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There are 3 main types of termites: drywood, dampwood and subterranean. Each type of termite colony includes workers (who eat your house), soldiers (who defend other people from predators such as ants) and swarmers (flyers that locate new places to colonize). Although you dont generally see termites unless theyre swarming (flying), its good to know how to identify them, Wilson says.
Drywood termites commonly have a brown body with a reddish head. Swarmers have sheer, tan wings although there are color 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 sheer wings. These workers 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 such as decaying wood or timber that's loaded 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 home through small cracks, often around window frames through cracks in the home. Make sure you check around windows regularly and reapply caulk when it begins to show signs of age and cracking. Swarmers shed their wings and float into the timber. Cracks in paint are another easy access point for termites.
Be mindful of maintaining your outside paint. For example, when you hammer up Christmas lights then take the nails out, you leave behind small holes and create 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, a lot houses have raised foundations, Wilson says. Termites build mud tubes around the bottom floor, often along posts. But even in the absence of posts, Wilson states sand tubes can stretch from the ground up through thin atmosphere to connect with the base of the house. .
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So what do you do if you find a termite in your home If you see one shed wing or one termite flying by, it doesnt mean you have an infestation. But if you find a group of wings or any of the other warning signs noted above, its best to find a professional inspection.
Termites are in fact simple to kill,'' Wilson states, however you need a termiticide to perform it. Unfortunately, superior pesticides are not readily available to the general public. Most home shops sell termite spray, but these are watered down to meet public safety specifications, click here for more so theyre not as successful.
If you've got an infestation that's isolated to one part of your home, say the door trimming, you can substitute the trim, Wilson states. But if you've got a full-on termite infestation, you need a larger scale treatment.
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Subterranean termites have to be cut off from the home at the soil. Pacific Coast Termites makes a chemical barrier between any regions of dirt and the house, as well as 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 timber through ink-pen-sized holes. This product saturates the wood and will prevent future infestations. Treating a moderate infestation this manner takes about four to six hours.
Homes that are exceptionally 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 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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Apply an excellent, quality coat of paint on your property, since termites wont consume through paint. Ensure that all windows, doorframes and foundation gaps are caulked and sealed. Dont basic or nail up Christmas lights then yank 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. .
Instantly solve any plumbing leaks, standing water on your roof or other difficulties involving decaying wood. Provide appropriate ventilation under your elevated home to keep that area dry. Subterranean termites love wetness.