5 Things Every Homeowner Needs to Know About Termites

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5 Things Every Homeowner Needs To Know About
Termites
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The Scope of the Problem

• Termites are a 2 billion problem. Every year,
  they spend their time eating through homes and
  businesses, leaving only chaos behind. Are you
  ready? Do you know what you should about
  termites?

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1 Termite Survival

• Termites require just three things for survival
  water, food, and soil. They can find all of those
  items around your home, but there are ways to
  make your home slightly less attractive.
• For example, eliminating leaky faucets and pipes
  and vegetation too close to your home could help
  to make certain you stay away from termite
  problems.

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2 Two Varieties

• There are two basic kinds of termites
  subterranean and drywood. Drywood termites tend
  to create damage that looks fairly smooth on the
  surface. Subterranean termites build mud tubes
  from the ground up into your home. Their level of
  damage is far more severe.

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3 The Swarmers

• The first sign many notice are the swarmers, and
  while this is certainly a potential sign of a
  problem, it isnt the problem itself. Swarmers
  are looking for a new colony. They dont have the
  ability to eat wood or even sting. Theyre just a
  nuisance. Occurring mostly in the spring, theyre
  a solid tip-off.

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4 Warning Signs

• Outside of swarmers, there are actually a number
  of different potential warning signs that you
  have a termite infestation on your hands. You may
  see discarded wings around your home. You may
  also notice the mud tubes. If the infestation is
  too bad, you may also begin to notice sagging
  floors or doorways.

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5 Termite Prevention is Possible

• Owning a home doesnt necessarily put you at risk
  for termite infestation. There are several things
  you can do to prevent the problem. Keep your home
  free of leaks. Keep mulch and vegetation away
  from the base of your home. You should also keep
  your wood pile several feet from your home. If
  you dont, youre just asking for an infestation.

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Slow Going

• Just because you notice you have a termite
  problem doesnt mean that theyve already made
  your home unlivable or even that its going to
  cost thousands to repair. Termites eat fairly
  slowly, so it is possible that youve caught them
  at an early phase.

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Dealing with the Problem

• The best thing you can do if you notice termites
  is to call in the professionals. They can assess
  the level of damage and come up with a way to get
  rid of the existing colony and prevent new ones
  from coming in.