Mar 7, 2023 | Termite Control
Augusta Termite Control: Signs of Termites
Termites are known as silent destroyers, meaning they can go undetected for a long period of time, making their destruction devasting. Common termite species, such as subterranean termites, will infest our Augusta homes and damage the infrastructure, costing billions of dollars in repair. It can be difficult to detect subterranean termites, often hiding until the damage is done, but it is possible. To prevent termites, every homeowner should recognize signs of termite infestations. Check out our top 5 signs of termites that you might see in your home:
Mud Tubes
Often found on exterior surfaces, subterranean termites create mud tubes that allow them to move back and forth between their nest and their food source, which is often your home. These tunnels help protect termites from any predators and provide moisture for survival. Usually, mud tubes can be found wrapped around walls, ceilings, and floors. Mud tubes are common signs of termites.
Noises
Sometimes, hearing noises is your first sign of a termite infestation. Often, if a termite colony has infested your home, you can hear a faint clicking or knocking sound coming from behind walls and other voids. Termites create this noise when a soldier termite bangs their head against wood or vibrates their bodies to signal damage to their colony. When you listen closely, you can also hear termites chewing through wood.
Hollow Wood
Have you noticed hollow wood inside your home or in trees throughout your yard? If so, this is a major sign that termites have established a colony on your property. These pests destroy wood from the inside out, leaving only a thin layer of wood behind. When checking for hollow wood, try tapping on the area in question. You’ll hear a hollow or paper sound, indicating an infestation. Other signs include blistering or bubbling paint in or near wood structures, including windows and door trims.
Frass
Frass is the name for the waste termites leave behind. When subterranean termites travel through wood, they will push debris and waste out behind them through tiny openings. You may notice small black marks or a dark powdery substance around the infested area with small piles of sawdust-like droppings. These sawdust droppings are frass and are usually the color of the structural wood infested.
Wood Damage
The most obvious sign of a termite infestation is seeing the damaged wood itself. Floor, window, and door damage is a major indication that termites are inside. Another indication includes windows and doors not opening or closing smoothly. Take note of any floors that buckle or sag and have them inspected.
If you’ve noticed any of these termite signs or damage, consider contacting your pest control company for a thorough inspection and treatment plan before any more termite damage is done.
Feb 27, 2023 | Termite Control
Tennessee Termite Control: Methods of Elimination
Being ready for termites is your first step in preventing them. Termites can go undetected for long periods, creating extreme damage to the structural integrity of your home. In Tennessee, the most common termite species you’ll find include subterranean termites and drywood termites. The type of termite treatment option you need for a termite infestation will depend on your situation, its location, and the type of termite you have. Check out the most common termite treatments in your area below!
Pretreatments
Performed in new construction homes, this treatment is utilized during the building phase of a home. Pretreatments are a combination of liquid termiticide, termite bait, lumber treatment, and in-soil barriers. These treatments are known to be effective and affordable when performed before the physical infrastructure or addition is laid.
Bait Stations
Bait stations are placed in the ground and around your home to protect against termites. These stations contain wood, paper, or cellulose that has termiticide. Once termites reach the bait station, they eat the slow-acting termiticide, which allows termites to bring it to their colony and spread it, killing off the entire colony. This treatment is best used in locations where surface treatments will not work, including near foundation drains and areas covered by slabs or flooring.
Barrier & Liquid Treatments
This long-term treatment gets its name from the literal barrier in the ground between the termites and your home. A barrier treatment is performed by digging a trench around the perimeter of your home and then treated with termiticide. The trench is then refilled with the treated soil to help deter termites away from your home. Sometimes, a physical wall can be built inside the outer wall of the trench, made up of rock, sand, mesh, and plastic. The wall can add another layer of protection between your home and termites.
One of the most common termite treatments is liquid treatment. This option is effective when termites are in the interior of your home. The first step in the treatment is performed by drilling holes in the foundation and wood. Then, the termiticide is injected into the holes that will force termites to emerge. After emerging, the termites will be eliminated by spot treatments with termiticides.
The last thing you want to deal with is a termite infestation, as they can be difficult to get rid of once they’re inside. Consider reaching out to your local termite and pest control company for a termite inspection. These professionals will recommend the best prevention plan to avoid termites in the future. Likewise, if you suspect you have a termite infestation, they will identify the type of termite you have and provide the best termite control option for your situation.
Feb 21, 2023 | Termite Control
Spring is a crucial time for identifying and dealing with termites because it’s the season for swarming. Swarming termites are a big indicator that a termite colony is nearby, which could mean an infestation is occurring. It’s better to discover you have termites earlier than later, due to the significant damage they can cause to your home.
