Termite control services prevent major structural damage and a number of other problems. These services are especially important for pest control in the Bay Area, which boasts a large number of historic homes and buildings.
Welcome to our guide to termite control and prevention, covering everything from symptoms of termite activity to termite damage, prevention, and long-term control.
We’re also going to talk about when you should think about calling in the help of pest control professionals. Let’s begin.
Termite Activity: How To Identify The Signs
One of the reasons why termites in the Bay Area can do so much damage to our homes is that they tend to be very quiet. It’s actually possible to hear certain types of termites as they eat wood inside the walls, but not many of us have the luxury of sitting in silence, listening for tiny insect nibbles.
But there are quite a few signs of termites that you should stay on the lookout for. If you notice one or more of these symptoms somewhere in or around your home, then there’s a likely chance you have termites.
Serious termite infestations may leave visible marks or residue around your home, especially near the baseboards or in the high corners of ceilings. Termite droppings are one indicator of a termite presence. These droppings basically look like sawdust. Certain types of termites build mud tubes from the ground to the foundations of your house. These are quite noticeable if you take the time to check underneath your house.
You may also see swarmers, which are flying termites. They only come out at certain times of the year, but they’re a key sign of termites. So if you suddenly see strange flying insects in your home that don’t look like flies or ants, they’re probably termite swarmers. If you have access to crawl spaces around your home, then you might also see direct termite damage to wood structures, which appear as wavy lines.
So now that we know the signs, just how much damage can termites really cause?
From Bad To Worse: How Termite Damage Can Escalate Quickly
When we talk about termite damage, we’re not just talking about superficial damage to the aesthetic quality of your home.
Termites eat away at the key wooden structures that keep our homes together, and because it can be difficult for the average person to detect a termite infestation early on, the problem can get worse by the day.
To illustrate this point, here’s a fact: a termite queen can lay literally thousands of eggs in a year. That’s thousands of new termites inside the walls of your home, which is even worse when you consider that termite workers live for one or two years at a time, with the queens living much longer.
This may seem a bit simplistic, but it’s the truth: the best way of avoiding termite damage is to have termites removed from your home as soon as possible. Regardless of how bad your termite infestation is here and now, if you have one, it’s inevitable that the problem will only get worse if you don’t take action to resolve it.
At their rate of reproduction, termites can easily cause major structural damage to your home over a period of months or years, making the building less safe and also detracting from its total market value.
Protecting Your Property: Effective Termite Prevention Methods
If you don’t currently have an active termite infestation, then it’s time to get started with prevention measures. We’ve gathered a few important prevention tips for you to keep in mind. Try to make a habit of these tips by keeping a list on your fridge or saving this post for future reference.
- Fix any roof tiles or exterior siding.
- Cut down on the amount of humidity in your home, especially in basement areas or around bathrooms and kitchens.
- Keep firewood, debris, and other items far from the exterior walls of your home.
- Look in on your home’s foundation regularly for signs of termites.
- Make sure that all of your windows and doors are properly sealed when closed.
- Schedule a recurring termite inspection for your home with a trusted pest control service. Professionals can find details you might have missed and stop an infestation before it starts.
Of course, if you’re already dealing with a termite problem, it’s time to send a signal flare.
Professional Termite Control: Long-Term Termite Control And Protection
To get rid of house termites that are currently causing problems for your home, consider working with pest control professionals.
Termite control in the Bay Area is difficult for the average person. There are steps you can take, but the fact is pest control pros have access to better equipment and a wealth of training and experience that helps them handle these situations with speed and efficiency.
If you’re looking for termite control services near you, then contact Bay Pest right away to schedule an inspection or to learn more about our residential and commercial pest control services in the Bay Area.