All About Termite Control Procedure

Mud tubesUnlike ants, termites do not roam around on the ground surface or out in the open. They will either tunnel through the soil or into timber (or other stuff ) or else traveling inside pencil-size (or bigger )"mud tubes" they assemble from soil, wood contaminants and other substances. You'll find these tubes on foundation walls, floor joists or other parts of the house.

Split open the tubes to see if termites are still busy. An empty tube doesn't necessarily mean that termites are gone; they might have just abandoned this specific tunnel. Termites often rebuild damaged tubes, which can be another indication of current action. 'Old' tubes are sterile and crumble easily, leaving behind"etching" on the surface which may be observable for years (an indication that a home had termite activity at any time).

Tubes that are found on ceilings or on upper levels of a building may indicate you have an aboveground ("aerial") infestation, i.e., the termite colony really lives in the building and the termites are traveling up from the ground. Mud tubes constructed through an aboveground colony normally contain substances other than soil, e.g., wood and sheet rock or anything the termites are feeding on.

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In such situations, a comprehensive inspection may necessitate removal of siding or interior wallboards, etc.. More importantly for you, these aboveground infestations cannot be controlled using the customary soil treatment (see below) and therefore are generally deducted from a termite contract warranty. In these situations, finding and correcting the moisture problem is the very first step to eliminating the termites. .

We tend to think of termites as feeding/injuring wood only. Termites actually feed on almost anything that contains cellulose, the main component of wood, including wood paneling, paper products, cardboard boxes, art canvases, the paper covering of sheet rock, carpeting, etc.. While foraging and feeding, they may tunnel through non-cellulosic substances, such as plastic and foamboard.

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In reality, the amount of damage that termites cause depends on many factors. In regions with cold winter temperatures, termite activity (and feeding) often declines, but does not necessarily stop. If the termites are well-protected from colder temperatures (e.g., underneath a slab), click to investigate then activity may continue year-round. From a practical standpoint, severe termite damage usually takes about 3-8 years. .

There's absolutely no accurate method for determining the era of recently discovered damage. You need some reference point, i.e., some point in time when it was known there was no harm to this specific wood. That can be one reason why annual inspections (and keeping your records of those inspections) are important. .

NOTE: These inspections are not a guarantee that you do not have termites or harm in areas that are not insured or not easily seen, such as inside walls. On the other hand, the inspections can reveal conditions that might imply that damage does exist and further go to the website investigation is needed.

If you've got a termite protection contract, contact the pest control company quickly and arrange for them to check out the issue. If you do not own a termite contract, telephone 2-3 (or more) companies and have every one inspect your home and provide you with the specifics of their findings and any recommendations for a course of action to fix any termite conditions they found.

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Termites do not cause significant harm in a brief period of time, so spending a few added days or even a few weeks will not make any actual difference in terms how much damage occurs. .

Is there damage That Needs to Be repaired or at least examined by a contractor or engineer before control steps are performed

Only spraying swarmers or the surface of available infested wood can kill the termites that you see now, but it does not stop the infestation nor does it shield your check that home from future attacks . The most common type of termite treatment involves a"trench and treat" where a liquid insecticide ("termiticide") is placed on the soil surrounding crucial areas of your house.

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The soil is trenched 6" deep and about 4-6" wide. For houses with crawlspaces, the dirt along the interior foundation wall must be treated at least within 4 ft of identified signs of termite activity. In some cases, the soil around supports (such as piers) underneath the house are also treated.

When implemented correctly, this treatment forms a continuous chemical barrier that should prevent termites from reaching the foundation and piers in your house. .

Concrete slabs that attach to the home, for example, a garage floor, or the slab of an earth-filled porch.