Nov 30, 2023 | Termite Control
Winter in Georgia may bring chilly temperatures, but for homeowners, it’s no time to let their guard down, especially when it comes to termite control. Contrary to popular belief, termites can remain active during the colder months, making it crucial to stay vigilant year-round. In this blog post, we’ll explore the types of termites found in Georgia, the concept of a termite season, signs of a termite infestation, and essential tips for prevention.
Types of Termites in Georgia
Georgia is home to several termite species, with the most common being Eastern Subterranean Termites, Formosan Subterranean Termites, and Drywood Termites. Each type poses its own set of challenges for homeowners, making termite control a necessity.
Is There a Termite Season in Georgia?
While many associate termite activity with warmer months, Georgia’s mild climate means that termites can remain active throughout the year. There might be a slight slowdown in winter, but it’s a mistake to assume that termites take a complete hiatus. In fact, their activity might even go unnoticed, making it crucial for homeowners to be proactive in their termite control efforts.
Signs of Termites in Your Home
Detecting termite activity early is key to preventing extensive damage. Keep an eye out for the following signs:
- Mud Tubes: Subterranean termites build mud tubes to travel between their nest and food source. Check for these on your foundation or in crawl spaces.
- Swarmers: Reproductive termites, or swarmers, may emerge in large numbers during the spring. However, some species, like the Formosan termites, can swarm in the winter.
- Wood Damage: Look for hollow-sounding or damaged wood, as termites consume wood from the inside out.
- Discarded Wings: After swarming, termites shed their wings. Piles of discarded wings near windows or light sources can indicate an infestation.
Termite Prevention Tips
Prevention is the best defense against termites. Here are some tips to protect your home:
- Moisture Control: Termites are attracted to moisture. Ensure proper ventilation and address any leaks promptly.
- Regular Inspections: Schedule regular termite inspections to catch any infestation in its early stages.
- Wood-to-Ground Contact: Avoid direct wood-to-soil contact in and around your home.
- Remove Wooden Debris: Clear away dead trees, stumps, and other wooden debris from your property.
- Professional Treatment: Enlist the help of a professional pest control company for regular termite control treatments.
Don’t wait until it’s too late. Safeguard your home from termite damage by requesting a free termite control quote from our experienced team. Our experts are ready to assess your property, identify potential risks, and implement effective termite control measures tailored to your needs.
In conclusion, termites in Georgia don’t take a winter vacation. Stay informed, remain vigilant, and take proactive steps to protect your home from these silent invaders. Contact a professional pest control company today for a comprehensive termite control solution and ensure your home stays termite-free year-round.
Oct 10, 2023 | Florida Termite Control
Termite Control Oakland Park
Once termites have infested your Florida home, it’s hard to stop their damage. Both drywood and subterranean termites can wreak havoc, often going undetected for long periods of time, with repairs costing thousands of dollars. The best way to avoid termite damage is investing in termite control. Check out some termite control options for your Oakland Park home.
Termite Treatment Options in Florida
Bait Stations
Bait stations, including the Sentricon Always Active Station, are installed by a pest professional and placed at the perimeter of your home to eliminate subterranean termites. The bait stations provide termites with a food source, which contains a slow-acting termiticide treatment that termites will take back to their colony, eventually eliminating it. A bait station is great to utilize where surface treatments cannot be used, including near foundation drains and areas covered by slabs or flooring. This option is a long-termite preventative solution to avoid termite infestations.
Liquid Termite Defense
Liquid termite treatments are a great way to combat subterranean termites and their colonies. This treatment option is a great way to prevent termites from invading your home. The treatment requires a pest control company to dig a trench around the perimeter of your foundation. Once the trench is dug, a termiticide is injected in the proper intervals. The treatment utilized isn’t instant to give enough time for termites to bring it back to the queen and ultimately eliminate the entire colony at hand.
No-Tent Termite Treatment
The no-tent termite treatment option is best used when drywood termites have infested your home. This option is a great alternative to tent fumigation when you’re not able to vacate the home for treatment. A no-tent termite solution utilizes a non-repellent product into drywood termite galleries to eliminate the termites found in your home. The treatment is slow acting to allow the termites who have come in contact with the product to take it back to the queen and colony to eliminate it.
Dealing with a termite infestation is less than ideal so it’s important to understand preventative measures that you can keep in mind and place throughout your home to avoid their infestation.
DIY termite control tips:
- Reduce openings that offer access to termites by filling cracks in cement foundations or around gaps where utilities enter the home with cement, caulk, or grout.
- Eliminate sources of water, including fixing leaks found inside or outside of your home immediately
- Repair and close any entry points that are leading into your home
- Keep your attic and crawlspace well-ventilated to help reduce moisture; consider utilizing a dehumidifier.
- Remove old trees, lumber, or tree stumps found throughout your property
- Contact your local pest control company to provide you with a thorough termite inspection and the best termite control plan based on your home’s needs.
Jun 16, 2023 | Florida Termite Control
Living in South Florida can come with many perks, including lots of sunshine and beautiful ocean views. Unfortunately, it can also come with termites! These silent destroyers can cause significant damage to your home from the inside out. There are several treatment options out there to help keep termites under control, including the Sentricon Always Active® system. Here is more information on subterranean termites, along with ways to prevent and eliminate them.
What are Subterranean Termites?
Let’s talk about these stealthy troublemakers! Subterranean termites are the most common type of termite found in residential areas. They thrive in moist soil and create underground colonies, where they build intricate tunnel systems to access sources of food. Their damage can go unseen for years, hence the nickname, Silent Destroyers.
