What Does Termite Control Process Do?

Mud tubesUnlike ants, termites do not ramble around on the soil surface or out in the open. They will either tunnel through the soil or into wood (or other material) or else travel inside pencil-size (or bigger )"mud tubes" they assemble from dirt, wood contaminants and other materials. You'll find these tubes on foundation walls, floor joists or other parts of the home.

Break open the tubes to determine if termites are still active. An empty tube doesn't necessarily mean that termites are gonethey may have just abandoned this particular tunnel. Termites often rebuild damaged tubes, and it is another indication of current action. 'Old' tubes are dry and crumble easily, leaving behind"etching" on the surface that could be visible for years (an indication that a house had termite activity at any time).

Tubes that are found on ceilings or on top levels of a building may indicate that you have an aboveground ("aerial") infestation, i.e., the termite colony actually resides in the building and the termites are traveling up from the soil. Mud tubes constructed through an aboveground colony normally contain materials other than dirt, e.g., wood and sheet rock or anything the termites are feeding on.

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In such situations, a thorough inspection may necessitate removal of siding or interior wallboards, etc.. More importantly for you, these aboveground infestations cannot be controlled using the customary soil treatment (see below) and therefore are typically deducted by a termite contract warranty. In these situations, finding and correcting the moisture problem is the very first step to eliminating the termites. .

We tend to think of termites as feeding/injuring timber only. Termites actually feed on virtually anything which contains cellulose, the main component of wood, including wood paneling, paper products, cardboard boxes, art canvases, the newspaper covering of sheet rock, carpeting, etc.. While foraging and feeding, they may tunnel through non-cellulosic substances, such as plastic and foamboard.

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In reality, the amount of harm that termites cause depends on many aspects. In areas with cold winter temperatures, termite activity (and feeding) often declines, but does not necessarily cease. If the termites are well-protected from colder temperatures (e.g., underneath a slab), then activity might continue year-round. From a practical standpoint, severe termite damage usually takes about 3-8 decades. .

There is no accurate way of determining visite site the era of recently found damage. You need some reference point, i.e., some point in time when it was known there was no damage to this particular wood. This can be one reason why annual inspections (and keeping your records of those inspections) are important. .

NOTE: All these inspections are not a guarantee that you do not have find more termites or damage in areas which are not insured or not easily seen, such as inside walls. On the other hand, the inspections can reveal conditions that may imply that damage does exist and additional investigation is needed.

If you've got a termite protection contract, contact the pest control company quickly and arrange for them to check out the problem. Should you not own a termite contract, telephone 2-3 (or more) companies and have every one inspect your house and provide you with the details of their findings and any recommendations for a course of action to correct any termite conditions they found.

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Termites do not cause significant damage in a brief time period, so spending a couple of added days or even a few weeks will not make any real difference in terms how much damage occurs. .

Can there be harm that should be repaired or at least examined by a contractor or engineer before control measures are performed

Simply spraying swarmers or the surface of accessible infested wood may kill the termites that you see now, but it does not stop the infestation nor does it protect your house from future attacks by termites. The most common type of termite treatment involves a"trench and treat" where a liquid insecticide ("termiticide") is applied to the soil surrounding critical areas of your house.

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The dirt is trenched 6" deep and approximately 4-6" wide. For homes with crawlspaces, the soil along the interior foundation wall must be treated within 4 ft of identified signs of termite activity. In some circumstances, the soil around supports (for example, piers) underneath the home can also be treated.

When applied correctly, this treatment forms a continuous chemical barrier which should prevent termites from reaching the foundation and piers in your house. .

Concrete slabs which attach to the home, for instance, a garage floor, or the slab of an earth-filled porch.