Sep 25, 2024 | Florida Termite Control
Subterranean termites can be a serious threat to homes in Florida, but with the right treatments, you can eliminate these pests and protect your property from future infestations. Check our guide to the most effective termite treatment options.
Termite Treatment Options
Liquid Soil Treatments
Liquid soil treatments are one of the most common and effective ways to protect your home from subterranean termites. A termite professional will apply a liquid termiticide around the foundation of your home, creating a barrier in which termites can cross and pick up the liquid termiticide product. They’ll then pass the termiticide product to the rest of the colony. This treatment not only eliminates termites that come in contact with the termiticide but also deters others from entering your home.
Baiting Systems
Baiting systems, such as the Sentricon®️ Always Active Bait System, involve placing bait stations around your property, especially in areas where termites are likely to be seeking a food source. The bait within the system will contain a slow-acting termiticide that termites bring back to their colony, eventually eliminating the entire colony. This process is known to be less disruptive than other traditional termite control options and is effective for both eliminating existing infestations and preventing new ones.
Wood Treatments
Wood treatments involve applying a termiticide directly to the wood in your home. This can be done during the construction phase or as a spot treatment in areas where termites have been detected. Wood treatments can protect your home by making the wood unattractive to termites.
Regular Inspections
It’s always important to have regular inspections by a professional termite control company to ensure termite activity is caught early. Professionals will be able to prevent devastating infestations by catching and eradicating these pests early, preventing the significant damage they cause and saving you money in treatment and repair costs.
Preventive Measures
In addition to professional treatments, you can take steps to make your home less attractive to termites by placing a few preventative measures throughout your property. Consider these termite prevention tips:
- Reduce moisture by ensuring there is proper drainage, fixing leaky pipes and faucets, and using dehumidifiers in basements and crawl spaces.
- Avoid direct contact between wooden structures and soil; consider using concrete or metal barriers between wood and soil to deter termites.
- Seal cracks and gaps around your home’s foundation, walls, and roof to prevent termites from entering.
- Keep firewood, lumber, and other wooden materials at least 20 feet away from your home’s foundation and elevate it off the ground.
If you would like to schedule a regular termite inspection or have already seen termite activity at your home, call a pest control company near you. These professionals will conduct a thorough inspection and recommend the best course of action for termite control.
Sep 19, 2024 | Termite Control
Termites, sometimes called the “silent destroyers”, will cause considerable damage to your Auburn home if left unchecked. In Alabama, subterranean termites are most common, and these tiny insects thrive in the warm, humid climate that we deal with, making termite prevention a crucial part of maintaining your household. Here’s an easy guide on what you need to know to protect your home from termites.
How To Protect Your Home From Termites
Why Termite Prevention Matters
Termites can cause extensive damage to wooden structures, often going unnoticed until significant harm is done. These pests chew through wood, flooring, and even wallpaper, compromising the structural integrity of your home. Repairing termite damage can be costly and time-consuming, which is why prevention is key.
Common Signs of Termite Infestations
Recognizing the early signs of a termite invasion can help you act before too much damage occurs. Here are a few indicators to watch for:
- Mud Tubes: These are pencil-sized tunnels subterranean termites build to travel from the soil to their food source. You’ll usually find them on exterior walls, foundations, or in crawl spaces.
- Hollow Wood: Tap wooden surfaces around your home. If they sound hollow, termites may have been munching away inside.
- Discarded Wings: Swarming termites shed their wings, often leaving piles near windowsills or entryways.
- Frass: This sawdust-like material is termite droppings and can indicate an infestation.
Identifying Termite Damage
Early detection of termite damage can save you from more extensive repairs. Look for:
- Buckling Wood: Warped or swollen wood can indicate termite damage beneath the surface.
- Sagging Floors or Ceilings: This might be a sign of severe structural damage caused by termites.
- Paint Blisters: These can occur when termites damage the wood underneath, causing paint to bubble.
Termite Prevention Strategies
Preventing termites involves proactive measures to make your home less inviting to these pests. Here are some effective strategies:
- Termites are attracted to moisture. Fix leaky pipes and ensure there is proper drainage around your foundation.
- Avoid wood-to-soil contact. Keep firewood, lumber, or any wooden material stored at least 20 feet away from your home and elevate them off the ground.
