No matter how your home is constructed, where it's located, or how old it is, it could be attacked by subterranean termites. They are a threat across 70 percent of the world and in every part of the United States except Alaska. They cause $2-3 billion dollars worth of damage each year in th U.S. alone. They are, in fact, the most serious threat your home may face, causing more damage than fire each year.
The termites most likely to attack your home are subterranean termites. Eastern, Western, Desert, and Formosan Subterranean are four species commonly seen in the United States. All are social insects that live in large, underground colonies. Although they could number in the millions, you might never see them or any evidence of them - until you discover that they've done serious damage to your home.
Are you inviting termites?
Once termites have discovered your house, they will search it for food - wood fiber. They will squeeze though cracks as narrow as the thickness of a penny. Expansion joints, foundation cracks, tiny gaps around plumbing, and electrical service entries are all opportunities for termites to enter your home. In homes with basements, they can enter where the floor and walls meet, and through small openings in the walls themselves.
The first thing to do is to make your home a poor candidate for infestation. In general, the goal is to reduce moisture and organic matter around your home, and to prevent wood fiber from making contact with the ground. For example, don't affix wooden trellises to exterior walls, keep wood debris, scrap lumber, sawdust, and firewood away from buildings. Don't bury wood debris near your home, and remove infested trees and stumps.
To reduce moisture, repair leaking faucets and water lines, both indoors and outdoors. Fix leaky roofs and gutters, and don't allow leaves to accumulate in gutters or drains. Grade soil so that water (including air conditioning condensate) runs away from foundations. Ventilate crawl spaces and attics to reduce humidity. If possible, cover at least 90% of the soil in crawl spaces with plastic sheeting. And, make sure that wood siding, stucco, and foam boards are all at least six inches away from the ground.
Do you have termites?
Termites often leave some evidence of their presence. Look for small holes in wood, crumbling drywall, and sagging doors or floors. Insect wings are another sign, as termites shed their wings when they swarm. Look, too, for the shelter tubes termites build to serve as their passageways across masonry or along pipes.
If you supect an infestation, call Innovative Pest Control!
