Termites simply might be a house owner’s worst nightmare. While they’re tiny, they can wreak big-time havoc on your house. Termites alone cause over $5 billion in home damage every year, according to the National Insect Management Association. What’s worse is that homeowners insurance does not cover the destruction these ravenous animals can leave.
“These can be dreadful circumstances; a brand-new house owner can be stuck to costly damage repair, sometimes costing them over $200,000,” states Daniel Whitney, a Maryland attorney who represents homeowners who have moved into a termite-infested house that a wood-damaging insect assessment did not catch.
“Termites, and the control or removal of them, is a growing problem in the U.S. due to our environment and the prevalence of wood as our primary structure product,” states Ben Sciortino, the owner of Tri-S Insect Control in Tampa, FL. “In other locations of the world where stone and brick products are used, you see less instances of infestation.”
So what are the best methods to keep termites out of your home?Eliminate or reduce wetness in and around the house Subterranean termites, the most common and damaging species of termite, need sufficient wetness in order to thrive, states Danielle Corrato with NPMA. To lower the moisture level around your house, repair work dripping faucets, water pipelines, and outside Air Conditioning units. Divert water away from the home through appropriately operating downspouts, rain gutters, and splash blocks.Store firewood at least 20 feet away from the house If you use wood to heat your home– or you much like lighting a roaring fire throughout the cold months– you need to ensure to store the lumber at least 20 feet far from your house, states Karen Thompson, editor of InsectCop.net, a pest and insect control recommendations site. Keep the wood that you bring inside elevated and away from the walls and floor.Remove stumps and dying trees from your home Stumps and dying or dead trees are highly appealing to termites, says Brad Smith, the owner of Preferred Insect Control in Des Moines
, IA. The dead wood supplies everything they require to sustain
their nest. Eliminate them!Keep tree branches off your home Overhanging branches can function as highways into the home, according to Jerry Lazarus, president of Braman
is necessary to understand what to try to find. Elsi Turri with Arrow Exterminators in Atlanta says to take note of these indicators of an infestation.Termite wings: Thin, papery wings are normally found near windowsills or floors.Mud tubes: Termites build these tiny tunnels to connect them from
- the soil to their food source.Rippled wallpaper or paint: This can appear comparable to water damage and can be a good indication of
- termite activity as well.Hollow-sounding wood: The hollow noise heard when the wood is tapped is a sign that termites have actually been delighting in it.Frass, aka termitedroppings: This is an indication of drywood termites. It typically has a hard, gritty feel to it.What to do if you have a termite
- invasion If you have termites, do n’t panic and believe that your home is going to collapse at any moment.However, termites tend to fly under the radar, so
- by the time you observe a problem, the damage might be frustrating. It’s best to call a licensed pest control specialist to help you identify the intensity of your problem
and work on getting rid of termites from your house.”There are two choices for dealing with a termite problem
: liquid applications and baiting, “Ragar says.”If the damage is extensive, your specialist needs to suggest getting a contractor included to estimate the expense to repair your structure.”
Related Post
