Termite Extermination: everything you need to know.

Termites can find their way into your home and quickly destroy walls, floors and furniture. These intruders are hard to detect. If you suspect that you may have a termite problem, you should consult a pest professonal.

The first step in treating a termite issue is to identify the problem and figure out which type of termites you're dealing with. There are many types of termites, the primary three types are:

• Subterranean termites are commonly found in homes and they burrow in from underground.
• Drywood termites live in colder climates, fly in swarms, and eat any dry wood source they can find.
• Dampwood termites only eat moist wood so they’re more often found outdoors than inside homes.

Signs of a termite infestation typically include finding wood shavings, noticing small holes in walls or framing, and even seeing skeletons or wing remnants of termites in your property. The bad news is, by the time you see evidence of termites the infestation is often way out of hand.

A good termite exterminator will inspect your home thoroughly before drawing up a treatment plan.
A good exterminator will have clear pricing, be up-front about the cost, and give full explanations of their treatment options. A termite home invasion is stressful enough; a good service will take the guesswork out of the bottom line.

There are multiple ways an exterminator can treat your home:

• Termiticide: If you are looking for a way to kill and deter termites, liquid termiticide is a liquid-barrier treatment for the job.
  Unfortunately, like any termite treatment, it can become very costly.
• Termite Bait: This tactic tricks the pests into taking ‘bait’ home to the colony and killing it at the source gradually. Used with a combination of other treatments, it could be very effective.
• Heat treatment: This is a chemical-free treatment that can take only a few hours. Though this treatment doesn’t use harsh chemicals, it may damage heat-sensitive items in your home.
• Fumigation: Toxins are released to kill termites. Your family and pets must vacate during this treatment. This is effective, but it takes much longer to vent your home. 

Tips to keep the termites out!

• Get a free professional inspection each year. Many termite professionals will provide an inspection at no charge. Be careful in case they try to sell you something you don’t need.
• If desired, you can have preventive treatments applied to the soil.
• Remove any conducive conditions.
• Eliminate ‘wood-to-soil’ contacts which may include wood piles, wood siding, support beams, and any other structural timbers of a home.
• Remove plants or mulch from contact with the foundation or exterior walls.
• Repair damaged wood.
• Ensure the foundation is exposed and visible.
• Prevent or resolve any moisture issues in the home or crawlspace.
• Ensure that water properly drains away from the foundation.