Mar 27, 2023 | Termite Control
Tennessee Termite Control: Termite Prevention
Discovering termites in your Tennessee home can be a concerning thought. Each year, termites cause billions of dollars’ worth of damage to homeowners. Don’t let your home fall under this statistic. We have all the information you need to begin termite prevention now.
Termites can’t level your home within a week or within five years, but over time they will eat away at your home from the inside out. They are difficult to spot and are incredibly quiet destroyers. The earliest signs of termite damage can be seen within months of them infiltrating your home.
One way to avoid property damage from termites is to have your home inspected once or twice a year. The best way to prevent termites is to have long-term termite control in place.
In the meantime, here are some DIY termite prevention methods you can do today:
- Clean up your yard by removing sticks, leaves, cardboard, and other debris
- Eliminate sources of water build-up in and around your home
- Repair sections of water damaged wood throughout your home
Are you ready for long-term termite prevention in your Tennessee home? Give your local pest control company a call today and receive a free inspection to begin keeping termites away!
Mar 23, 2023 | Termite Control
Laurens Termite Control: Termite Prevention Tips
There are two factors to consider when looking at termite control: preventing them from infesting your home and treating established termite colonies. Termites are year-round pests and can go undetected for a long period of time, causing devastating damage in the process. There are several prevention methods to consider when looking to eliminate or prevent termites from your Laurens home.
Remove Entry Point Access
One of the best and most effective ways to keep termites out is to remove any access inside your home, including gaps around water and gas lines where they enter your home. Likewise, inspect your foundation for cracks or openings and repair them immediately.
Reduce Their Food Source
To survive, termites need wood and moisture. Eliminating these factors can help reduce your chance of a termite infestation. If you place mulch against your foundation for landscaping purposes, you could be attracting termites into your home. Mulch is a great source of food for termites as they retain any moisture. Try to minimize the use and keep it at least 15 inches away from the foundation. Additionally, if your crawlspace is experiencing a lack of airflow, it can create an ideal environment for these pests. Consider enclosing your crawlspace to prevent these termites and improve the overall health of your home by reducing moisture and decreasing humidity.
Consider Annual Termite Inspections
Termites can be tricky to control and eliminate! These pests will cause significant damage to your home, sometimes before you even realize they have infested. Placing preventative measures in your home to reduce the chance of a termite infestation will always help, but sometimes it’s best to leave it up to your local Laurens pest control company. These professionals can perform an annual termite inspection and provide you with the best termite control and prevention options for your home.
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 10, 2023 | Termite Control
Termites are so destructive because they eat wood from the inside out, often going long periods of time before they are discovered. For this reason, annual termite inspections are critical to protecting your home. These inspections help spot signs of termites sooner, allowing termite control to be implemented earlier in the termite infestation.
There are several different options when it comes to termite treatments. Here are four of the most popular:
Liquid-Soil Treatment
Liquid-soil termite treatments are applied to the soil around your home to act as a treatment barrier. They last for an average of 5 years. A trench is dug around the perimeter of your home, and liquid termiticide is applied. The trench is then filled in. This method helps to prevent future infestations while also killing any existing termites as they travel between your home and their nests.
Bait Treatments
Bait station treatments are another option for termite control. Bait stations are strategically placed around your home using this method. Each station contains a slow-acting termiticide that the termites take back to their nests and share with other termites. These treatments may take longer to work on termites. They also necessitate regular monitoring and maintenance to ensure that each station contains bait.
Wood Finishes
Wood treatments are an additional termite control option. These treatments make use of either surface sprays and treatments or injected sprays and foams. Wood treatments kill existing termites while also penetrating the wood to prevent future problems. These treatments necessitate direct access to infested wood, which can be difficult to obtain in some cases. Sprays are better for new construction treatments because the wood can be treated while the house is being built. Injected foams are better for use on existing structures because they can expand into cracks and crevices that sprays may not be able to reach.
