by Richard Faberglund
Scripps Howard News Service
Q: My question concerns the home I bought in January 1996. Prior to purchase, an inspection was done by a pest control firm at which time the employee showed me some possible areas of damage on interior walls (damage was poor patch jobs on drywall, and after tearing out drywall to insulate I now know this was not insect damage) and I agreed to have it treated for termites.
The seller paid the cost, about $800. The procedure involved drilling holes in the concrete slab every 16 to 18 inches around the perimeter and injecting Prelude (15 gallons were used for 1,100-square-feet of total living space) and the holes were then sealed with rubber plugs.
My questions are: Is this an effective and safe treatment method? I now suspect that this was a waste of money, even though I didn't have to pay for it, and that I have exposed my family to added risk from chemical exposure. Should I seal the penetrations differently?
A: It is my opinion that the holes were drilled too far apart. They should be a little closer, no more than 12 inches apart. The amount of pesticide also sounds wrong. If you are talking about a diluted solution, they should have used a lot more, and if they used 15 gallons of concentrate, that would probably be a bit much.
You should have a graph of the house that was prepared by the termite company. If you don't, then contact them and ask for a copy. You also want to get a copy of the service ticket or any other paperwork that details what was done and how much termiticide was used. If the amount used seems improper, then you will want to contact the local pest control regulatory agency.
The rubber plugs are fine and cause no health risk. Some companies will push the plugs below the grade level and fill the gap with concrete mix, which is what I would have done. This all should have been explained to you or the seller before the job was done.
I always suggest that when you buy a home that has termites, you should participate in choosing what company does the work even if you have to split the cost with the seller. After all, you have to live with the work that was done and the seller will usually choose the cheapest price they can find.
(Send questions for Richard Fagerlund to University of New Mexico Environmental Services, Physical Plant Department, 1818 Camino del Servicio N.E., Albuquerque, NM 87131-3500 or e-mail fagerlun@unm.edu.)
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