10 Little Known Termite Facts: How Can They Affect You?

March 11th, 2017

Just the word “termites” causes most people to shudder, and it’s no wonder, considering that termites cause billions of dollars in structural damage to properties around America every year. Regardless of where you live, it’s important to know the key facts about termites and understand how to keep them from damaging your home.

Termites are hard to spot! One of the reasons that termites have the ability to cause so much damage is because they rarely come out from hiding. Instead, they stay inside the material through which they are tunneling. Most homeowners don’t even know they exist until damage becomes obvious.

But you can determine if your home is infested. Though termites aren’t easy to find, it’s possible. If you find any winged termites inside your home, it indicates you have an infestation somewhere. Check around areas of light like windows and doors, inspect cracks and entries to foundation walls, porches, and patios, and look for tiny tubes of earth extending over foundation walls.

Termites eat more than wood. Termites are notorious for eating through wooden structures, but they also feed on paper, books, insulation, and even swimming pool liners!

Spring is prime termite season. While termites can strike any time of year, March, April, and May are the most popular termite months, because warmer temperatures and rainfall encourage termites to emerge from their colonies, fly into the air, and find a new place to feast.

Certain termites appear most in Tampa. The Tampa Bay area is most prone to subterranean termites and drywood termites, and their names indicate where they can usually be found. Dampwood termites and conehead termites can appear, but are less common.

You will need professional help. Removing termites from your home is not a simple process, so it’s best to call in a professional company like Green Solutions Lawn Care and Pest Control in Tampa, Florida.

There are many different types of treatments. Termites can be treated in a variety of ways, including chemical and nonchemical treatments. Liquid soil termiticides and termite baits are the two most popular strategies.

Spot treatment is a gamble. It may be tempting to save money by only treating the exact area of infestation, but since subterranean termite colonies can contain hundreds of thousands of termites that forage in all directions, localized treatments aren’t always effective. Your entire property should be treated with an ongoing service agreement to ensure termites don’t return.

Treatments can last five years. High-quality termite treatments can remain effective for at least five years, as long as no untreated gaps in the chemical barrier exist.

You can prevent termites in the future.  You can take certain steps to keep termites away from your home. Fix leaks immediately, don’t block vents, never pile firewood next to your home, and fill cracks in foundation.