If you own your own home you will really want to do everything in your power to keep it in good condition, both cosmetically and structurally. However it’s amazing how often people will allow problems to go for years without proper repair and this can really make things a whole load worse than they need to be. As soon as you notice any problems, such as termites, you need to do your best to deal with it.
Sure, it can be very expensive to have professionals come into your home to deal with any repairs but its better that you do this anyway. Don’t underestimate the destructive power of termites in your home. It’s not just a termite exterminator that will tell you this. Anyone who has experienced an infestation of termites will know only too well. Sometimes people buy properties only to find that there are termites in the house causes untold chaos.
You will find termites in many countries around the globe and they can totally destroy a home if left unchecked. Of course, this is the worse case scenario but it shouldn’t be overlooked. However the problem is actually knowing you have a termite problem because it can take as long as 5 years for the problems to become apparent. You could be sitting there in your home blissfully unaware of these termites scuttling about.
This is a major reason for having a termite inspection by a professional company with experience in termites. It doesn’t have to cost a lot of money to have an inspection carried out. A local pest control company might even offer a free termite inspection so ring around to see what’s on offer. By doing this every year you will be able to detect a problem before any real damage has been done. Termite control services can also set up monitoring stations which will alert you without doing a full inspection. Look at sentricon.com for further info.
When termites are left undetected you might only notice a problem once you begin to see sagging floors or holes in the wood of your home. Ideally you should look for a free termite inspection otherwise it will cost you a few hundred dollars. Doing the inspection yourself is possible but not recommended. Certainly this is the case if you are looking to sell your home.
If you do want to have a look around your home for signs of termites you need to know that termites like to eat the inside of wood. Sometimes a hole appears in the wood and the termite will actually try to cover it up using dirt and their own faeces.
Termites also drop their wings so many people see wings lying around on the ground. There are in the region of 40 different types of termites so the wings are going to look a bit different from each other. This is another reason to get a profession termite inspection.
Another way to see if you have termites is to use a blunt object to tap on the support beams, floor beams, walls and pillars of your home that are made from wood. If your tapping creates a hollow sound then there might be termites in there.
If you know for sure that you have termites you can see about doing the work yourself of get termite exterminator in. With the DIY approach you can use baits to kill of the colony. The bait systems that you buy normally come with a monitoring station to you put into the ground outside of your home. This lets you know whether the termites are around or not. If they are you put the bait in the station and then the termite will take the bait back to the rest of the colony.
Alternatively there are liquid treatments out there that you can buy however they aren’t used as much as the bait method described above. The liquid treatment isn’t environmentally friendly plus they aren’t as effective in destroying the whole colony. However if your home has been badly affected by termites and you want something that will work quickly you will need to go for the liquid treatment option. Termidor is a good product to use.
If you are still building your home you can use a borate termite treatment however it’s not so good for homes that are already built. It can still be used on a home that’s already been built by coating exposed wood with the borate however the treatment on its own will not be 100% effective.
As you can see, getting rid of termites isn’t a straightforward thing to do and there are many different considerations to make. This is why you might just want to get a termite exterminator in. This way you won’t constantly be worrying about whether you have done a good enough job or not.
None of us relish the idea of having termites in our homes but the fact is that many of us are at constant risk of this very thing happening. Termites simply love any kind of house. They don't care what type it is at all. You might think that termites in the home is little more than a nuisance. However they can be a whole load worse than that. This is why it's pivotal you can recognize the early signs so that you can do something to prevent it from getting any worse.
Time and again, home owners aren't even aware of termites being in the home until they are able to see the damage that has been done. If you are able to recall the early signs then you will more than likely be able to prevent any drastic damage from occurring to the fabric of the building. OK, so the major thing that termite do is to damage chunks of wood a little at a time. However there are other much more subtle signs.
Often you aren't even able to see the signs of termites if you are not sure what to look for. You need to spend a bit more time looking and you might be able to see the signs. For instance they can be found living and feeding on your walls, floors, furniture and anything else that is made out of wood. Additionally, you should be looking for piles of feces that they leave behind.
Termites don't only live in your home. This means you should go out into your garden to have a look at the places they frequently hang out. This means looking under dead leaves and in tree stumps for mud holes. If you walls or floors have any holes or cracks, they could be used by the termites as an entrance. Also check your window sills, door frames, basement walls and moldings.
Termites can also swarm, if you see this activity then it might be the young queen and king termites. Basically they leave the colonies to go and start new colonies elsewhere. Either they are around your property because there is an established colony near or around your home; or there is going to be very soon. The wings are discarded when they have started a colony, so pick some of them up and give them an inspection to see if they are termites.
In the event that you do see signs that they are feeding from the wood in your home, it's time to call a professional in your area who is trained and equipped to kill off the termites. If you feel comfortable, you could always try doing the work yourself. Whatever you do, make sure you take action because ignoring it now can lead to loads of problems in the future.
