--- title: "Termite Treatment in Gilbert, AZ | Platinum Pest Management" description: "Termite treatment for Gilbert and East Valley homes. We look for mud tubes, treat soil along the foundation and explain WDIIR reports. Book a free inspection." url: https://platinumpestaz.com/services/termites/ publisher: Platinum Pest Management LLC --- # Termite Treatment and Inspections for East Valley Homes Platinum Pest Management provides termite treatment and inspections for homes and businesses in Gilbert and across the East Valley. Most termite problems here involve subterranean termites that live in the soil, so treatment centers on the soil around the foundation, where termites travel to reach the house. ## At a glance - Subterranean termites, mainly the desert subterranean termite and the arid-land subterranean termite, cause most termite damage to homes in the Phoenix area. - Signs of termites in East Valley homes include mud tubes on stem walls and garage walls, tubes hanging from ceilings, damaged baseboards and winged swarmers after summer rains. - A Wood Destroying Insect Inspection Report, or WDIIR, is the standard Arizona termite report used in home sales, and VA loans in Arizona usually require one. - Platinum Pest Management treats subterranean termites with a liquid termiticide applied by trenching and rodding along the foundation and drilling through slabs and patios where needed. - Store-bought termite foam kills only the termites it touches and does not reach the subterranean termite colony in the soil. ## Which termites damage homes in the Phoenix area Most termite damage to homes in the Phoenix area comes from two subterranean species, the desert subterranean termite and the arid-land subterranean termite. Both live in colonies in the soil and reach wood by building mud tubes over concrete and other surfaces they cannot eat through. Once inside, they feed on framing, trim, baseboards and the paper facing of drywall. Termites turn up in homes of every age across the Valley, from older neighborhoods in [Tempe](https://platinumpestaz.com/service-areas/tempe/) and [Mesa](https://platinumpestaz.com/service-areas/mesa/) to newer subdivisions in [Gilbert](https://platinumpestaz.com/service-areas/gilbert/), [Chandler](https://platinumpestaz.com/service-areas/chandler/) and [Queen Creek](https://platinumpestaz.com/service-areas/queen-creek/). Drywood termites also occur in Arizona but are much less common in homes here. They live inside the wood they eat, need no contact with soil, and push out small, hard pellets that pile up below the damaged wood. Treatment for drywood termites is different from soil treatment, and we explain the options if an inspection finds them. ## Signs of termites in Arizona homes Mud tubes are the most common sign of subterranean termites in East Valley homes. Check for these signs around the house and garage. - Mud tubes about the width of a pencil on stem walls, slab edges or block walls - Tubes along the base of garage walls and around the edge of the garage slab - Free-hanging tubes from a ceiling, often seen with desert subterranean termites - Baseboards or door trim that feel soft, sound hollow, or show bubbled paint or mud in the seams - Lines of dried mud or small dirt-filled holes on drywall - Swarms of small winged termites after summer rains, or shed wings on windowsills and floors Tubes are easy to miss behind stored boxes in the garage or under plants and rock piled against the stucco. If you find one, leave it in place so our technician can check whether it is active, and schedule an inspection. ## What a WDIIR is and when a home sale needs one A Wood Destroying Insect Inspection Report, known as a WDIIR, is the standard Arizona report for termite inspections in real estate transactions. Licensed inspectors fill out the report after checking the visible and accessible areas of the house and garage. It notes any termites or other wood-destroying insects, visible damage, signs of past treatment and conditions that favor termites, such as wood touching soil. Buyers and lenders commonly ask for a WDIIR before closing. VA loans in Arizona usually require one, and FHA loans may require one when the appraiser notes signs of termites or the lender asks for it. Lenders also set how recent the report has to be, so check with the lender or agent before scheduling. A clear WDIIR means no visible evidence was found in the areas that could be inspected that day. Termites hidden inside walls, under flooring or behind stored items may still be present, and the report is not a warranty. If an agent or lender has asked for a WDIIR, call (480) 518-1942 with the closing date and we will work out the timing. ## How liquid termite treatment works Platinum Pest Management treats subterranean termites with a liquid termiticide applied to the soil along and under the foundation. The goal is a continuous treated zone, so termites traveling between the colony and the house have to pass through treated soil. Depending on how the home is built, termite treatment includes some or all of these steps. 1. **Trenching.** A narrow trench is dug along the outside of the foundation, and termiticide is applied to the trench and the backfilled soil. 2. **Rodding.** Where the footing is deep or the soil is too hard to trench, a treatment rod is pushed into the ground to carry termiticide down toward the footing. 3. **Drilling slabs and patios.** When a patio, walkway or driveway sits against the house, we drill small holes through the concrete, treat the soil underneath and patch the holes. 4. **Joints, cracks and plumbing openings.