Central Coast Rain Can Bring Out Termites

If you own a home, termites are the last thing you want to see.

Bill Fernandez manages Clark Pest Control in Santa Maria.

He said once termites swarm, “they fly and they’ll find any crack or crevice they can and in a matter of time you’ll start seeing the evidence of them.”

Fernandez said when it rains, his workers are often out doing home inspections because dry-wood termite colonies tend to surface in humidity. He added the downpour results in 60 to 70 percent of phone calls for his business.

Each year termites cause close to $30 billion in damages and depending on the type of treatment, homeowners spend close to $3,000 fixing it.

Greg Crist operates Central Coast Termite. He said there are two types of treatments homeowners can get: localized treatments and fumigation treatments.

Crist said localized treatments are less expensive and can be done if caught at an early stage.

Fumigation treatments are more expensive and require the home to be covered by a tent and evacuated for about three days.

Experts said having your home inspected every three to five years can help you avoid spending big money on treatments costly treatments.