When we imagine pest problems, we tend to think that they are noticeable and easily cured with some elbow grease and effort. Unfortunately, some of the worst pest infestations occur without Chandler property owners even knowing they’re there. When it comes to termites, this is not only a costly reality, it’s a dangerous one.
Termites: Nature’s Industrialists
Termites are ant-like insects that invade Chandler yards and homes to gain access to wood. Termites form mounds and dig tunnels through soil, but they eat wood fibers found in dirt, trees, and, yes, even buildings. Termite colonies can grow massive, numbering in the thousands quickly. That’s because of their caste system, which allows reproductive members of their colonies to focus exclusively on creating more termites to do the work and defend their territory. Ever-expanding termite colonies can encroach on properties and, thanks to their subterranean lifestyle, they can go completely under the radar. All of these factors culminate to make termites one of the most destructive pests around, costing property owners billions of dollars every year.
Why You Shouldn’t Try To Handle Termites On Your Own
Because people know that they are bad news, many property owners attempt to remove or prevent termite colonies on their own. This is not only ineffective, it can sometimes worsen the problem. Here are some bogus at-home remedies to avoid:
- Vinegar: Vinegar has been touted as a cure-all for ailments and pests for hundreds of years. Unfortunately, there’s little evidence that spreading vinegar around your walls and floors does anything to eliminate termites.
- Orange oil: While the acidic content of orange rinds can kill termites by eating through their exoskeletons, this isn’t an effective means of treatment. For one, it will only address visible termites or those that are closer to the surface, not the thousands of termites lurking far below ground or inside the wood of your home.
- Sprays: Property owners may turn to over-the-counter sprays or chemicals for termite prevention or extermination. These sprays can sometimes be harmful to your health and they are not guaranteed to rid your home of termites.
Proven Termite Prevention
Rather than counting on unproven solutions, it’s better to stay on top of prevention measures that will keep termites from invading in the first place. While there is truly no substitute for professional treatments, these are ways you can try to keep termites away from your property:
- Soil contact: Termites dig through the soil to access underground woods and find ways inside of structures. As such, it’s important to keep soil beds at least a foot away from your exterior.
- Wood storage: Piles of wood or yard debris, especially those that rest along walls and other structures, attract termites to a property.
- Water damage: Many termites look for waterlogged or moist wood to eat, so you should address damp wood and damaged materials quickly.
A Green Home Free Of Termites
A termite problem can quickly wind up costing you a lot more than it would have to simply prevent the problem from happening in the first place. That’s why you should turn directly to professional resources for proper termite control. At Green Home Pest Control, our trained staff can get started right away on an inspection of your property. This will not only help us look for attractants that might draw termites near, but it can also help you rest easy knowing that a trained pair of eyes has thoroughly checked your yard and buildings. If termites are already a problem, don’t waste time on methods that likely won’t work. Instead, trust our proven solutions to get rid of the problem and make sure it stays gone.For ultimate termite protection, don’t wait until it’s too late. Call Green Home Pest Control today.
21 years of pest control experience
Founder and Owner of Green Home Pest Control
13 year resident of Arizona