- Seal cracks and crevices in your home’s foundation and around utility openings to prevent easy access for termites.
- Conduct regular inspections of your property, especially in areas prone to moisture or where wood is in contact with the ground.
In Auburn, the warm climate is conducive to termite activity year-round. Local regulations may influence the use of certain treatments, particularly chemical solutions. Consulting with a local pest control professional ensures that you follow guidelines and use the most effective treatments for your home.
Termites may be small, but their potential for damage is enormous. By staying vigilant and implementing preventive measures, you can protect your Auburn home and maintain its value. If you have noticed termite activity or signs at your home, call a pest control company near you as soon as possible. These professionals will provide you with the best plan of action for termite control in order to eliminate and prevent them in the future.
Aug 15, 2024 | DIY Pest Control, Florida Termite Control
Drywood termites cause significant damage to homes and structures if left unprotected, causing millions of dollars in repairs. Unlike their counterpart, the subterranean termite, drywood termites live entirely within the wood they infest, making them challenging to control. Luckily, there are several effective drywood termite treatment options available to Florida residents to eliminate and prevent these pests! Let’s explore these treatment options.
Drywood Termite Treatment Options
Fumigation
Fumigation involves tenting an entire structure and utilizing gas to penetrate the wood and eliminate termites. This method can be highly effective at eradicating termites, eliminating any that are present on the property. Fumigation is also known to treat large termite infestations throughout an entire structure. Fumigation does require the occupants to vacate the property for several days.
No-Tent Treatment
Professional termite experts will directly inject an advanced, non-repellent product into drywood termite galleries to eliminate the termites found in a home. The no-tent treatment is slow acting, which allows termites who encounter the product to take it back to the queen and colony to eliminate it. This method is a great alternative to the fumigation method if you would rather avoid leaving your home.
DIY Drywood Termite Prevention Tips
The best way to ensure that you don’t end up with a drywood termite invasion is to deter them away from your home in the first place. Check out our DIY tips to preventing drywood termites:
- Regularly inspect your home for drywood termite signs, such as seeing swarmers, discarded wings on windowsills, damaged wood, and more.
- Seal openings around doors, windows, and utility pipes with sealants as soon as possible to help keep termites and other household pests out.
- Always inspect used furniture and firewood before bringing it inside your home.
- Termite are attracted to light, so make sure to turn any outdoor lights off and close your curtains at night.
While these tips will support efforts to deter termites, if you notice termite activity on your property, it’s best to call a termite control company near you to start termite control treatments and schedule an annual termite inspection to prevent future infestations.
Jul 19, 2024 | DIY Pest Control, Termite Control
Subterranean termites are a significant concern for homeowners in Georgia, causing extensive damage to wooden structures if left untreated. Understanding how to identify these pests, recognizing the signs of an infestation, and knowing the various treatment options available are crucial steps in protecting your home. In this blog, we will explore what subterranean termites look like, the signs of their presence, the best treatments for eliminating them, and essential prevention tips to keep your home termite-free.
What Do Subterranean Termites Look Like?
Subterranean termites are small, creamy-white to dark brown insects, typically about 1/8 to 3/8 inch long. They have soft bodies and are often mistaken for ants, though they can be distinguished by their straight antennae, uniform waists, and wings of equal length when swarming. Identifying these termites correctly is the first step in implementing effective termite control.
Signs of a Subterranean Termite Infestation
Recognizing the signs of a subterranean termite infestation early can save homeowners from extensive and costly repairs. Key indicators include:
- Mud Tubes: Subterranean termites build mud tubes to protect themselves from predators and to maintain a moist environment while traveling between their colony and food sources. These tubes, typically found along foundations, walls, and crawl spaces, are a clear sign of an active infestation.
- Damaged Wood: Termite damage often appears as hollowed-out wood, usually along the grain. Tapping on the wood may produce a hollow sound. You might also notice blistering or darkening of the wood surface.
- Swarmers: Winged termites, or swarmers, are reproductive termites that leave the colony to start new ones. Finding discarded wings around windowsills, doors, or other entry points is a sign that termites are nearby.
- Frass: Termite droppings, known as frass, are tiny, pellet-like substances that termites push out of their tunnels. Finding frass near wooden structures can indicate an infestation.
