What To Do When You Find Termites

Termites can destroy a person’s home within a few years making them one of the most dangerous pests. A home can be one of the largest investments that a person can make so it is important that they know ways to protect themselves against termites.

One of the biggest advantages that termites have is that most people aren’t aware of how to protect themselves against infestation. The first step would be to verify that there is a termite infestation. Some signs of infestation are floors that sag, damage to the foundation that causes holes, and any random holes that are found in the foundation or wood. If you find a hole in the foundation take a screwdriver and push it through the wood. If the wood appears to have lost its strength and falls apart easily, there is a possibility that there is a termite infestation. You can also look for termite droppings near any of the holes. When looking for termite waste, look for pellets that are wood colored.

Once you have verified that you have a termite infestation, you need to find out what types of termites you are dealing with. The two different types of termites are drywood termites and subterranean termites. Typically you will find the subterranean termites in coastal areas and warm areas while the dry wood termites are found pretty much anywhere. The subterranean termites are also typically located both in the soil and the wood while the dry wood typically only infests the wood of your Phoenix home. It is important to understand what type of termites you are dealing with because the subterranean termites may need a different type of method of treatment. They can also do a lot more damage than the dry wood termites.

How To Get Rid Of Termites

There are methods with trying to get rid of the termites by yourself without pest control. Place down a wet cardboard strip and stack them on top of each other in an area that you think termites would be. Termites are attracted to the cardboard and will attract hundreds of them. Once the board is covered with termites you will need to burn the cardboard. Although this method needs to be repeated many times it is also necessary to know that this will not solely resolve your termite issue. You will need to make sure this method is used in conjunction with other methods.

Another method that can be completed without professional help would be to buy beneficial nematodes. These can be found at your local garden store or through an online purchase. The beneficial nematodes will kill the termite host within about 48 hours. You can also keep the nematodes in your house for an extended period of time if you find that you haven’t used them. They need to be stored in the refrigerator until they are ready to be used.

If termites are located on a removable piece of wood, you can place it in the sun. Termites survive in dark areas. Keep the item in the sunlight as long as you are able to. The preferable minimum time keeping the piece of wood in the sun is about 2 or 3 days. This will allow the sunlight and the heat to kill the termites off. This method should also b used as a combination method for the best results. If you are unable to use the sunlight option, freezing is a good alternative. You can place the item in a large freezer for the same amount of time and the termites will also die.

If the infestation has started to cause noticeable damage or you haven’t had success with trying different methods at home, you may need to contact a termite treatment professional to come out and help with the infestation. You should always check into the reputation of the professional company before moving forward with them. It’s important to understand that the company may need to come out several times for follow-up treatment to make sure the termites remain gone.

Contact Green Home Pest Control For Termite Control

Once you have gotten rid of the termites, you should take precautions to protect yourself from getting them again. Following simple steps such as only keeping necessary wood on your property and discarding any extra property will help. Go through your house and check for any cracks. Any cracks should be sealed and kept dry. Finally, you can contact Green Home Pest Control and establish a treatment schedule for your home and make sure that you maintain your treatment schedule regularly.