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What You Can Do To Protect Your Charlotte Home From Termites
January 28, 2021
Many homeowners may understand the dangers of termites. And it’s hard to be oblivious when millions of Americans deal with the problems every single year. However, a lot of homeowners also don’t realize that a majority of termite costs come from not understanding what to look for, and how to prevent an infestation in the first place.
Spotting The Signs Early
When homeowners don’t see the signs of termite infestation for six months or longer, the damage is almost always very costly. On average, termite damage of 12-18 months costs over $3,000, which is why it’s so important for you to catch an infestation early. A majority of termite damage occurs because homeowners don’t recognize the signs early enough. These small, white or gray pests are often hard to see as they work, but there are a few signs that a trained eye would be able to notice:
- Swarmers: These winged termites are in charge of colonization and reproduction, and will usually swarm on warm, muggy days. Watch out for large, gray, buzzing clouds that indicate a swarm and are a sure sign of imminent termite infestations.
- Soft Clicking Noises: As termites work within your walls, they typically emit a faint noise. If you suspect termites may be eating the wooden structures within your walls, keep an ear out for the clicking.
- Tight-fitting Doors And Windows: Any trouble closing your doors or sliding your windows could indicate significant termite damage to the internal structures of the wooden frames.
- Frass: A mixture of termite droppings and wood grains, frass is expelled from the tunnels as termites work and eat. This substance will build up along your baseboards in the event of severe infestation.
If you don’t see these signs, consider yourself lucky. Homes without termite protection attract them quickly, so if you don’t currently have an issue, you’ll want to focus on prevention very soon.
Proper Termite Prevention
As you focus on protecting your Charlotte property from termites, you’ll want to consider the factors that attract them the most: moisture and accessibility. Since termites favorite food is wood that already has significant moisture damage, let’s focus on addressing the moisture issues on your property first:
- Use a dehumidifier in your attic, crawlspaces, or anywhere that the air-conditioning does not control humidity levels.
- Monitor your pipes for leaks diligently, as even the slightest drip can allow for wood rot and ideal termite conditions.
- Control your rainwater runoff to avoid water pooling up by the side of the house. This means you’ll need to use an effective gutter and downspout system to expel the water away from the home and keep up with your gutter maintenance.
Along with moisture issues, termite prevention needs to focus on denying them easy access to your home. Ways to address this issue include:
- Avoid storing wood under or around your house. Wood needs to be stored off the ground in a non-wooden structure.
- Clear up yard debris. Piles of leaves, sticks, and junk can create uneven moisture buildup in the yard and attract termite activity within your soil.
- Eliminate soil-to-wood contact. A 12 to 18-inch buffer can prevent termites who are digging through your soil to find their next meal from easily finding your home’s foundation.
Now, keep this in mind: you can do all of these things right and still wind up with a termite infestation. So with extremely costly damage on the line, you have the choice between DIY (do it yourself) termite prevention or prevention methods that we can guarantee. The best termite prevention and control comes with professional assistance - Aruza Pest Control. Give us a call today to start protecting your home properly.