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There are three main types of termites: drywood, dampwood and subterranean. Each kind of termite colony includes employees (who consume your house), soldiers (who defend other people from predators such as ants) and swarmers (flyers who find new places to colonize). Although you dont generally see termites unless theyre swarming (flying), its great to know how to identify them, Wilson states.
Drywood termites commonly possess a brown body with a red head. Swarmers have sheer, tan wings although there are colour variations. Workers are pale, tan and look like maggots, with no wings.
Dampwood termites are similar to drywood termites, often with a tan or brown body and absolute wings. These employees also resemble maggots.
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Drywood termites are partial to dry, nondecayed wood and often end up in attics, flooring boards and window frames.
Dampwood termites like decaying wood or wood that is rich with moisture. They often attack wood that is making contact with the ground and are found in areas with high rainfall or humidity.
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Drywood and dampwood termites enter your house through small cracks, often around window frames through cracks in the home. Make sure you check around windows frequently and reapply caulk when it begins to show signs of age and cracking. Swarmers lose their wings and burrow into the wood. Cracks in paint are another easy access point for termites.
Be mindful of maintaining your exterior paint. As an example, when you hammer Christmas lights then take the nails out, you leave behind little holes and create an open door for a termite colony. .
Subterranean termites often burrow into cracks in the homes foundation. In regions such as the San Francisco Bay Area, a lot houses have increased foundations, Wilson states. Termites build mud tubes up to the bottom floor, often along articles. But even in the absence of posts, Wilson states sand tubes can extend from the ground up through thin atmosphere to connect with the base of the home. .
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So what do you do if you find a termite in your house If you see one shed wing or one termite flying , it doesnt mean you've got an infestation. But if you see a group of wings or any of the other warning signs noted above, its best to find a professional inspection.
Termites are actually simple to kill, Wilson states, but you need a termiticide to perform it. Unfortunately, good pesticides are not available to the general public. Most home shops promote termite spray, but those are watered down to meet public safety specifications, so theyre not as effective.
If you've got an infestation that's isolated to one part of your home, say the door trim, you can substitute the trim, Wilson says. But if you have a full-on termite infestation, you need a larger scale treatment.
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Subterranean termites must be cut away from the pop over to this web-site home at the soil. Pacific Coast Termites creates a chemical barrier between any areas of dirt and the home, in addition to around the entire house. It acts as a shield that the termites cant break through.
Drywood and dampwood termites can be murdered with a timber treatment product like XT2000 Orange Oil, which is injected under pressure into the wood through ink-pen-sized holes. This product saturates the timber and will prevent future infestations. Treating a moderate infestation this manner takes approximately four to six hours.
Homes that are massively infested (you can see termites everywhere) can require fumigation. Either a massive tent is put over your house, or all of the doors and windows are sealed, and the home is gassed with pesticide that will kill each of the termites. This procedure can take anywhere from six hours to one week, depending on the kind of infestation.
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Apply an excellent, quality coating of exterior paint on your property, since termites wont eat through paint. Ensure that all windows, doorframes and foundation gaps are caulked and sealed. Dont basic or nail up Christmas lights then pull them down. Even the tiny holes create termite homes. Instead, either leave the nails in the holes year-round or fill out the holes when you remove the nails. .
Instantly resolve any plumbing leaks, standing water on your roof or other difficulties involving decaying wood. Provide proper ventilation under your elevated home to keep that area dry. Subterranean termites adore wetness.