and then suggest ways to target specific areas where they think the termites have moved to. That's why it is so important to have a trained and licensed inspector look at your property to determine the level of your termite infestation.