How to Prevent Subterranean Termites:
- Remove Moisture from Home: Subterranean termites love moisture, so keep an eye on areas prone to dampness, such as crawlspaces and basements. Ensure proper ventilation and address any leaks or water issues promptly. By eliminating excess moisture, you’re making your home less attractive to termites.
- Protect your Home’s Foundation: Keep some space between your home and the landscaping.
- Conduct Regular Inspections: In between your yearly termite inspection, you should be conducting one of your own. Here are the most prominent signs of subterranean termites in your home:
- Mud tubes or tunnels on walls
- Swarming termites and their discarded wings
- Wood damage, like hollow sounding wood, sagging or buckling floors, or warped paint
- Frass or termite droppings near wooden structures
When it comes to termite control for subterranean termites, Sentricon Always Active® baiting system stands out as a highly effective and eco-friendly solution. The stations are strategically placed around your property, forming a protective barrier.
Once termites find the bait, they take it back to their colony for complete elimination. Having Sentricon Always Active® installed for your home ensures continuous protection against subterranean termites, year-round. Our team of experts regularly monitor the bait systems, keeping the efficacy as accurate as possible.
By implementing simple prevention measures you can lessen the chances of these termites taking over. If you’re ready for the experts to get involved, give your local pest control company a call today for a FREE inspection!
Mar 29, 2023 | Termite Control
Macon Termite Control: Termite Treatment Options
One of the most common termites in the Macon area are subterranean termites. These termites can be extremely destructive, as they eat wood from the inside out and go undetected for long periods of time. Once homeowners finally notice a termite infestation, it’s often too late to stop their damage. There are several methods that a homeowner should know to help protect their home from termite damage. Check out three termite control treatments and how to avoid a termite infestation below.
Termite Treatment Options
There are three termite treatment methods to consider when looking to control and eliminate termite colonies, with their effectiveness depending on the type of termite you have and the severity of their infestation. These methods include:
- Bait Systems: Considered highly effective, the bait system contains chemicals that termites eat and then take back to their colonies, which allow it to spread to others.
- Wood Treatments: There are different types of wood treatments that either utilize surface spray treatments or injected sprays/foams. Surface sprays are applied to the surface of the wood. Injected sprays/foams are applied to the inside of the wood.
- Soil Treatments: Applied to the soil around your home, this treatment creates a barrier to prevent termite infestations. First, a trench is dug around your foundation, where the soil is then treated with a termiticide. After, the trench is filled back in.
Preventing Termites from your Macon Home
One of the best ways to get ahead of termite control is by placing preventative measures throughout. Consider the following do-it-yourself prevention tips to avoid termites:
- Reduce openings termites can enter in through. Consider filling in cracks in your cement foundation and sealing around where the utilities pass through the walls.
- Cover exposed wood surfaces with sealant or a metal barrier.
- Try to keep the soil around your foundation dry as much as possible through proper grading, drainage, downspouts, and clearing gutters of debris.
- Avoid planting trees or shrubs too close around the home, especially against exposed wood.
- Avoid placing firewood or wood debris next to your home. Instead, place stored wood at least 20 feet away in plastic containers with a lid.
- Consider having an annual termite inspection.
If you suspect that you have a termite problem or are interested in getting ahead with a prevention plan, reach out to your local pest control company which can provide you with a free analysis and recommend the best treatment and prevention plan.
Mar 28, 2023 | Termite Control
Alabama Termite Control: What Termite Treatment Do I Need?
Termites will not stop until they find a food source for their colony, often destroying our homes in the process. A termite infestation can be devasting, as their damage can cost billions of dollars in repair. One of the best ways to avoid their damage is investing in termite control for your Alabama home. Let’s review the signs of termites and the several types of termite treatment options available so you can avoid their devastation.
Common Signs of Termites
Termites are silent destroyers, meaning they can go unnoticed for extended periods. However, there are many ways that you can tell you have a termite infestation.
- Sounds: Soldier termites will bang their heads against wood or shake their bodies when a colony is disturbed to alert other termites in the colony. You will often hear a quiet clicking sound coming from the walls.
- Wings: Swarming termites leave their nest to search for a mate to establish a new colony. When they find a mate, they will lose their wings. These discarded termite wings are often found near doors or windowsills and are a sign of an infestation.
- Warping: Termites produce moisture when tunneling through the wood. If they make their way through window frames and doors, it will cause them to warp, which makes them difficult to open. Warping will also cause uneven or bubbling paint.
- Wood Damage: When termites consume wood from the inside out, it will often make a hollow or papery sound when tapped on.
Termite Treatment Options
When investing in termite treatment and prevention options, there are three common types of professional treatments that every homeowner should know, including bait stations, liquid-soil treatments, and wood treatments.
- Bait Stations: Installed at the perimeter of your home, bait stations will provide a food source for termites. When found, the termites will bring the food back to their colony, where it eliminates them. This treatment can take longer, but it does eliminate the entire colony once the termites find it. A termite service professional will monitor and refill the station when needed.
- Liquid-Soil Treatments: This treatment is installed by digging a trench around the perimeter of your home and filling it in with liquid termiticide. If termites travel from your home and back to their colony, they pass through this termiticide, which will eventually eliminate them.
- Wood Treatments: This treatment is used when treating existing wood structures. The wood treatment can either be a surface or injected spray/foam. Treatment is applied by spraying directly onto the wood, where it will eliminate the existing termites and provide preventative treatment for the future.
If you’re interested in these termite treatment options, consider contacting your local pest control company for more information. These professionals can provide you with a comprehensive inspection and help determine the best termite control plan for you and your home.
