The Trouble with Termites: Steps for Long-Term Protection
Do you have termites chewing through the wood in your house or any outbuildings?
You can spot termite damage on your wood structures by their telltale signs of hollowed-out, rotten wood. You can also see termite passageways, which look like mud glued onto the wood.
In this blog post, you’ll learn about termites and how to get rid of them, including
- Preventing Termites Before They Destroy Your Home
- 5 Signs of Termite Damage
- Stopping Termite Damage Before It Begins
- Preventing Termites with Effective Treatment.
Preventing Termites Before They Destroy Your Home
You know you have termites by the damage they cause to your home and other wood buildings. PestWorld.org calls termites the silent destroyers because it can take years to notice their damage to your home.
However, termites chewing on wood anywhere near your home presents structural damage.
Subterranean termites already exist around your home because termite colonies nest underground. These termites recycle cellulose, such as a fallen tree, into materials that become soil nutrients.
While termites wreak havoc in a home, they have a beneficial purpose in the wild.
At Tomlinson Bomberger, we believe every house should have a termite inspection since these critters are prevalent in the soil.
You can reduce your risk for termites by not putting wood products near the base of your house.
For example, use caution when applying mulch around your home. You don’t want it touching the house because mulch provides the perfect place for termite colonies. After all, it’s warm and moist, where termites prefer to live.
At Tomlinson Bomberger, we understand how frustrating it can be to discover that a termite colony has caused extensive damage to your home.
5 Signs of Termite Damage
Do you know termite workers only need a 1/16” gap to access your property’s floors, walls, and ceiling? Once termites enter your home, the damage begins.
Termites still cause an estimated $5 billion in damage to property in the U.S., and you need to pay attention to the signs of termite damage in your home.
According to the Penn State Extension, you’ll find termites in your basement or cellar as well as in the wooden framework above basement walls, including
- Door frames
- Floors
- Joists
- Mudsills
- Steps
- Studs
- Subflooring
- Trim
- Wooden posts.
Here are the five signs of early termite damage in your home:
- Hollow-sounding wood
- Mud tubes, especially along walls and foundations
- Wing debris
- Bubbling or peeling paint
- Sawdust-looking droppings.
What happens if you think you see a termite flying around your house? Don’t panic. It could be a flying ant. You can tell the difference between an ant swarmer and a termite swarmer:
- Ants will have bent antennae
- Ants have two sets of wings in different sizes
- Ants have pinched waists with three body parts.
- A termite swarmer has straight antennae with slight curves
- Termites have two identical sets of wings
- Termites have a straight body with only two parts.
Our blog post, Why Do I Have Flying Ants?, explains the difference between flying ants and swarmer termites.
Stopping Termite Damage Before It Begins
Every Pennsylvania home should be inspected for termites. After the inspection, our pest control experts will provide a plan to remove termites from your home.
We recommend a termite inspection to determine if you have an infestation. Our pest control team will inspect your basement, including termites’ favorite nesting areas where it’s warm, such as
- Around furnaces
- Chimneys
- Hot water pipes
- Water heaters.
If our pest control experts see signs of termites, they’ll recommend what type of treatment your home needs to eliminate those pesky critters.
We use a proactive termite monitoring and bait service to detect and prevent termites from feasting on your home.
We also recommend our Quarterly Pest Control Program, providing regular, proactive termite inspections and treatment.
Preventing Termites with Effective Treatment
Our pest control management recommends our proactive termite monitoring and baiting service called Sentricon® Always Active Stations.
We’ll install Sentricon® in the soil surrounding your house to monitor for termite activity by installing bait stations every 10’ to 20’ around your home.
Our pest control management team will inspect the stations and your home semi-annually for signs of termites. We will document any station feedings and provide any follow-up inspection as requested.
Here’s how Sentricon® works
- Worker termites eat the Always Active® Insect Growth Regulator (the bait)
- The worker termites take the bait back to their colonies and feed it to their young
- The colony dissolves by eliminating the younger generation.
Stop Termite Damage Now: Schedule Your Inspection Today!
Termites are active, starting in February through June. If you suspect you have a problem, you need a termite inspection now.
Grab your $50 off termite prevention to protect your home from these nasty bugs. Book your appointment today using this form. Don’t delay; this offer lasts until March 31, 2025.
Sources:
Extension.PSU.edu, Eastern Subterranean Termites.
Fox59.com, “Termite Damage Costs Are Out and They Are Larger Than Expected.
PestWorld.org, New Year, Same Termite Damage.
Ibid, What Do Termites Look Like?
