Termites - What to Do When Your Home Is Infested

Many people, when they learn of an infestation of termites in their home, treat the information as though it's no big deal. After all, you see ants from time to time, why bother with treatment for this pest? Unfortunately, these voracious eaters can actually cause significant structural damage to your home, and they can do it very quickly. Each year, these creatures cause billions of dollars worth of damage in the United States. Because they feed on wood, insulation, books and even pool liners, it is very important for you to take action as soon as possible.

What Can They Do?

Termites can destroy healthy trees quickly—imagine the amount of damage they can do to a home. They can eat away at the filters that protect your heating and air conditioning systems. They can destroy paper.

Do You Have Them?

There are some warning signs to look for to determine if this pest is destroying your home. For example, if you discover a winged termite, this indicates an infestation is likely. You may also see a swarm of them learning near tree stumps, piles of wood and other areas away from the home. They might even begin to create a nest at the base of the foundation of your home, too. If you see sawdust and do not know where it came from, treatment for this creature is a good idea.

Treating Them

There are various methods of treatment that can be effective in ridding your home from this type of infestation. However, it is very important to have a professional handle this type of extermination. The problem is, unless you know where they are hiding and where to look for them, it is hard to spot these pests. They can hide under concrete slabs and even be deep within the soil of flowerbeds, making them very difficult to see. The treatment needs to be thorough, because if not eradicated, they can repopulate the colony very quickly.

Though there are some products sold in various retail establishments that you can use yourself at home, this is often not the best option. Your professional pest control agent will not only get rid of the problem, but also inspect the damage done to ensure your home remains in good structural condition. This is a very important step in this process.

Termites are the type of pest that can destroy a home. If an infestation is occurring, you may not know it. If you see the pests themselves, this likely indicates that the infestation is very large and requires immediate attention. Call a professional pest control company to come to your home to handle the underlying problem. This could help prevent damage to your home.