Your Home’s Termite Risk Factors and How to Mitigate Them
Your Home’s Termite Risk Factors and How to Mitigate Them
Jun 28, 2018 by Lauren Norris
Your Home’s Termite Risk Factors and How to Mitigate Them
In addition to being a disgusting problem, a termite infestation can also be extremely expensive. Recent studies have revealed that termites cause billions of dollars in structural damage every single year, and quite a bit of that damage takes place inside residential buildings. Here is a closer look at a few steps that you can take to protect your home and property from these pests.
The True Cost of a Termite Infestation
One of the reasons why termites are so devastating is because they will attack the actual structure of a home. Termites eat almost any natural material, and that includes clothing, wood, insulation, and paper. In addition to the destruction that they cause, they also carry a variety of diseases and germs. Within a matter of weeks, a few stray termites can create a huge colony that causes an immense amount of damage. In order to prevent those issues, you must constantly be on the lookout for any signs of termites.
Signs of a Termite Infestation
There are many different types of termites, and each species acts differently. The three most common species in the United States are drywood, subterranean, and wetwood. Drywood and wetwood termites create long tubes inside walls and roofs. You may notice issues such as piles of droppings, cracks in your walls, or sagging floorboards. Subterranean termites typically damage the outside of a home by burrowing into the outer walls or foundation.
Risk Factors
Termites need three things to survive, and they will only create a colony on your property if they have those three things. In addition to food and water, they also need a place to burrow in order to create a colony. They are usually attracted to moist dirt or wood that hasn’t been touched for a long period of time. You might also be at risk if you have an older home with cracks and pinholes in the walls. Even though these insects can create their own holes, they tend to look for openings around doors, windows, vents, conduits, and pipes.
Keeping Termites Off Your Property
The most effective way to keep termites off your property is to schedule biannual appointments with an exterminator. Pest control companies like Fowler Pest Control have a variety of tools and products at their disposal to kill existing colonies and prevent future colonies from developing. You can also spend some time sealing up cracks and pinholes with all-purpose caulking. Finally, you want to make sure that you never have any standing water or piles of natural materials on your property.A termite infestation is a serious problem that no homeowner wants to deal with. That is why you should immediately contact a local pest control expert as soon as you notice any signs of termites or other pests in your home.Article Submitted by : Dixie Somers / Freelance Writer – [email protected]