To Tent or Not To Tent…That IS the Question….

Condos Being Tented for Drywood Termites

Dear Friend,

I must admit, I’m not much of a Shakespeare fan, but the quote does seem very fitting these days as our entire staff gets asked this question on a daily basis….and we ask ourselves this question every day when evaluating Drywood Termite issues. What do I mean by this?? Well, here’s an actual phone conversation our office had with a caller today:

Carol: It’s a wonderful day and I appreciate you choosing Chet’s Termite & Pest Management, this is Carol, how can I help you.

Gary: Hi Carol.  My name is Gary and I’ve heard a lot about this Orange Oil treatment and I would like to talk to someone who can help me understand the process of treating termites without tenting.  Can you help me with this?

Carol: Of course I can.  How did you find out about the Orange Oil and how did you find Chet’s?

Gary:  Well, I recently found what I believe are Drywood Termite droppings in the back portion of my house and I really don’t want to go through the tenting process.  I’ve been through that before about 10 years ago and I really don’t want to do it again.  I recently received a copy of the Hillsborough County 5 Star Rated Home Services Review and I found your company in the book.  I liked what you had to say, so I decided to go online and look at your website.  Wow, there is a lot of information there and Chet does really seem like a nice guy from his welcome video on your site.  That’s really “The Chet”, right?

Carol: Yes sir!  The one and only.  Not another one like him in this world.  They broke the mold when they made him. I’ve been with Chet’s for over 20 years now and I can’t imagine working for anyone else.  He really does stand behind his word and work.  So, did you find what you were looking for on the site and is that what prompted you to call our office?

Gary: Carol, I must have spent an hour going through the videos and looking at the testimonials on the site. I also went to youtube and watched a few of Chet’s videos.  He sure seems passionate about what he does.  I like that.  I also went to The Better Business Bureau website to check your review and to make sure you were a reputable company…and it seems like you are.

Carol: Yes sir. That’s right Gary.  We’ve been in business since 1980 serving the Tampa Bay Area. We wouldn’t be in business if we didn’t stand behind our work and our products.  We have the best trained technicians in the business and most of our employees have been with Chet’s for 12 or more years.  In other words, we don’t have employee turnover, so the services remain consistent, which is why we’ve earned our high ratings.  And in your case, when it comes to Drywood Termite issues, our technicians are the best in the industry.  They’ve seen a lot of termite issues and they’ve done a lot of tents as well as Orange Oil treatments.  They will evaluate your home to see if it actually qualifies for an Orange Oil treatment.

Gary: Qualify?  What do you mean by QUALIFY for an Orange Oil treatment?  Don’t all homes qualify and what makes a home NOT qualify?  I don’t think I understand.

Carol: No problem Gary.  Excellent questions, and ones not easily answered by phone.  We have a saying around the office, “To Tent or Not To Tent, That Is the Question.”

There is a lot of termites in the Bay Area and not all homes qualify for an Orange Oil treatment. Why?  Well, there are several reasons homes don’t qualify for that treatment. Unfortunately, we’ve learned the hard way the factors that make a home less than desirable for this organic alternative to tenting.  Since 2009, when we starting doing these alternative treatments to tenting, we’ve compiled a list of factors that determine if an Orange Oil treatment will be effective.

So, here’s a short list of questions we ask before determining if an Orange Oil treatment is an option:

1. How long has it been since you had your home tented?  Or what is the age of the home?
2. Have you already had Drywood Termites swarm inside the home?  If so, how long ago?
3. Do you have an attic or do you have a flat roof?  If there is an attic access, how tall is it?
4. How many stories is the home?
5. What is the foundation type? Crawl space or slab?
6. Is the home concrete block or is it a wood frame home?

I know this sounds like a lot of questions, but we want to be sure we’re not offering something we don’t believe is the solution to your termite issue.  The only way to know for sure whether your home qualifies for an Orange Oil treatment is to set up a FREE inspection of your home.

Whether it’s tent fumigation or an XT2000 Orange Oil treatment, Chet’s is here to help guide you through the termite eradication process.  We are not limited to offering you 1 type of service for Drywood Termites, we offer both the Orange Oil and tent fumigation.  So we have it in your best interest, as well as ours, to recommend the best solution in the treatment of YOUR home.

Gary: So you offer both treatments?  Tent & Orange Oil?

Carol: Yes, that’s right.  We offer both.  And both have their advantages and disadvantages.  There is no perfect solution when it comes to treating Drywood Termites.  I know you’ve been through tenting before and really don’t want to do it again, but sometimes that really is the BEST option.  Only a thorough inspection by 1 of our highly qualified technicians will determine which program is best for you.

Gary: Do you offer warranties on both services?

Carol: Yes, 100% Money-Back guarantees on both.

Gary: Ok, great.  Let’s set up an inspection and see what my home qualifies for.  I sure hope it’s the Orange Oil.

Carol:  Sounds like a plan.

This is a typical phone conversation regarding Orange Oil and Tent Fumigation. Only an inspection by 1 of our highly-trained technicians will determine which treatment options are available to you.

If you’ve seen termites near your home,…or if you’ve spotted some small mysterious piles of “sawdust” (that’s actually drywood termite “droppings”)…

Drywood Termite Pellets on Window Sill

Drywood Termite Swarmers on Window Sill

…or if you just have a gut-feeling there’s a termite problem… then call my office right now at:

813-935-7554

And we’ll send one of my highly qualified…and certified termite experts right away. Your Chet’s Termite and Pest Management termite specialist can diagnose your pest problem and solve it quickly and safely.

Even if you’re only curious and would like an inspection, you should request your FREE inspection now, while it’s fresh on your mind.

Yours for a pest-free home…..

Termite & Pest Control Services for  Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties Since 1980