Termite detection, prevention and treatment are something every homeowner in North Texas must think about because termites are an ever-present threat to any kind of structure that contains wood or cellulose. In fact, termites are a problem in every state of the United States with the exception of Alaska. Even if you don’t suspect you have a termite problem that needs treatment, you likely will at some point in the life of your home. That’s why it’s important to know a little bit about this voracious enemy.
Termites Really Are A Big Problem
The many species of termites are ready, willing and able to eat your house or your business out from under you. In fact, termites eat 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so there is a very good chance that termites are eating your home or your neighbor’s home as you read this. Termites do billions of dollars worth of property damage each year, which is why preventing or mitigating an infestation is so important.
Termites Aren’t Good At Hiding Their Activity
If you’re looking for the signs of termite activity, they aren’t hard to find. One of the more obvious signs of their activity is mud tubes. Mud tubes are pencil-thin tubes of dried mud that termites build as they work their way up the foundation of your home; this makes it easier for them to move from their underground nests into your home without exposure to air and light. Once inside your home, termites will eat the wood members of your home and cellulose-based sheetrock. Signs of termite activity in sheetrock include tiny holes that look like dirt and soft spots or hollows. Check the wood in your home that you can see – around windows and doors – to look for signs of termite activity. As termites consume wood, they leave furrows in the wood, called galleries. If you don’t see this type of damage, you can still find it by thumping on wood members to check for soft spots or a hollow sound.
Termites Can Be Thwarted
Although termite infestations are often unavoidable, there are some things you can do to make your home less appetizing for them. Termites seek moisture so stop all drips and leaks inside and outside of your home. Install rain gutters and downspouts to direct rainwater away from your home. Keep firewood, brush, roots, and debris away from the foundation of your home and make sure there is a metal barrier between wooden structures, like decks and pergolas, and the outside of your home. Removing this first course of their meal coupled with keeping 18 inches of space between the soil and the foundation of your home will go a long way toward making termites think twice before invading your home.
The very best thing you can do to protect your biggest investment is to call a professional pest control company to inspect your home for signs of a termite infestation. At Bug Commander Pest Control, we know all about termites and we have treatments that can stop infestations in their tracks and prevent further infestations down the road. Call us at Bug Commander at (214) 307-1933 to schedule an inspection of your home.