Also known as the silent destroyer, termites pose a constant threat to the structure and contents of your home. As wood boring insects, termites feed off of the material and breed in it as well. The termite colonies live and grow inside of wood walls, planks, floors, decks and other areas of the home. In fact, house foundations, furniture; even boxes and books are all possible food sources for a colony of hungry termites. Unfortunately, they are typically dormant for a period of time. As a result, it may be difficult for a homeowner to realize the presence of an infestation until the pests create more obvious damage.
Identifying Termites
Should you suspect a termite problem, you may initially choose to survey your home yourself. Some indicators to look for include cracked or bubbling paint, wood that sounds hollow when you knock on it, and mud tubes on the surfaces of walls or in crawl spaces. Another sign of a termite infestation is small wood shavings and chips close to where they may be residing.
Inexperienced homeowners frequently confuse termite damage with water damage as the two are similar and oftentimes related. A good way to tell the difference is to gently pull off the surface of an area of damaged wood and search for the tell-tale pencil-thick tunnels and droppings of termites.
Termite Treatment Options
Most termite problems are too large to be handled without experienced, professional help. Fortunately, many pest control companies will perform free termite inspections. Once termites are detected, the company will determine which termite control treatment to use. Two of the most popular treatment methods are the liquid method and baiting.
Liquid Method
The liquid method is the quicker and efficient option. This process involves drilling holes in and around the house to create a continuous liquid-treated zone around the foundation. The injected insecticide prevents more termites from entering the property and eliminates those already on the property as the insecticide is shared amongst the rest of the colony. The liquid insecticides available on today’s market are more effective than those available in the past. Now, not only are smaller amounts of poison are required, but a smaller amount of drilling inside the home is necessary when using the liquid method.
Baiting
A less intrusive, but often more costly, approach to a termite problem is baiting. This involves the installation of stations baited with a piece of wood around a home’s perimeter. The bait is routinely monitored until the presence of termites is detected. The wood is then replaced with a slow-acting insecticide to be taken and shared with the rest of the colony. Please note that baiting is not always entirely effective. Termites may find the station in a week, or sometimes it may take as long as six months or more. Even once distribution of the insecticide has begun, the baiting process needs to be repeated to insure that all the termites have been successfully wiped out.
Dealing with a termite problem can be costly and disruptive, but with regular monitoring and inspection of one’s property, termite damage can potentially be minimized or even avoided altogether. When in doubt, contact an experienced pest control company for inspection and control measures.
Robin Mountjoy is the general manager and president of Connor’s Termite & Pest Control. She has over 25 years of experience in the pest control industry and frequently shares her knowledge and expertise on the Connor’s Blog. From getting rid of bed bugs to effective termite control treatments, you will find a wide variety of helpful posts on the Connor’s Blog.