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There are three main types of termites: drywood, dampwood and subterranean. Each type of termite colony includes employees (who eat your house), soldiers (who defend other people from predators such as ants) and swarmers (flyers who locate new places to colonize). Although you dont generally see termites unless theyre swarming (flying), its great to know how to identify them, Wilson says.

Drywood termites commonly possess a brown body with a red head. Swarmers have sheer, tan wings but there are color variations. Employees are light, tan and look like maggots, with no wings.

Dampwood termites are similar to drywood termites, often with a tan or brown body and sheer wings. These workers also resemble maggots.

Subterranean termites are smaller than their above-ground brethren with black bodies and sheer wings for the flyers. The employees are smaller, white and maggot-like.

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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's rich with moisture. They often attack wood that is making contact with the ground and are found in regions with high rainfall or humidity.

Subterranean termites will eat soft (moisture-rich) timber and drywood, however they initially make contact with your house through the ground.

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Drywood and dampwood termites enter your home through small cracks, often around window frames throughout cracks in the caulk. Be sure to check around windows frequently and reapply caulk when it begins to show signs of age and cracking. Swarmers shed their wings and burrow into the wood. Cracks in paint are another simple access point for termites.

Be mindful of maintaining your outside paint. As an instance, when you hammer up Christmas lights then take the nails out, you leave behind little holes and produce an open doorway for a termite colony. .

Subterranean termites often burrow into cracks in the homes foundation. In regions like the San Francisco Bay Area, many homes have increased foundations, Wilson says. 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 house. .

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So what can you do if you find a termite in your home when you see one shed wing or one termite flying by, it doesnt mean you have 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 easy to kill, Wilson says, however you need a termiticide to do it. Unfortunately, good pesticides are not available to the general public. Most home shops sell termite spray, but these are watered down to meet public security specifications, so theyre not as effective.

If you've got an infestation that's isolated to one part of your house, say the door trimming, you can replace the trimming, Wilson states. But in case you have a full-on termite infestation, you need a larger scale treatment.

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Subterranean termites must get cut away from the house at the ground. Pacific Coast Termites creates a chemical barrier between any regions of dirt and the home, as well as around the entire home. It functions click to read as a shield that the termites cant break through.

Drywood and dampwood termites can be murdered with a timber you can check here treatment product like XT2000 Orange Oil, which is injected under pressure into the timber through ink-pen-sized holes. This product saturates the wood and will prevent future infestations. Treating a moderate infestation this way takes about four to six hours.

Homes that are exceptionally infested (you can see termites everywhere) can require fumigation. Either a huge tent is placed over your home, or all of the doors and windows are sealed, and the home is gassed with pesticide that can kill all the termites. This procedure can take anywhere from six hours to one week, depending on the kind of infestation.

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Employ a good, quality coating of exterior paint on your house, since termites wont consume through paint. Ensure that all windows, doorframes and foundation openings are caulked and sealed. Dont staple or nail up Christmas lights then pull them down. Even the tiny holes make termite homes. Instead, either leave the nails in the pockets year-round or fill out the holes when you remove the nails. .

Quickly resolve any plumbing leaks, standing water on your roof or other issues involving decaying wood. Provide my site proper ventilation under your elevated home to maintain that region dry. Subterranean termites adore wetness.