Dear Sammi SaferBuilder,

My house has termites. Everyone from my builder to my realtor says this is a very serious problem and that I can't risk using alternative methods. Is it safe for me to leave for a week and while they apply the pesticides and then come back when they're done? Signed, Homeowner who Doesn't want to risk health or house

Dear Risk Averse Homeowner,

Leaving for the week or weekend won't protect you from the harmful effects of pesticides. The chemicals can remain a problem for a long time after application-- often they can pose a health hazard for years.

On hot days, they may vaporize and invade your airspace causing health problems.

Once the chemicals are present, it is extremely difficult to remove them, even if they subsequently become illegal or cause health problems for an occupant.

There are safer ways to get rid of termites. See SaferBuilding™ Subterranean Termites and SaferBuilding™ Termite & Pest Management.

Many pest control companies which are capable of using safer methods discourage their customer from using them informing customers that the more toxic methods are actually safer. While this is shocking, they mean safer than previous products as opposed to safer than the products that they are recommending.

Have the SaferBuilding Termite sheets in hand when talking to to your pest control contractor. You may need to change contractors if you aren't satisfied with their bid.

Remember that a pest control operator claiming that the pesticides aren't dangerous may actually mean that there is less profit in the safer methods or that the pest control operator doesn't like change.

Remember many people once said that paints needed lead to be effective.

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