Termites Be Gone: Proven Techniques for Successful Termite Control In Dallas

There are many ways to deal with termites in Dallas. Some termite control methods are entirely ineffective, but they are enticing to use because they're inexpensive. Many home remedies fall into this category—though some home remedies are far from cheap. You may know that home remedies are ineffective and not backed by science, and you may go straight to the most trusted and advanced termite control products. Unfortunately, without training, these products can let you down. When they do, you won't likely know it because termites are incredibly sneaky. Today, we hope to help you avoid the pitfalls of termite pest control in Dallas. We'll break termite control down into its three basic parts: surveillance, elimination, and prevention. We'll give you tips to help you protect your property and explain when you may call a termite control expert to deal with these sneaky insects. If you need immediate assistance or you'd like to speak with someone directly about your termite concerns, call us at any time. You can also connect with us through our contact page. The termite control experts at All-Safe Pest & Termite are happy to help.

Signs Of Termite Infestations: How To Spot And Address Them

Termite surveillance is the bedrock of termite damage prevention. It is used to detect problems that require treatment and monitor ongoing termite control to ensure success. Here are a few tips to help you recognize trouble when you see it.

• You may see worker termites in your yard. While the termites in Dallas stay hidden from view within the ground or within your walls, there are ways they may come into view. You may pick up a dead tree branch and find termites clinging to the bottom. You may rake some mulch and find termites underneath. You may cut down a dying tree and find termites inside. When you see termites, it is essential to know how to identify them. Termite workers look like fat white ants. They are about ⅛ of an inch long and will have the soldiers nearby. Soldiers have large orange heads and black pincers.
• You may see winged swarming termites on your Dallas property. When winged termites are gathered together in a swarm, they're hard to miss. Swarmers have long white wings—well, long in relation to their body size. When gathered together, the wings are what you'll notice. While it is typically easy to detect swarmers, swarms don't last very long. They come and go in under an hour. A swarm can occur in the time it takes you to go get some french fries.
• You may only see one tiny swarmer crawling on your body, on a walkway, on your back porch, or some other spot in your backyard. That one little swarmer is easy to miss. A swarmer is only about ⅜ of an inch long. Once again, its signature wings will help you with quick identification. The wings of a termite swarmer look like a stretched teardrop shape.
• You may notice mud structures attached to your home. Subterranean termites create these structures so they're able to travel from the moist ground and into their soil-lined tunnels within the wood of your home. These shelter tubes protect them from the light and the dry air, both of which they fervently avoid.
• You may see damaged wood on the exterior of your home. Termites damage back decks, wood skirting, sole plates, stairs, and more. You'll likely find the damage close to the soil and in shaded spaces. Termites prefer dark damp environments.

These are the potential early warning signs of termite infestations. They are not easy to detect, and you need to stay vigilant to watch for them. If you miss these signs, you will eventually detect termites even if you don't look for them. Over time, they can create damage that is noticeable, such as sinking floors, bulging walls, doors that stick, and ceilings that sag down. Or you may find a swarm of termites inside your home. That is the worst way to discover a termite infestation.

When termites in Dallas are detected, you may want to turn to termite control products as a solution to your termite problem. Let's examine the threat termites present, how they behave, and why DIY control is tricky. The last thing we want is for termites to continue to damage your property.       

Understanding The Termite Threat: What You Need To Know

First, it is essential to understand that termite control is not only about termite removal. You don't have to wait to protect your property. It is always best to address termite elimination proactively. However, if you happen to notice termites or other warning signs on your property, step one is to arrest that termite activity. Here are a few reasons why these insects make termite control tricky.

A termite nest is most likely in the ground. You will have to use techniques that address that ground nest. But it is easy to apply methods that don't work. 

• If you use topical products to eliminate termite workers in areas of activity, you won't address the colony that is creating those workers, and you'll continue to have a termite problem. 
• If you use a food source to draw the insects out and eliminate them, such as putting a pile of dead branches on your property and burning the branches after the termites are inside, you won't address the colony. In fact, the food source will increase the production of workers and make your problem worse.
• If you use a termiticide that eliminates termites on contact, it will work the same as a topical product. Termiticides that have a transfer effect and are shared from termite to termite can address the colony and lead to colony elimination. They are the best option. The downside is that you can damage your property or fail to put the product where it needs to go. Along with this, improper installation is impacted by weather conditions. 
• If you use a termite bait solution, it will work to address the colony hidden in the ground. Sadly, all termite baits are not created equal. When termite bait fails, termites create multiple colonies over time, outcompete your attempts to eliminate them, and continue to damage your property.

For results you can trust, it is best to have a certified termite control professional install professional-grade termite control products. There are few things as disheartening as paying money, doing the hard work, and finding out that termites are still damaging your home.            

Termite Prevention Techniques to Keep Your Home Safe

Long before termites attack your property and eat into your equity, you can deter them. There are many all-natural methods to deter termites. Here are our best termite prevention tips to keep termites from making a meal of your property.

• Remove sources of wood from the ground. Store the wood in plastic bins or haul them away from your property.
• Consider replacing structures made of wood, such as replacing an old wood fence with a vinyl fence.
• Pick up any junk piles that contain paper, cardboard, clothing, and other things termites eat. They don't just feed on wood.
• Address wood-to-ground contact. Do you have wood posts on your back deck that go down into the soil? Consider installing concrete and placing the wood on top. Doing so will remove a route of direct access to the wood of your home.
• Replace wood chips or natural wood mulch with materials that are resistant to termites, such as pebbles or crushed stone.
• Replace wood flowerbed boards with stone or some other termite-resistant material.
• Repair damaged gutters to reduce perimeter dampness. Worker termites are strongly attracted to moistened soil.
• Trim landscape vegetation and water your plants in the morning to address landscape dampness, which attracts termite workers to your property.

It is hard work to deter termites. While these natural prevention tips provide a level of protection, the best solution is to install a termite control product. Let's turn our attention to how a certified termite control professional, like All-Safe Pest & Termite can help you guard your property. 

Professional Termite Extermination: Know When To Call In The Experts

You don't have to wait until you see termites, and you don't have to work hard to keep termites from munching on the wood of your home. A certified termite control specialist uses a range of tools that provide effective termite prevention, surveillance, and control. We know how to treat wood for termites, how to eliminate ground nests, and how to check to make sure no termites remain in your home. We use professional-grade products created by leaders in termite control, like Termidor and Sentricon.

When should you call? You can contact us at any time. We can apply pre-construction treatments before your home is built; we can install Sentricon termite bait stations at any time, so that your home is always protected; or we can come in and address an active infestation. Navigate to our contact page and connect with us for service! We'll help you find the right service for your specific needs.