The Definitive Guide for Termite Control Methods At Home

Removal can be accomplished using a broom or vacuum.Fig. 2: Winged termites emerging indoors are a telltale sign of infestation.Q: How will I know if my house is infestedA: Discovering winged termites indoors almost always indicates an infestation warranting treatment. Since the swarmers are attracted to light, they often are seen around windows and doors.

Termites have straight antennae, a uniformly thickened waist, and wings of equal size. Conversely, ants have elbowed antennae, constricted waists, and forewings which are longer than the hind wings.Fig. 3: Termite swarmers are often confused with winged ants.Swarms of termites emerging from tree stumps, woodpiles, etc. outside in the yard are not necessarily cause for concern, and do not automatically mean the house is infested.

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Termites construct the tubes for shelter as they travel between their underground colonies and the arrangement. To help determine if an infestation is busy, the tubes may be broken open and checked for the presence of little, creamy-white worker termites. If a tube happens to be vacant, it does not necessarily mean that the infestation is inactive; termites often abandon sections of tube while foraging elsewhere in the structure.Fig.

5: Termite colonies contain many employees that consume wood and smaller numbers of soldiers (center) with jaws altered for defense.  Termite-damaged timber is hollowed out along the grain, with pieces of dried sand or soil lining the feeding galleries. Wood damaged by moisture or other kinds of insects (e.g., carpenter ants) will not have this appearance.

Rippled or sunken traces behind wall coverings can also be indicative of termites tunneling underneath.Fig. 6: Termite-damaged wood has dirt lining the feeding galleries.Oftentimes there will be no clear indication of infestation. Termites are mysterious creatures and infestations can go undetected for decades, hidden behind walls, floor coverings, insulation, and other obstructions.

Confirmation of termites often necessitates the keen eye of a professional -- however, even the most experienced inspector can miss signs which are hidden.Fig. 7: Termites are cryptic. This damage was discovered when a vacuum head broke through a baseboard.  Q: Can I treat the house myselfA: Its best not to for home infestations.

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A knowledge of building construction is needed to identify crucial areas where termites are most likely to enter. Many of these professional and experienced expert potential points of entry are hidden and difficult to get. Termite control also uses specialized equipment such as powerful masonry drills, large-capacity spray tanks, and long metal rods for injecting soil.

A possible exception could be if a mailbox post or other small wooden object not connected to the house was infested. "Do-it-yourself" goods, sold to homeowners at retail stores or purchased over the internet, will rarely eradicate an existing termite problem.Q: How do I select a termite company Why is there such variance in priceA: These are complex questions.

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Membership in their state pest control association and/or National Pest Management Association indicate the company is an established firm using technical and training information needed to do the job correctly. Just like any service, references are extremely helpful. Consider calling a few companies. Requesting inspections and quotes from more than one will help verify the existence of a termite infestation and make it possible for you to compare services.Companies offer different forms of treatment procedures and warranties.

Some companies also will repair damage occurring following their treatment, although dating onset of termite damage is a hard thing to determine. In some circumstances, no warranty will be provided in case wells, drainage systems, sub-slab heat ducts, or inaccessible crawl spaces make it impossible to treat in accordance with industry standards.Take your time when selecting a company.

Avoid firms that attempt to pressure you into signing a contract immediately with specials or scare tactics. The overall quality of the project depends less on the sales person than the individual who finally does the work. A safe and effective termite treatment requires an experienced technician, not someone hired a few weeks ago.Q: Which treatment method is effectiveA: There are two general categories of termite treatment -- fluids and baits.

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Their purpose is to extend a long-lasting barrier in the soil that prevents termites from entering and infesting buildings. In the majority of scenarios, termites already within the building die off too, since they cannot return to the soil for supplemental moisture. Most former liquid termiticides were repellent rather than fatal to termites foraging in the dirt.

Such products are usually more dependable controlling infestations in the first attempt.Fig. 8: 2 treatment options for termites: liquid application (abandoned ), baiting (right) Another treatment category is baiting. Termite baits consist of cellulose-based food combined with some slow-acting substance lethal to termites. The baits are installed below ground out in the yard in cylindrical vinyl stations.