Bronson Reminds Homeowners To Protect Their Biggest Investment
For Information, Contact:
Liz Compton
(850) 488-3022
Liz.Compton@freshfromflorida.com
March 6, 2009
TALLAHASSEE - Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles Bronson is urging Florida homeowners to take steps to protect their houses from one of Florida’s most expensive pests….termites. Swarming season is underway and now is the time to take protection action to avoid costly damages. This swarming season appears to be more active than the last several years, perhaps because of relatively heavier rains last year.
Swarming begins when the weather starts warming up. The small black, winged insects flying around are leaving their colonies looking for new nesting sites. While swarmers aren’t the ones that eat the wood, they are a warning sign that a house is infested with termites. Houses should be inspected annually by a licensed professional for evidence of an infestation so damage can be caught before it becomes significant.
“The climate in Florida makes it especially attractive to termites and there are a large number of these destructive pests no matter where in the state you live,” Bronson says. “The question isn’t ‘are there termites in the area’; it is ‘how close are they to my home’? Termites cause millions of dollars in damage every year because too many people don’t find out the answer to that question.”
Although homes are usually the single largest investment a person will make in their lifetime, half of the houses in Florida do not have regular termite protection. The pests work behind the walls and damage can be extensive by the time a homeowner notices sawdust or other damage.
The department’s Division of Environmental Services regulates and licenses pest control companies and can provide homeowners with information about whether a business is properly licensed, the number of consumer complaints that have been filed, and about the various types of termite control contracts. The division also conducts regular inspections to ensure a company is abiding by all the rules and regulations governing pesticides and pest control businesses. The Florida Pest Control Act includes measures designed to protect consumers.
“These companies are working with chemicals and it is important that employees are properly trained and licensed,” Bronson said. “People trying to save a buck by hiring an unlicensed business are putting their families’ safety at risk.”
The two main types of termites in Florida are the subterranean termites, which live in the soil and attack homes from the ground up, and dry wood termites which live in wood in a building and can go undetected until they cause extensive, visible damage. Businesses are required to clearly tell customers whether their contract covers one or both types of termites. Bronson says people should also find out before they sign the contract whether it covers repair costs for termite damage after a home has been inspected and treated or just provides for retreatment if termites are found. Repair contracts typically have limits as to when repairs will be paid for and consumers should clearly understand these also.
For example, a business might not pay for repairs if there are no live termites found, or if moisture from an unrepaired plumbing leak contributed to the termite infestation.
More information about termites and termite protection is available on the department’s website at www.floridatermitehelp.org or by calling 1-800-HELP FLA (435-7352) or 1-800 FL AYUDA (352-9832).
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