Termites are a pest all homeowners and property managers dread. If you suspect you have a termite infestation, time is of the essence since damage to the structure of a home caused by termites can be expensive to repair. Learn more about termite prevention with a local pest control company in Katy, TX today.
Preventing Termites From Getting Into Your Home
Everyone says an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and this is especially true when you are dealing with pests. Termites in particular can be difficult to get rid of, especially at the advanced stages, so it’s important to recognize the signs of an infestation.
Moreover, it’s best to learn how to prevent termites from getting into your home in the first place. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to prevent termite infestation, such as contacting a pest control company.
Termite Baiting Systems
Pest control companies have several options to prevent termites, such as the use of termite baiting systems. The systems are proactive because they draw termites to the bait, which will let you know if you have termites on your property. Termite baiting systems are placed in strategic areas and are checked by homeowners or professionals regularly, especially during the months of the year when termites are most active.
Termite Inspection
A professional termite inspection is also a good prevention method. Professionals will be able to identify the signs of termites that homeowners may overlook. With routine inspections from a pest control expert, you can identify signs of termite trouble early and implement the best treatment solution to prevent structural damage to your home.
What Are Things You Can Do for Termite Prevention?
Homeowners and property managers can take several measures to prevent termite infestation. Many of these tips are related to eliminating environments in which termites can thrive. Some things you can do for termite prevention in Katy, TX include:
Eliminate Excess Moisture
Termites love damp places, especially cold ones such as areas beneath your sink, foundation, or areas where there have been leaks in the past. By eliminating excess moisture in your home, you can remove some of the breeding grounds termites use during the spring.
Eliminating excess moisture can mean using a dehumidifier in the bathroom, fixing leaks as soon as they happen, and using fans to dry out any area of your home where there is dampness, such as windowsills.
Clean Up Your Home
Cleaning up your home is also important since a cluttered home full of wood, paper, and cellulose will make perfect homes for termites. Decluttering the inside of your home can also mean removing any wooden furniture that may be affected by termites. You can treat wooden furniture by using termite sprays and allowing the furniture to dry in the hot sunlight for several days, which will reduce moisture in the furniture and kill the termites.
Restructure Your Landscaping
You may want to consider restructuring your landscape. Many homeowners make the mistake of allowing soil from gardens to touch the wood siding of their home. Since termites travel from soil to wood, this is giving the termites a free highway into your home. Most pest control professionals recommend having at least 18 inches between the edge of your soil and your home.
Seal Gaps
It’s also important to seal any gaps that may let termites into the home, particularly around water faucets and foundation siding. Sealing gaps makes it harder for termites to get inside, which means you’ll be able to identify termites outside your home before they can do any damage to structural areas.
Remove Food Sources
Finally, you can remove food sources that may draw termites. For example, wood piles near your home, discarded branches, and other clutter on your lawn can be potential sources of food for termites. By removing these sources or moving them further away from the structure of your home, you can prevent infestation.
How Can You Identify Termite Infestation?
There are several signs that indicate a termite infestation. If you see any of these signs, it’s imperative to contact a local pest control company as soon as possible to schedule a professional inspection. Some signs to identify infestation include:
Swarming
Termites can swarm, particularly during the breeding season in the spring. Many people mistake termites for flying ants. However, while these two insects look similar, termites have a slightly longer and more square bodies and will typically swarm in larger numbers. Nevertheless, if you see any type of swarm near your home, it’s time to call pest control since flying carpenter ants can also damage your home.
Discarded Wings
After swarming, termites will discard their wings, so if you see any piles of wings near your home or inside your home, this is a clear sign that you have termites. At this point, termites are likely already building homes inside your walls, so you will need pest control to help with this problem.
Mud Tubes
You may also be able to see mud tubes, which are tunnels that termites create as a highway between the outside of your home to the inside. Mud tubes look exactly how they sound, meaning they are long, thin tubes covered with what looks to be sawdust. Mud tubes are usually a sign of an advanced termite infestation.
Wood Damage
Finally, wood damage is the most common and readily-identifiable sign of termite infestation. The damage to the wood in your home will generally cause wood to crumble, especially in damp areas, such as beneath your sink. If you have wood damage, simply getting rid of termites is not enough. Usually, homeowners will also need to hire a contractor to replace any affected wood, which can be expensive to repair.
What Are the Benefits of a Local Pest Control Company in Katy, TX?
When you notice a termite problem, the best thing you can do is contact a local pest control company in Katy, TX. From eco-friendly termite solutions to guaranteed total elimination, here are some of the benefits of hiring a local company instead of doing it yourself.
Ecologically Friendly
While there are termite elimination liquid sprays available at retailers, many of these chemicals are harmful to the environment, harmful to your family, and are not completely effective. A pest control company, on the other hand, has access to scientifically sound and ecologically friendly termite elimination systems.
Safe for Pets and Children
Pest control companies can use products that are harmful to termites, but that are safe for your pets and children. This means that you won’t have to evacuate your home while termites are being eliminated. Furthermore, because professionals will not need to damage your home to treat termites, you can also save money on repair costs and avoid potential hazards for loved ones.
Total Elimination
Finally, products used by pest control companies can guarantee the total elimination of termites and other unwanted guests on your property. You can be confident that termites won’t return in the future because a local pest control company will also implement prevention systems that will alert you to pest troubles in the future.
Think you have a termite problem? It’s never too late to save your home from termite damage! Get in touch with Life After Bugs today to learn about eco-friendly pest control and termite prevention.
