What’s the worst thing that can happen to your home? If termites aren’t at the top of your list, it may be time to take a closer look at what termites are and how much damage they can cause.
If you are concerned about termites, it might be because you’ve had a run-in before, or have just discovered that termites are hanging out behind your walls. If this is the case, don’t worry! We at All-Safe Pest & Termite can help you get rid of termites and prevent them from coming back.
How Bad Can Termite Damage Be?
If you’ve recently discovered termites in your home, or if you’re suspicious that they might be there, you probably have questions. How do I permanently get rid of termites? How much is termite prevention? Can I afford to save my house from termites? Termites can cause thousands of dollars of damage to a house. It’s estimated that they cost U.S. home and business owners over $5 billion annually. Yikes!
Why do termites cause so much damage? When we talk about termites, we’re usually talking about subterranean termites. They live in colonies underground and find ways to get to wood (which is their main source of food) without coming out into the open. Termites can find a lot of food in your home. They’ll eat at the wooden structures inside your house. If the damage is severe, it may cause the walls to tilt, the ceiling to droop, the floors to bulge, and the windows and doors to stick.
How Can You Prevent Termites?
- Be proactive. Ignoring termites won’t make them go away and pretending like they don’t exist won’t protect your house. You need to actively defend your home from these pests before they invade.
- Be wary of soil-to-structure contact. Because termites live underground, they want an easy way to get from their nest to their food. If you have soil (especially damp soil) right against the wooden exterior of your home, you may be providing easy entry for termites. Try adding a layer of gravel around the exterior of your house for protection.
- Keep woodpiles far from your home. Termites will be attracted to your yard first. If they find plenty of food in a woodpile, yard debris, or even old cardboard boxes, it’s only a matter of time before they find your house.
- Check the moisture inside your home. Termites love softwood, which is easier to chew. If you have high levels of humidity or water damage in your home, you’re providing a termite feast. Use a dehumidifier, fix leaks, and replace water-damaged wood.
- Home maintenance. Another tip for preventing termites is to make sure there are no easy entry points. If there are gaps and cracks in your foundation, leading to the wood of your home, termites will be glad to use them.
- Partner with the professionals at All-Safe Pest & Termite. If you suspect you have termites, don’t hesitate to give us a call. Termites can cause significant damage, every day, so the sooner you take care of them, the better. We can eliminate the termites from your home before it’s too late, and we can help you create a long-term plan for decreasing your house’s termite attractions.
If you want to be sure that termites are eliminated from your home and that they will never bother you again, reach out to All-Safe Pest & Termite to learn more about our proactive termite control plans. You'll be glad you did!