Mar 16, 2022 | Uncategorized
It’s Termite Awareness Week, and termites are a known threat to southern homeowners. Termites can cause more than 5 million dollars in property damage throughout the United States, and it is normal for this damage not to be covered by homeowner’s insurance policies. Before the damage gets out of control, look for termite signs and consider getting a preventative termite treatment and warranty from professional help.
One of the first signs that termites are near is if you encounter swarmers near your home. Although swarmers do not cause wood damage, they do indicate that a colony is nearby. If you notice swarmers, it’s best to take immediate action and have a local termite control company take a look.
Another tell-tale sign that termites are close by is the presence of mud tubes or tunnels along the foundation of your home. Termites use mud tubes to keep moisture when traveling to and from their colony and your home.
Some other signs of termites that you may notice are:
- Hollowed or damaged wood: Wood damage can be found behind surfaces like walls and floors. This is caused by termites searching for cellulose, which can leave long grooves in the wood. Over time, these grooves weaken the wood and can create structural damage. If wood is hollowed, it will show a honeycomb interior and give off an empty sound.
- Bubbles in paint: Discovering bubbles in paint means there is a buildup of moisture, which can either be from water damage or termite damage.
- Frass: Finding the appearance of wood-colored droppings that litter the ground is a sign of a drywood termite infestation.
Even if you do not find signs of termites, now is still the perfect time to get preventative termite protection! With the Sentricon Always Active bait system, you’ll experience 24/7 termite protection, annual inspections, a lifetime termite warranty, and more! Reach out to your local pest control company to help identify the type of termite and recommendations on the best treatment plan.
Feb 17, 2022 | Termite Control
With the warmer months creeping up on us, it’s time to start preparing for the termite swarming season. Termites cause billions of dollars in damage each year and infestations are normally not found until considerable damage has already been done. It’s important to know what types of termites are active in your area to understand ways to prevent them from causing damage to your home.
The most common type of termite in the southeast is the subterranean termite. This termite species lives in underground colonies with as many as two million members but can also be found in moist, secluded areas above ground. They are the most destructive termite species and, over time, can potentially collapse a building. This is due to their hard, saw-toothed jaws that work like shears and can bite off extremely small fragments of wood, one piece at a time. They typically begin their swarming season in early spring, usually during daylight hours.
Swarming is beneficial when creating new colonies. Termites swarm after a colony has reached a certain capacity and is ready to expand. This normally happens once per year for most colonies. Hundreds or even thousands of swarmers, also known as alates, are produced with the sole purpose of reproduction and expansion.
Swarming can occur indoors or outdoors. They cannot survive indoors because of the lack of soil to colonize. If found indoors, they are usually found near windows and light fixtures as they are attracted to light. Whether indoors or outdoors, they usually can’t cause damage. As swarmers, they can’t bite, sting, or chew. The presence of swarms indicates that a colony is nearby, though; so although the swarmers can’t cause damage, the nearby colony can.
There are many ways to prevent swarming from happening. The first step is to eliminate any termite colonies in the area. To prevent termites, make sure there are no water sources nearby, including standing water around your home. Also, routinely inspect your foundation for loose mortar or bubbling paint to see if there are termites present.
Because a termite swarm indicates a nearby colony, homeowners should take precaution when one is spotted close to home. If you suspect you have a termite infestation, contact a professional local pest control company who can inspect your property and set up a termite control plan.
Oct 14, 2021 | Termite Control
The first step in termite prevention is to be ready for them. One of the most important things you can do is learn the signs of termites in order to catch them early. Termites can often go undetected for long periods of time, causing significant damage before you are alerted to their presence. The most common types of termites include subterranean termites, drywood termites, and Formosan termites. The type of termite and the location of the infestation help determine the best type of termite treatment to use. Here are four of the most common termite treatments utilized by termite control professionals.
Pretreatments
Pretreatments are termite treatments that are performed during the building phase of new construction. It is also preferable to utilize pretreatments when constructing additions on an existing home, as well. Pretreatments are more effective and affordable when utilized before the physical infrastructure of a home or addition is laid. Pretreatments involve a combination of liquid termiticide (commonly containing borates), termite bait, lumber treatment, and in soil barriers.
Barrier Treatments
Barrier treatments form a literal barrier in the ground between termites and your home. A trench is dug around the perimeter of your home and the soil that is removed is treated heavily with a termiticide. The trench is then refilled with the treated soil. In some cases, a physical wall is also constructed inside the outer wall of the trench made up of rock, sand, mesh, and plastic. This adds an additional layer of protection between your home and termites.