Pre-Treated Materials
Pre-treated building materials are ideal for new construction. The termiticide can be sprayed or brushed on. Termiticide can also be applied anywhere the new structure comes into contact with the soil, allowing the soil to be pretreated. Using pressure treated wood is another option because termites are less likely to infest wood that has been treated with chemicals.
While these termite treatment options are efficient at eliminating existing infestations, unfortunately they do not provide permanent elimination of termites. There is always a risk that termites will return to invade again. Termite control is an ongoing process, requiring persistent maintenance and prevention techniques to continue to keep them out.
You can prevent termites by:
- Getting rid of water sources by eliminating or reducing standing water around your home.
- Repairing any leaky faucets, pipes, and air conditioners.
- Diverting water away from your house with properly functioning spouts, splash blocks, and gutters that are clear of debris.
- Repairing and replacing damaged roof shingles, fascia and soffits on your house.
- Replacing weatherstripping on doors and windows.
- Routinely inspecting foundations for loose mortar, uneven or bubbling paint, wood that sounds hollow when you tap it, and for the presence of mud tubes which termites use to reach food.
- Regularly inspecting wood in and around your home for noticeable changes, making sure to check windows, doors, and skirting.
- Making sure there is at least an 18″ gap between the soil and the wood portions of your home.
- When storing items in the attic or basement, using plastic storage containers and metal shelving instead of cardboard or wood.
- During swarming season, keeping doors and windows shut as much as possible. Keep outdoor lights turned off at night also, as they will attract swarming termites.
- Keeping firewood stored at least 20 feet away from your home and elevated off the ground.
- Keeping plants a few feet away from your home.
- Making sure there is at least a 4″ barrier between your mulch and the side of your home. You can also use mulch made of rubber, plastic, or gravel.
- Removing any tree stumps from your property.
- Scheduling an annual termite inspection of your home and property to help detect termite problems early before they can cause significant damage.
Contact your local pest control company for a thorough evaluation.
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Feb 6, 2023 | Florida Pest Control, Termite Control
South Florida Termite Control: Protecting Your Home From Infestation
Subterranean and drywood termite types are popular within the Coral Springs area, looking for homes for their next meal! Termites are year-round pests, making it essential for every South Florida homeowner to be on top of termite control. Check out the top 5 ways you can prevent termites from invading your home and causing billions of dollars in repairs!
Be Mindful of Stacked Wood
If you’re keeping wood stacked against your house, you could be leading termites right inside your home! Leaving woodpiles near your home is not only a great source of food for termites, but it also gives them a safe passage into your home. To avoid the risk of a termite infestation, don’t store any type of wood products in your crawlspace and stack your woodpiles at least 20 feet away from your home. For extra precautions, consider placing wood in a sealed plastic container with a lid and elevating it off the ground.
Repair Drainage
Termites need moisture to survive, and if there’s any improper drainage in or around your home, you create the ideal environment for them to thrive. Inspect your downspouts and divert water away from your home. Regularly check that your faucets and A/C drip lines are not causing water to pool around your foundation.
Remove Mulch & Debris
Did you know wood mulch is a major termite attractant? It’s true that wood mulch can be a great landscaping tool, but it is known to contain moisture that attracts termites. If you’re using mulch, keep it at least four inches away from your foundation. Likewise, make sure it never contacts the home’s siding, window frames, or door frames. Sometimes an overlooked reason for a termite infestation is clogged gutters. Clogged gutters containing debris will collect moisture, attracting termites. It’s important to remove debris and clean your gutters on a regular basis to avoid backup.
Maintain Landscaping
Trees hanging over your home and overgrown bushes can create the perfect shelter area for termites. These areas will often cause moisture to build up and provide an area to build their colony. Avoid termites utilizing your landscape by regularly maintaining it and keeping your trees and shrubs trimmed on a regular basis.
Regular Termite Inspections & Treatments
While the above can help make your home less attractive to termites, the best and most effective way to avoid termites is to do a home inspection and regular termite treatments. There are several termite treatment options, such as bait stations, liquid-soil treatments, and spray/foam treatments. It’s best to contact your local Coral Springs pest control company to provide you with a thorough termite inspection and recommended termite control plan that works best for your situation.
