Termite Terror? Tips To Determine And Treat The Terror Of Termites

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As a homeowner, you are probably familiar with the various tasks necessary to keep your home functional, appealing, and valuable. Unfortunately, you may be one of the many homeowners who do not place effort into pest prevention and control. Since certain species of termites can quickly grow into a large colony of 500,000, understanding the initial signs of an infestation is smart to protect your home.

A termite infestation can quickly wreak havoc on your home, so prevention is key, but prevention can be difficult. Using this guide, you will learn the initial signs of a termite problem and find the best options for taking control of your home.

Signs of an Infestation

While surprising to hear, termites are attracted to more than just wood. These insects can cause enormous amounts of damage to your home's siding, windows and doors, and even foundation. If you notice one or more of the following signs, termites may be taking control of your home:

• Damaged Wood – Inspect your home for visible signs of wood damage. Termites will feed on various wood surfaces in and around your home. Over time, this can cause the wood to become soft, warped, or hollow.
• Paint Problems – Cracks and chips in your home's paint may be a sign of a termite issue, as well. Inspect the exterior of your home for multiple areas of chipped, cracked, and breaking paint.
• Pest Poo – If you notice an accumulation of sawdust in and around certain areas of your home, it may actually be pest poo. Fecal matter from pests, or frass, appears similar to sawdust. Take a closer look at the matter. If it resembles shavings of wood, it is sawdust. However, if it has an appearance closer to small pellets, it is frass.

Professionally Controlling the Termites

Termites eat 24 hours a day, 7 days of week, so treating the infestation is essential preventing serious damage and expensive repairs. Thankfully, a pest control company can design a plan of action to rid your home of termites and prevent further infestation.

Professionals will most likely apply a liquid treatment to infested areas of your home and termite entry sites. Termites will ingest this pesticide and share it with the rest of the colony, resulting in a complete eradication of the insects.

A professional may also recommend treating the actual wood to control a termite infestation. During a wood treatment, a pesticide is applied directly into the wood surface. A wood treatment not only kills the existing termites, but also prevents future infestations.

Unfortunately, many homeowners require a complete fumigation when multiple colonies have made the house their home. This process involves tenting the home and spreading a gas pesticide throughout the entire structure. The gas quickly reaches all cracks and crevices, for an effective fumigation.

DIY, Eco-Friendly Termite Control

Although effective for killing pests, liquid and gas pesticides also affect the surrounding environment and your health. Pesticides contain many harmful ingredients and VOCs, or Volatile Organic Compounds, which can cause dizziness, headaches, nausea, breathing issues, and irritation to the skin and eyes.

If you prefer treating the termites without the use of toxic chemicals, consider the following options:

• Borax – Applying a layer of borax to infested surfaces will quickly kill termites. This powdery soap is an effective pest killer and repellent, but it is also nontoxic and safe to use around your pets and children.
• Orange Oil – Place a few drops of orange essential oil on entry and infested areas of your home. The orange oil is an appealing food for termites, but it will kill them once ingested.

A termite infestation can be terrifying. However, treatment is possible. Using this guide, you will understand the initial signs of an infestation and learn the best treatments to stop termites from terrorizing your home. 

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22 June 2015