In the Frisco area, there is one pest everyone has to be on the lookout for. This pest is none other than the termite. Termites are some of the most destructive pests around due to their desire to eat the wood that makes up your Frisco property.
Since termites burrow deeply into wood and other similar materials, it's rare to see them in action unless it's swarming season. You can recognize a termite by its location near or in wood along with its white ant-shaped body. If left unchecked, a termite infestation can lead to thousands of dollars in property damage, which is why it's important to understand what not to do if you spot signs of termites around your Frisco property.
DIY Is Not A Good Idea
Many homeowners try to handle a termite infestation on their own instead of contacting a professional termite control company. This largely occurs for one of two reasons. Either the severity of the problem has been underestimated, or it's done to save money.
With termites, DIY is never a good idea. For starters, it's never just a handful of termites. It's entire colonies. Another reason why it's a bad idea is that they can burrow deep enough that normal DIY solutions don't reach far enough to be effective.
Some of the most common DIY solutions available that don't live up to the hype include:
- OTC Termite Bait & Bait Stations: With this solution, small edible material is placed above or below ground to attract active termites. This bait is loaded with termiticide and should, in theory, spread throughout the whole termite population when termites return. However, months can go by before any termites find the bait stations. This equals months of unchecked damage done to your property. Also, the installation needs to be done correctly and in prime locations to work.
- Orange Oil Treatments: Orange is considered to be eco-friendly and fairly effective when directly applied to the problem at hand. However, there are many problems with this approach that can't be ignored. For starters, this solution only works as a spot treatment, it's not designed to handle an entire infestation. Also, it doesn't work to prevent re-infestation. Ultimately, this treatment lacks the depth needed to be truly effective in termite control.
- Termite Sprays: More potent than orange sprays, this solution comes in many forms ranging from aerosols to foams and injectable dust. Unfortunately, the spray only works if you know exactly where termite activity is happening. Aerosol treatments are also ineffective against subterranean termites.
Proven Termite-Prevention Methods
At this point, you may feel discouraged about staying on top of potential termite problems. However, it's much easier to prevent a termite infestation than it is to fight an existing termite infestation. The first thing to do is to reduce soil-to-wood contact and remove any source of mulch, plants, lumber, wood, and other similar items from around the foundation of your home and from your yard. Once that's complete, check your mulch if applicable. There should be a four-inch barrier between mulch and your home. We recommend using pine needles instead. Termites need access to moisture, which is why it's vital you check sites like storm drains, leaky faucets, and other sources of excess water to ensure your home isn't a viable habitat for termites. Finally, practice preventative maintenance as well as proper landscaping to keep everything running smoothly all year.
Termite Protection From All-Safe Pest & Termite
When it comes to a termite infestation, there's no such thing as responding too quickly. The faster a solution begins, the less damage will happen to your home. At All-Safe Pest & Termite, we're focused on delivering quality pest management services from start to finish for our customers. Are you in need of termite control services? Give our experts at All-Safe Pest & Termite a call to speak with one of our agents about our professional termite control options or fill out our online form to schedule your free inspection.