Do you suspect a termite problem? Before you can solve it, you’ll need to know what type of termites you’re dealing with so you can get the right treatment.
What do all termites have in common? They’re incredibly destructive, eating 24/7, year-round. They eat wood, tree roots, paper, and cardboard. By the time you notice them, they’ve already started doing damage. That damage usually isn’t covered by your homeowners’ insurance, so an infestation can also eat through your finances. Ignoring termites could cost you tens of thousands of dollars.
Drywood and subterranean termites are the two species we encounter most. Treating them requires different approaches.
Drywood termites, known as “above ground” termites, nest inside the wood they’re eating. They’re hard to detect and you won’t notice damage just by looking at it. Termites can be inside wood for five years without showing evidence of being there. They don’t eat paint, so try pressing painted wood to see if it crackles.
Other signs include discarded wings and droppings that look like coffee grounds or salt and pepper. The shade of those droppings will generally match the color of the wood they’re feeding on.
Fumigation is one option to get rid of dry wood termites. Eco-friendly, non-chemical alternatives include heat or electricity treatments.
Subterranean termites are a different story. They live underground and come up to feed on your home and tree roots. They can cause significant structural damage, even to the point of collapse.
Underground colonies get as large as 2 million and mud tunnels can be as high as 6 feet tall! Because they’re out of sight, subterranean termites could be building tunnels and feeding on your home for years. Even though their nests are underground, they’ve been found as high as the sixth floor of buildings.
Subterranean termites love moisture: Leaks in walls, rotting wood, and condensation are all very attractive to them. Fumigations don’t work on subterranean termites; you’re going to need a soil treatment. Visit: www.ecolatermite.com
We recommend placing monitoring stations around your home — not bait stations, which could draw termites closer to your home. After inspecting the monitoring stations, we’ll suggest treatment options and the next steps for eliminating that colony.
Whether dry wood or subterranean termites, you can’t get rid of them on your own, and delaying treatment will cost you more in the long run. Your best chance of escaping termite damage is prevention and early detection, including expert inspections of the attic and sub-areas. The good news is that many reputable, professional termite inspections are free, so you have nothing to lose.
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