As Fort Worth homeowners, we have enough problems to deal with. The ridiculous heat, the crowds, carrying around the burden of being the best state in the US, all the while having to juggle whether or not we should secede. We’ve got a lot on our minds. So pests don’t cross our minds that often, especially the ones we can’t see. That’s why termites are one of those things you think won’t ever happen to you…right? Termites aren’t visible like a rat in your basement or a roach in your kitchen. No, they’re silent workers, so, if you’re going to avoid costly damage, you better know what to look for.
Signs Of Infestation
Did you know that termites cause billions of dollars worth of damage in America every year? Why would many homeowners allow that much damage to their houses without doing something about it? Unfortunately, termite damage will go unnoticed for quite some time before people realize there’s a problem, and, after just six months to a year, they’re already going to need costly repairs.
So how do you spot an infestation before it’s too late? By keeping your eye out for the following signs of infestation, you might be able to identify potential termite activity:
- Swarming: winged termites in charge of reproduction and recolonization are known as swarmers. They mate in large, grey clouds around the outside of your property on a warm day after a lot of rain.
- Tightening around doors and windows: this is a good indication of internal damage and termite activity.
- Frass: a mixture of termite droppings and wood pellets, frass will pile up along your baseboards as termites expel it from the tunnels they’re building within your walls.
- Soft clicking noises: as they work, termites make almost indiscernible clicking noises. If you think you hear them, investigate further.
Prevention Techniques
While these signs can help you identify an infestation quickly, it could still be too late. Thankfully, there are a few things you can do to limit your chance of infestation:
- Control moisture issues in the house: Start with a dehumidifier in your basement and crawl spaces. This will help reduce the amount of wood rot that attracts termite activity. You’ll also need to check for leaking pipes in the basement and under your sinks.
- Reduce moisture build-up around the foundation: when rain runoff ends up creating standing water around the foundation of your house, it can begin to rot the wooden structures of the foundation. This is a prime feeding ground for termites. Make sure to use an effective gutter and downspout system to limit the standing water close to the house.
- Limit soil-to-wood contact: if there are wooden portions of your home’s foundation that make contact with the soil, make sure that there is a buffer of about 12 to 18 inches between the wood and the soil. This will keep termites living in the soil from crawling straight into their next meal.
- Store firewood away from the house: if you have unsealed firewood, you need to make sure it’s not close to any structure that termites can damage. Once they’re attracted by the firewood, they’ll eat anything nearby.
- Unfortunately, do-it-yourself termite prevention is an inexact science, and there are no guarantees. That’s why the fifth and final tip is by far the most effective. When there are thousands of dollars on the line, why wouldn’t you go with the professionals? The best form of termite protection comes with professional assistance - contact All-Safe Pest & Termite.