Canton Termite & Pest Control, Inc.

Q&A with Canton Termite: Your Hometown Pest Control Company

By Cyndi Braun

Canton Family Life recently sat down with Tim McWhirter, president of Canton Termite and Pest Control. Tim and his crew are expert bug guys who have been helping homeowners with pest and wildlife problems for almost three decades. The conversation began by talking about the upcoming termite swarm season.

What is swarm season?
Its when thousands of young termites come out of hiding. Swarm season usually starts in late March after some rain and warm temperatures. Once the ground temperature reaches an average 75 degrees, subterranean termites begin producing swarmers, which in maturity, leave the colony to infest new areas.

Without regular inspections, homeowners can go years unaware that their home is already infested. This can allow the termites to cause extensive structural damage while remaining completely undetected.

Sounds like a nightmare! Whats the first thing you should do if you see a swarm?
Termites devour anything that contains cellulose (like wood or paper) and cause billions of dollars of damage every year. If termites are discovered in your home, it is vital that you act quickly to eliminate the threat of damage. It is often impossible to deal with an infestation of termites without professional training and equipment, so it is best to call an expert to deal with termites in your home.

What can I do to prevent termite damage?
Just like you lock your doors to prevent home burglaries, you should be proactive in monitoring for termites and preventing the damage they can do. At Canton Termite, we offer several options to help protect your home:
Borate Wood Treatment When homes are being constructed or remodeled, we apply borate wood treatment to exposed wood. Once the borate is absorbed, the wood becomes resistant to termites.
Liquid Treatment The oldest and most popular form of termite treatment, liquid insecticide attacks existing termite infestations as well as preventing future termites.
Bait Stations These are basically food canisters that attract termites. On a quarterly basis, we inspect the bait stations. If termites are active, we switch the bait with a product that the termites ingest and carry back to the nest, eliminating the colony.

Wouldnt it be easier to wait and see if termites are ever a problem?
As Benjamin Franklin stated, An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. It is always cheaper to deal with termites before they have a chance to cause damage to your home.

What area do you serve?
We serve customers in Cherokee County and the surrounding area from Marietta Square to Talking Rock, GA, from Cumming to Cartersville, and of course, everywhere in between.

What if I have a problem with ants or squirrels?
Give us a call. Were a full-service company, offering control of termites, roaches, ants, mosquitoes, rats, mice, nuisance wildlife and other household pests.

Our most popular program is what we call our complete service, which includes four quarterly treatments. On the first visit, we do a thorough interior treatment followed by an exterior application. We go through the house and make sure there are no problems, applying insecticide only where needed. Then, we come back for three more quarterly visits and treat the exterior of the home.

The idea is simple, get the pests out and keep the pests out. If during the year you see bugs in the inside of your home, we come back as needed and treat for that specific problem as part of the complete program service.

Do you have any tips for preventing pests from being a problem?
The best way to keep pests out of your home is to keep your home in good repair; seal any access points like vents, cracks or holes, and eliminate any conditions conducive to infestation. If you would like specific information on protecting your home from common pests, our website has informative, up-to-date articles that may be helpful.

What makes your company different from others in the area?
As your hometown pest control company, we have built our reputation on quality work and
friendly service. Our technicians will thoroughly inspect your home and provide you with a solution that will best solve your specific pest problem. We provide custom solutions to common pest problems.

Canton Termite & Pest Control, Inc.
770-479-1598
CantonTermite.com