How to get rid of termites permanently from your property.
Termites are one of the most damaging pests, costing Americans an annual average of $1 billion in property damage. A termite infestation is easier to treat and, ideally, prevent if caught early. Termites can cause significant structural damage if left untreated for long enough, resulting in expensive repairs or even replacing entire structures like walls or roofs. In addition, if you wait too long to treat them (over six months), they might form colonies that are only possible with the help of a professional termite exterminator.
They are capable of establishing large, multigenerational colonies in your yard. The infestation in your home or business will worsen as their population and size increase.
If you think you have termites in your house or company, look for evidence of activity, such as holes in the walls or ceiling, rotting wood outside, sawdust (a sign of an active nest), or winged insects. Another telltale sign of a busy nest is the presence of a lot of crumbly material from which few or no insects emerge.
If you’re worried about an infestation, keep an eye out for these signs:
How to Identify a Termite Infestation.
1. Swarms of Flying Termites
If you suspect a termite infestation, look for a winged bug with two sets of wings. Black or dark brown in hue, these “swarmers” are smaller than full-grown worker termites.
Swarming termites have probably already invaded your home or company if you see them in the air. During swarming, a colony of termites splits in two, with each group leaving through a different exit hole searching for food or mates.
Some termite species swarm outside around April to July if the temperature rises beyond 86 degrees Fahrenheit (30 degrees Celsius).
2. Discarded Termite Wings
Discarded termite wings are another telltale sign of a termite infestation in your property. However, it’s easy to miss the wings if you don’t pay close attention. But if you’re positive that you’re dealing with termite wings and not something else, you can take the following steps:
Get in touch with a termite exterminator ASAP! Time is of the essence when addressing a termite problem. If you notice any of these signs, it may be time to call a pro for assistance in getting rid of the pests before they spread to other areas of your property and do further damage, to things such as to wooden furnishings.
Termites can enter your home through tiny crevices; adhesive tape can help seal off places like window sills, where condensation collects due to moisture loss in the chilly winter months.
Mud tubes
The presence of mud tubes indicates a potential termite problem. You can find these termite armors in moist or damp wood, which the insect employs to defend themselves as they move from one location to another. The mud and clay used to construct the tubes give them the strength to be uprooted from their homes if necessary.
You can find mud tubes just about anywhere in your house, including in the walls, the flooring, behind the furniture, and the appliances. If you have reason to believe an infestation is taking place in your home, you should take prompt action to eliminate any mud tubes you find.
4. wood with a hollow sound
Termites will eat away at wood until it sounds hollow. They not only eat the outside of a tree or log, but they also enjoy eating the inside.
If you tap a piece of wood with a hammer that sounds hollow, you may have a termite infestation. Don’t only check for chewed-up bits of wood; the material will appear normal on the outside. Consider the piece as a whole, not just it’s outside. How does it feel to draw upon it? Can you tell if the wood is unusually soft? Does tapping on it not elicit a robust response? All of these may indicate that termites are present.
5. Cracked or bubbling paint
Cracks in the paint or loose, bubbling paint are early indicators of a termite infestation in your home or business. Termites can cause wood to become dry and brittle by eating right through it. When this occurs, if there are no supporting beams in the wall or ceiling, the insect may be able to chew its way through. The resulting holes are so massive that they look like a two-year-old smashed them with a toy hammer.
What are the termite control methods used by termite exterminators?
Termite exterminators use these termite control methods to get rid of termites:
Liquid Termiticides:
Termiticides that come in liquid form are sprayed or poured directly into the soil or wood. You may combine them with water and use them as a spray. Injecting them into the ground causes them to spread widely and eventually kill any termites that come into contact with them. The termites will eventually die when applied to a termite’s tunnels or nest. A liquid termiticide will only be effective if administered promptly and to all affected areas of your home.
Baits and Gels:
Baits can be gels (chemical repellents) or contaminated food for termites. Termites are drawn to the baits when they are fed onto the surfaces where the termites are .When termites chew the bait, a poison is slowly released that will eventually kill them. Placement of bait stations in the ground requires it’s application over the entire property. Termites who consume the bait poison usually return to their colonies and disseminate it among other termites, killing them over many days. Farms have used this technique to keep pests out of barns and other structures.
