Termites have a reputation for being one of the worst pests you can get in your home, and this reputation is well-earned. Far from being harmless little subterranean homebodies, termites are destructive pests that can do unbelievable damage to your property. That's why they should be number one on your Collegeville pest control priority list.
How To Identify Signs Of Termites Around Your Home
Termites eat the wood they infest. This means, unlike ants, termites can stay inside their nests pretty much all the time. Termites' homebody ways allow them to fly under your radar for months and potentially years because you might never see one. This is why you'll need to be vigilant for other signs of termites in your home besides seeing live termites themselves. Signs include:
- Mud tubes around your foundation
- Pinholes in drywall
- Scratching sounds inside walls
- Unexplained wood damage or sawdust
- Windows and doors that don't fit
Another major sign of a termite problem is termite swarms. The one exception to the general rule that termites stay inside their nests is breeding time. When it's time to spread their colony, termites send out thousands of reproductive adults who pair off to start new colonies. These adults don't travel very far before performing their mating ritual, so if you see a termite swarm, it is a major sign that you have a termite problem.
How Termites Can Slowly And Silently Destroy Your Home
You might think having termites is no big deal, but you'd be wrong. Termites' main role in the forest is to speed up wood decay so that the nutrients from the dead wood go back into the soil quickly. This means that termites can destroy wood at an astounding rate. This might be a good thing in the forest, but when it's happening to your home's floor joists, support beams, and wall studs, it can quickly lead to structural unsoundness and maybe even render your home unlivable. This is the reason why termites are responsible for an estimated 5 billion dollars a year in damages in the US alone, and it's also the reason termite control is so vital.
Factors That Attract Termites To Your Home
You might think that getting termites in your home is just a stroke of bad luck, and this is true to an extent. However, there are also many factors in your home that can draw termites in and make you even more likely to get an infestation.
Wood-to-ground contact is one of the main factors that facilitate termite infestation. Things like branches touching your home's exterior, mulch around your foundation, and firewood pressed up against your siding can all facilitate termite entry.
Moisture is another big attractant. Most termite species need to bring moisture into their nests from the outside. If you have condensation, poor drainage, leaky pipes, or other issues that cause moisture to collect in the soil around or inside the wood of your house, this can easily attract termites.
Call The Professionals At The First Sign Of Termites In Your Home
Termite removal only gets more difficult and more expensive as time goes on. Furthermore, every second that termites are in your house is a second they are doing damage to it. This means if you see signs of active termites, don't hesitate. Call Terra Pest Management Specialists immediately. The quicker our pest experts can get out to your property, the quicker they can stop your termite infestation in its tracks. So don't wait until you've incurred thousands of dollars in termite damage. Give us a call or visit our contact page to get started today!
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