Liquid Treatments
Liquid treatments are the most common termite treatments utilized. These treatments are effective for termite infestations on the interior of your home. In these treatments, holes are drilled strategically in both the foundation and the wood. Termiticide is then injected into the holes which forces the termites to emerge. The termites are then exterminated by spot treatments with termiticides.
Bait Stations
In these treatments, bait stations containing wood, paper, or cellulose that is laced with termiticide are placed in the ground around your home. Termites are attracted to the bait and eat it. The termiticide is slow acting which allows the termites to return to the colony and spread the bait to others, killing off the entire colony. Bait stations can be used in locations where surface treatments can’t, such as near foundation drains and areas that are covered by slabs or flooring. Bait stations are an effective and long-term treatment solution.
Termites can get out of control quickly and be incredibly difficult to eradicate. If you suspect you have a termite problem, contact your local pest control company for a termite inspection to identify the type of termite and recommend the best course of treatment.
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Sep 14, 2021 | Termite Control
Owning a home is a huge investment and can take plenty of time and energy to maintain the upkeep. Whether it’s your first home or a home you’ve had for years, discovering that it has termites can be unexpected and devastating. Subterranean termites can cause considerable damage to your home’s infrastructure and the cost of repairing it can be in the thousands of dollars. There are two major reasons termites are attracted to your home.
Subterranean termites are attracted to moisture and need an abundant source of it to survive. Improper drainage around the home can often be the major and most common reason these pests have infested. Clogged gutters can cause water to pool up and cause damage to your foundation, making it vulnerable to termite damage. Leaves, twigs, and other debris that fall into gutters can build up, while the excess moisture can soften your roof and cause it to rot. Try to divert rainwater away from your foundation with a down-spot and splash blocks to help prevent the water from pooling. Consider investing in gutter guards to help keep debris and leaves out of your gutters.
Every homeowner is looking to make their home aesthetically beautiful; but often the materials used throughout your yard for landscaping purposes can attract termites. Mulch is commonly used near and around the home, sometimes lying against the foundation. Unfortunately, this material is a major attractant to termites as it can serve as a food source if it retains moisture. Mulch placed near the foundation can lead to these pests residing right at the edge of your home. Instead of mulch, consider using landscaping rocks, or try to minimize the use of wood mulch and keep it at least 15 inches from the foundation.
If you suspect a termite infestation or would like to get ahead of preventing them, consider contacting your local pest control company where they can provide you with the best termite control options for your home.
Aug 19, 2021 | Termite Control
One of the most important things a homeowner must do is protect the wood within their structure. Two of the most common causes of wood damage in a home are wood rot and termites. Both of these can cause significant damage by going undetected for long periods of time. Signs of wood rot and termite damage are similar, often making it difficult to determine what type of problem you have. It is important to know which of these you are dealing with in order to properly resolve it. Here are some signs of termites and wood rot and how to tell the difference between the two.
Wood Rot
There are two types of wood rot: dry rot and wet rot. Dry rot is caused by fungi that attack wood, destroying it from the inside out. Dry rot can affect any untreated wood that has a 20% moisture content. This type of rot spreads quickly and is also known as brown rot. Wet rot is common in homes that have a preexisting moisture problem such as a leak around an air conditioner, a malfunctioning downspout, clogged gutters, leaky faucets, or shrubs that are too close to the house. With wet rot, the surface veneer of the wood is impacted so it is usually easier to spot. Wet rot can affect any unprotected wood. It tends to be more localized than dry rot and doesn’t spread as much.
Some common signs of dry wood rot include:
- Wood that cracks and crumbles when touched
- Fungi blooms on wood
- Musty damp odor
- Yellow tinge to wood color
Some common signs of wet wood rot include:
- Wood that is spongy or stringy in texture
- Wood that breaks off into cube-like patterns
- Wood that looks darker than surrounding areas
- Musty, damp odor
Termite Damage
Subterranean termites are one of the most common types of termite, although drywood termites can also cause significant damage. Termites eat cellulose that is present in wood, hollowing them out from the inside out. Termites access your home through cracks in the foundation and walls. Because termites eat from the inside out, they can often go long periods of time undetected.
Some common signs of termite damage include:
- Tunnels and galleries on the inside of wood
- Wavy looking wood
- Small, pinpoint holes in wood
- Peeling paint
- Wood that sounds hollow when tapped
- Buckling floors
- Loose tiles
- Squeaky floorboards
- Discolored drywall
Whether you have wood rot or termites, the most important thing is to recognize the issue and get it resolved as quickly as possible. If you have an issue with termites or any other pests, contact your local pest control company for a free analysis and treatment plan.
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