** We treat expansion joints, slab cracks and the openings where plumbing comes up through the slab, such as the bath trap under a tub. All termiticides we use are EPA-registered products, applied by licensed technicians according to the label. The label sets how much goes into the soil, usually measured in gallons per 10 linear feet of foundation, and how deep the treatment must reach. ## Treating termites in new construction and existing homes New homes in the Phoenix area typically get a termite treatment during construction. The soil is treated after grading and plumbing rough-in, before the slab is poured, and the perimeter gets a second application once final grading is done. Construction is the easiest time to get termiticide under a slab, because the soil is still exposed. That original treatment weakens over the years, and later projects often break it. Pools, patio extensions, new landscaping and room additions all move or cover soil next to the foundation. An existing home is treated from the outside and through the concrete, using the trenching, rodding and drilling described above. Before adding a room, a casita or a large patio slab, ask the builder whether the soil will be treated before the concrete is poured. ## What happens after termites are treated Termite activity inside the house usually declines over the weeks after a soil treatment, once the route between the colony and the house is cut off. Old mud tubes should be scraped off so any new ones are easy to spot, and a follow-up inspection shows whether activity has stopped. Afterward, keep sprinklers from wetting the foundation and avoid piling soil or stored items against the stucco. Damp soil draws termites, and digging next to the house can open gaps in the treatment. ### Questions to ask about a termite warranty Before signing any termite warranty, from us or another company, look for clear answers on these points. - The length of coverage and whether it can be renewed each year - Whether it pays for repairs to new damage or covers re-treatment only - Yearly inspections, and whether they are included - Transfer to a buyer if the house is sold - Conditions that void it, such as a new slab, soil piled against the stucco or blocked access to walls - Coverage for drywood termites as well as subterranean termites Ask Platinum Pest Management for the terms of our termite service in writing before treatment begins, and compare any other quote on the same points. ## Why store-bought termite foam only treats what it touches Store-bought termite foam kills the termites it contacts inside a mud tube or a damaged board. Subterranean termite colonies live in the soil, often well away from the spot being sprayed, and keep sending workers into the house through other gaps. Activity tends to show up again nearby within weeks or months. Professional termite control treats the soil along the whole foundation, so termites coming from the colony have to cross treated soil to reach the house. ## How to schedule a termite inspection Platinum Pest Management holds Arizona pest control business license #9562, and our technicians are licensed and insured. Inspections and written quotes are free, with no obligation. [Schedule a free inspection](https://platinumpestaz.com/free-inspection/) online or call (480) 518-1942 Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., or Saturday from 7 a.m. to noon. Homeowners who also want regular service for scorpions, spiders and other pests can compare our [pest control plans](https://platinumpestaz.com/pest-control-plans/). Our [FAQ page](https://platinumpestaz.com/faq/) answers other common questions. ## Frequently asked questions ### How can I tell termites from flying ants? Winged termites have a thick waist, straight antennae and two pairs of wings of equal length. Flying ants have a pinched waist, bent antennae and front wings that are longer than the back pair. Termite wings break off easily, so piles of shed wings on a windowsill are a common clue. Save a few insects in a sealed bag and show them to our technician at a [free inspection](https://platinumpestaz.com/free-inspection/). ### What is a WDIIR, and do I need one to sell my house? A WDIIR, or Wood Destroying Insect Inspection Report, is the standard Arizona report for termite inspections in real estate sales. Buyers and lenders commonly ask for one. VA loans in Arizona usually require a WDIIR, and FHA loans may need one when the appraiser notes signs of termites. The lender or agent can confirm what the sale needs and how recent the report must be. ### How long does a liquid termite treatment last? Modern soil termiticides are designed to last for years, but how long a treatment holds up at a particular house depends on the product, the soil and whether the treated soil is later disturbed. Pools, additions, new patios and landscaping projects are common causes of gaps. Regular inspections help catch new activity early. ### Why are there flying termites after it rains? Subterranean termite colonies send out winged swarmers to mate and start new colonies, and in the Phoenix area this often happens after summer monsoon rains. Swarmers found inside the house usually mean a colony is feeding in or under the structure. Save a few in a sealed bag and call (480) 518-1942 to schedule an inspection. ### Can I treat termites myself with foam from the hardware store? Store-bought foam kills the termites it touches, but the colony lives in the soil and keeps sending workers in through other gaps. Stopping subterranean termites takes a continuous treated zone in the soil along the foundation, which means trenching, rodding and sometimes drilling through concrete. That work calls for professional equipment and a licensed technician. ### Does termite treatment require drilling inside the house? Most liquid termite treatment happens outside, along the foundation and through patios and walkways that touch the house. Drilling indoors may be needed when termites are active at a specific spot inside, such as a slab crack, an expansion joint or a bath trap. We explain where and why before any drilling starts. ## Contact Platinum Pest Management - Phone or text: (480) 518-1942 - Office: 3944 E Ellis St., Mesa, AZ 85205 - Hours: Monday to Friday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 7 a.m. to noon, closed Sunday - Arizona pest control business license #9562 - Free inspection: https://platinumpestaz.com/free-inspection/