Fumigation:
It is a method of eliminating termites through the use of gas. An air or fan system is used to force the chemicals deep into the framework of a house, where termites are most likely hiding. For fumigation, you can employ either inorganic or organic chemicals. Some examples of inorganic fumigants are carbon disulfide, methyl bromide, and sulfuryl fluoride; all three substances are hazardous if inhaled or consumed by people or animals. Metam-sodium, phosphine gas, and chloropicrin are all examples of organic fumigants. To prevent injury to humans and animals, fumigation must take place in a safe, contained area due to the toxicity of the fumigants used.
Heat Treatment
In contrast to other termite control methods, thermal (heat treatment) is not a repellant. It entails heating the house’s interior to a temperature of around 120 degrees using a specialized blower. For homeowners worried about the health effects of pesticides on themselves and their pets, this way of exterminating dry wood termites is a welcome alternative.
How To Prevent a Termite Infestation
Maintaining clean gutters and avoiding storing wood close to the house’s foundation are ways to lessen the likelihood of a termite infestation. Here are some other preventative measures you may take against termites:
* Get rid of wood and soil contact.
Limit wood’s exposure to the ground. Take down any wooden retaining walls and rebuild them with stone or brick.
Maintain a tidy gutter system. It’s essential to keep them clear of leaves and other debris to prevent water damage to your home’s foundation from seeping in through cracks in the walls or leaks.
Make sure the basement stays dry. Any places where water pools, such as around pipes and other plumbing fixtures, should have an underground drainage system installed if at all possible; this will help prevent rot from forming on these surfaces over time by preventing excess moisture buildup inside them, which could cause severe damage if left unchecked for too long.
* clean up your home and yard of any trash or scraps of wood or paper.
Termite infestations typically begin in the home, where they can grow into large colonies, and then move to other areas, such as the grass near your property border, where they can feed on falling seeds from nearby trees. However, depending on how quickly things expand through their colony cycle, you could be faced with a large infestation within weeks or months if left unchecked.
* Maintaining a tidy yard is a must.
Your lawn has a significant role in the termite issue. Keeping your yard free of termites requires a concerted effort, including removing garbage and other organic materials.
There are several things that can be done to clean up your yard:
-Clean the area around your house of leaves, branches, or other decaying matter. Remove any logs or boards from your yard that have been sitting there for more than six months, as this will increase the risk of deterioration and termite infestation.
-Keep grass short around structures so they can’t hide in the shadows or among the roots of nearby plants.
* Dead tree branches and leaves should be removed.
Termites thrive in decomposing wood Termites’ mandibles (the biting mouthparts) help them digest wood fibers, which they ingest.
Inaddition to termites, you might be faced with many other pest if a dead tree is nearby. For instance, dead trees with moist soil are a magnet for wood-boring beetles, which are relatively large compared to other insects you could see on your property.
* Keep firewood away.
Keep firewood stacked five feet off the ground and twenty feet from your house.
Termites love damp places, so if you want to protect your wood from attack, store it in a metal container with a good top. When there’s moisture present, termites will tunnel into wood mulch. Therefore, avoiding using it anywhere near the house’s foundation is best.
* Fix leaks
As quickly as possible, you should dry out the roof sheathing and decking and rectify any leaks in the plumbing. leakes almost guarantee a termite infestation.
* Gutters should always be clean
Keep your gutters clean so that water does not collect in them.
Clogged gutters can lead to flooding and structural damage to your home. This not only introduces moisture, a food source for termites but can also cause other structural damage. Maintaining clean gutters requires routine inspection and cleaning.
* Monitor crawl spaces, attics, and other nook and crannies in your home.
Keep an eye on your attic and crawlspace for termite damage or infestation. You can ensure that it’s termites instead of other insects, by looking for signs like mud tubes, discarded wings, and feces pellets. Be sure to contact a termite removal company if you discover termites. If you don’t take care of it asap, they could compromise the stability of your building and cost you far more in repairs.
You should hire a local termite company to do an inspection even if you decide to do the treatment yourself.They can atleast advice you on the severity of your infestaion and the urgency. If you find termites and want to stop them alone, see our article on diy termite control.
