Subterranean Termites
There are various methods to prevent termite damage and control their attacks in our homes. Subterranean termites cause a lot of damage on homes and other structures, most especially in the southern states of America. Billions of dollars are spent each year in controlling termites and to repair the damage they cause.
Subterranean termites usually attack building materials containing cellulose (like wood) that is commonly used in building homes and other structures. It is very hard to know if there are termites in your home because their activity usually goes unnoticed until big damage becomes visible. Many homeowners incur a lot of expense for the repairs caused by these devastating creatures. In fact, termites can thrive in dry wood without any moist soil contact. If you suspect termites could be in your home, or you wish to prevent them from getting into your home, then you might want to learn some effective tips on how you can take precautionary actions to prevent their attack.
What To Look For
Conduct a thorough inspection in your home. It is one of the vital and most efficient ways of determining if termites are nesting in your home. The best way to do this is to walk around the outside of your home every month or two. Make sure to inspect doors and window frames that are made of wood. Take notice of their appearance to see if there is blistered paint or soft spots. These are indicators of possible termite damage. You should also inspect the wall foundations to look for mud tubes that the termites build to gain access to wood. If you see some problems with it, make sure to immediately call a pest control company in your area and they can facilitate you to kill termites and end the damages they bring. Subterranean Termite eradication is a specialized service and one best left to the professionals.
Avoid giving termites a thriving place to survive. For instance, make sure that firewood, fencing or plant boxes don’t come into contact with the outside part of the house. Do not store firewood in your garage because it mainly attracts termites and provide a place for them for survival.
Preventing moisture would also help in preventing termites. Subterranean Termites are normally attracted to moist wood. You have to ensure that water from any source does not get contact outside the walls of the home. This goes the same with air conditioner condensation. Check if there are indoor or roof leaks and make sure to repair them immediately. Also, make it a point to check gutters, especially after the rainy seasons and fix problems immediately.
Subterranean Termites by nature are hidden and they do not like to be exposed to the outside environment. This could probably make it hard for you to control them. Because they are naturally elusive, they show minimal signs of their activity that usually results to property damage. Looking for mud tubes could help give you a warning sign if there are areas in the house infested with termites. Another warning sign would be a large number of flying termites in or around the home.
Preventative termite actions, usually via soil treatments, should be carried out during the construction of your home. But if you have moved into an older home, or don’t know if any preventative treatment was used, the best way to prevent termite damage is to understand their preferences and behaviors, followed by identifying the trouble spots and then to create changes important to reducing termite infestation risks.