Swarming termites are winged adult termites that mature and fly away from their colonies to continue reproducing. Termite swarming begins at different times of the year depending on the type of termite, but they all usually begin when the weather begins warming up following a significant rain event. The one type of termite that typically swarms first is known as subterranean termites.
Because termites eat wood from the inside out, termite damage often goes undetected for long periods of time. Often in fact, by the time signs of termites appear, colonies are well established, and significant damage has already been done. If you begin spotting swarming termites, keep an eye out for other signs of termites, like these below:
- Hearing quiet clicking sound emanating from the walls
- Finding wings around your home
- Warping windows or doors
- Wood damage
- Mud tubes near home’s foundation
If you suspect you have a termite problem or if you spot signs of a termite infestation, contact a professional termite control company who can provide you with a thorough termite inspection and a comprehensive termite protection and treatment plan.
Jan 27, 2023 | Florida Pest Control, Termite Control
South Florida Termite Control: Eliminating Drywood Termites
Drywood termites are seeking dry wood as a food source and will destroy your home in the process. These termites differ from other species, such as subterranean termites, since they tend to create their colonies in wood instead of in the ground and need little moisture to survive. Unlike other species, these termites can create devasting damage to homes, excavating wood and ruining it. To prevent them, it’s best to place preventative measures throughout your property.
Inspect Your Home
The first step in preventing drywood termites is inspecting your home. By investigating your home, you can get a good idea of what repairs are needed or discover that a termite infestation has occurred. When inspecting, write down everything you see that’s a concern, as this will help overall when relaying to a pest professional. When checking the home’s interior, don’t forget to check in darker areas such as your crawl space, attic, and basements. Check around your baseboards, beams, or other wood materials. Likewise, look at any furniture or firewood inside the home too. As you are investigating the exterior of your home, be extra thorough, as these termites haven’t yet entered the home. Check your foundation, old trees, wooden sheds, and firewood.
Seal & Vent
Drywood termites are very small, ranging from 3/8 to ½ inch in length, allowing them to fit in the smallest hole or gap. If you find any openings leading into your home, it’s best to repair them immediately. Likewise, keeping your home’s attic and crawlspace well ventilated will help reduce moisture and the risk of a termite infestation. Consider encapsulating your crawlspace or insulating your attic.
Keep Your Yard Maintained
Drywood termites are looking for any wood materials to inhabit. Make sure you place firewood at least 20 feet away from the home and raise it off the ground. Additionally, trim all shrubs, bushes, or other dense greenery so that it doesn’t touch the side of your home. If you have old trees, lumber, or tree stumps, consider removing them, so these pests don’t infest and make their way inside your home.
Call a Professional
Sometimes, all the prevention in the world can’t stop termites from infesting homes. If a termite infestation has occurred, it’s best to call your local South Florida pest control company for extra help. A termite professional will provide you with a thorough inspection, a treatment plan based on your home’s needs, and recommendations on preventing them in the future.
Jan 13, 2023 | Termite Control
Termites are household pests that can cause significant damage in a short amount of time, leaving homeowners with costly repairs. In fact, most homeowner’s policies do not cover termite damage. There are two major types of termites that cause damage to homes: subterranean termites and drywood termites. The type of termite you are dealing with, along with the size of the colony and extent of the damage all determine what type of termite treatment will be most effective. Preparation of your home will depend on which treatment will be performed.
For liquid-soil treatment, a trench is dug around the perimeter of your home where termiticide is applied and then filled back in. For this type of treatment, no preparation is required.
Bait stations are strategically placed in the ground around your home. These treatments also do not require any preparation.
Fumigant treatments are the most extensive and also require you to prepare your home prior to treatment. During fumigation, a tent will be placed over your home and gas will be released, killing any termites that are present, even those in hard to reach areas. You can get your home ready for fumigation by:
- Finding a place to stay. You, your family and your pets cannot be inside the house during treatment, which can last up to 72 hours.
- Remove perishable and other unsealed items including food, medication, and hygiene products.
- Store clothes, bedding and curtains outside the home.
- Remove indoor plants from the home.
- If products are still sealed (e.g. food), they can be stored in approved bags during treatment; it’s best to double bag them.
- Turn off electrical appliances and unplug them.
- Make sure the gas is turned off to your home.
- Unwrap any plastic covered mattresses, cushions, and other furniture.
- Open all doors between rooms and into closets.
- Leave drawers and cabinets open.
- Leave shutters open.
- Trim back shrubs and trees near the exterior walls of the home.
Termites can be difficult to get rid of once an infestation has established. Contact your local pest control company for a termite inspection and appropriate treatment options.
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