Best Treatments for Subterranean Termites
There are several effective treatments for subterranean termites, each with its benefits and considerations. Here are the most commonly used methods:
- Liquid Termiticides: Liquid termiticides are applied to the soil around a building’s foundation, creating a barrier that termites cannot cross. This method is highly effective for immediate control and long-term prevention.
- Baiting Systems: Termite baiting systems involve placing bait stations around the perimeter of a home. These stations contain wood or cellulose material treated with a slow-acting insecticide. Termites feed on the bait and carry it back to the colony, eventually leading to the colony’s elimination.
- Foam Treatments: Foam termiticides are injected into wall voids, crawl spaces, and other hard-to-reach areas where termites may be hiding. The foam expands to fill the space, ensuring thorough coverage and effective control.
- Borate Treatments: Borate-based treatments are applied directly to wooden structures. They penetrate the wood and kill termites upon ingestion. This method is often used during the construction phase or for treating exposed wood in existing structures.
Termite Prevention Tips
Preventing subterranean termites from invading your home is crucial. Here are some practical tips to keep these pests at bay:
- Reduce Moisture: Termites thrive in moist environments. Ensure proper drainage around your home, fix leaky pipes and faucets, and use dehumidifiers in basements and crawl spaces.
- Remove Wood-to-Ground Contact: Avoid direct contact between wooden structures and soil. Use concrete or metal barriers between wood and soil to deter termites.
- Seal Cracks and Gaps: Seal any cracks or gaps in your home’s foundation, walls, and roof to prevent termites from gaining entry.
- Store Firewood Properly: Keep firewood, lumber, and other wooden materials at least 20 feet away from your home and elevate them off the ground.
- Regular Inspections: Schedule regular termite inspections with a professional termite control company to catch any signs of infestation early.
Subterranean termites are a serious threat to homes in Georgia, but with the right knowledge and proactive measures, you can protect your property from these destructive pests. Identifying what subterranean termites look like, recognizing the signs of an infestation, and choosing the best treatment method are essential steps in effective termite control. Additionally, implementing preventive measures can help keep your home termite-free. If you suspect a termite infestation, contact a reputable termite control company to conduct a thorough inspection and recommend the best course of action.
By staying vigilant and informed, you can safeguard your home against the costly damage caused by termites.
Jul 17, 2024 | DIY Pest Control, Florida Termite Control
There are two common termite species Florida homeowners should know: the subterranean and drywood termite. Both termite species can cause structural damage to homes and cause thousands of dollars in repairs. One of the best ways you can avoid their damage is understanding their characteristics and the preventative measures to place around your home to deter them away. Let’s explore the differences between drywood vs subterranean termites and how you keep them from infesting your home.
Drywood vs Subterranean Termites
Drywood termites thrive in dry wood, often infesting furniture, frames, and other wooden structures without them needing contact with soil. Once they have infested, they will cause damage by hollowing out wood from the inside out. A good indication that these termites infested your home is finding small piles of wood pellets or frass, tiny holes in wood surfaces, and discarded wings near windowsills or light fixtures.
Subterranean termites live underground and build mud tubes to reach food sources above the ground, often destroying foundations and support beams in the process. These termites need soil and moisture to survive and build their colonies. Signs of a subterranean termite infestation include finding discarded wings and mud tubes on exterior walls, foundations, or crawlspaces.
Termite Prevention Tips
There are several preventative measures you can utilize to deter termites away from your Florida property. Let’s review do-it-yourself termite prevention tips:
- Eliminate moisture by fixing leaks, maintaining proper draining, and using dehumidifiers in damp areas.
- Keep firewood, lumber, and other stored wood away from your home’s foundation; consider storing it at least 20 feet from your home and elevated off the ground.
- Inspect your home’s exterior and seal any gaps in windows, doors, and foundations.
- Remove dead trees, stumps, and debris from your yard.
- Direct your drainage system away from your foundation.
- Consider enclosing your crawlspace to help reduce excess moisture and prevent household pests.
While these tips will support efforts to deter termites away, it is always best to schedule an annual termite inspection with a professional termite control company near you. These professionals can detect termite signs early and quickly provide your home with the appropriate termite control and prevention plan.
