While there are no severe human health implications termites can cause, living with colonies of them can lead to allergic and asthmatic attacks. However, as a homeowner, termite infestation is your worst nightmare. Their structural and physical damages to your home can be expensive and extensive. For these and more reasons, here's how to identify, control, eradicate and prevent their future infestations.
Identifying Their Most Infested Areas
Unlike other pests, you'll quickly notice termite infestations by seeing a number of them around. Moisture, food sources, wooden structures, and humid surroundings easily attract termites in most areas.
Furniture, especially those touching the ground in moist areas within your home, will draw them. You'll also find them in improperly mulched gardens, poorly drained areas, and firewood stores.
While you don't have to worry a lot about their health implications, the biggest threat they pose is the damage to your home. According to findings, termites cause estimated home damages worth billions of dollars in the United States alone annually.
As a result, you need to know to identify them before anything else to eradicate them effectively. Once you detect signs of their infestation, especially swarming, be sure you have others coming.
Inspecting Different Areas Within Your House
After identifying swarms of termites that indicate a significant infestation:
- Begin locating their breeding and hiding sites
- Look within damaged wood structures, especially those directly touching the ground
- Inspect along walls, construction foundations, and ground joists
- Look for pieces of digested wood pellets, especially those looking like rice grains.
Getting Rid of Excess Moisture
Moisture attracts all types of pests, including termites. Getting rid of excess moisture within your surroundings will keep them away. An excellent example to start with is investing in a dehumidifier.
A properly working dehumidifier will help regulate humidity within your house by removing excess moisture from the circulating air. This creates an inhospitable environment for termites while helping you experience and live within a well-balanced humid surrounding.
Alternatively, if you live in a hot area, invest in an air conditioner to help periodically maintain cool temperatures while removing excess moisture from the air indoors to prevent termite infestation.
Decluttering Your Home and Fixing Leaks
Leaks, for example, support wooden structure decay that easily attracts termite. Fix and seal all leaks by inspecting your roof regularly. Inspect leaks within your basements and closer to the ground areas making it easy for termites to get through.
Also, pay attention to unused stuff within your home. Old clothes and papers attract termites by creating a humid environment when they stay at one place for a long time. Declutter your home by removing old content like newspapers, cardboards, and anything preventing sunlight from warming the area to keep it from accumulating excess moisture.
Reach out to a termite control professional to learn more.