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There are 3 main types of termites: drywood, dampwood and subterranean. Each type of termite colony includes employees (who consume your house), soldiers (who defend others from predators such as ants) and swarmers (flyers that find new areas to colonize). Though 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 red head. Swarmers have sheer, tan wings although there are color variations. Employees are light, tan and look like maggots, with no wings.
Dampwood termites are much like 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 wood that is loaded with moisture. They often strike wood that's making contact with the ground and are found in regions 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 caulk. Be sure to check around windows frequently and reapply caulk when it begins to show signs of age and cracking. Swarmers lose their wings and float into the timber. Cracks in paint are another simple access point for termites.
Be mindful of maintaining your exterior paint. For example, when you hammer 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 you can try these out regions such as the San Francisco Bay Area, a lot look here homes have increased foundations, Wilson says. Termites build mud tubes around the floor, often along articles. But even in the absence of posts, Wilson says, mud tubes can extend from the ground up through thin air to connect with the bottom of the home. .
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So what can you do if you find a termite in your home 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 shed wings or any of the other warning signs noted above, its best to get a professional inspection.
Termites are in fact simple to kill, Wilson states, but you need a termiticide to perform it. Unfortunately, superior pesticides are not available to the general public. Most home shops sell termite spray, but these are watered down to meet public safety specifications, so theyre not as successful.
In case you've got an infestation that is isolated to one part of your home, state the door trim, you can substitute the trim, Wilson states. But in case you've got a full-on termite infestation, you need a bigger scale treatment.
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Subterranean termites have to get cut off from the home at the ground. 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 about four to six hours.
Homes which are massively infested (you can see termites everywhere) can require fumigation. Either a massive tent is put over your home, or all of the doors and windows are sealed, and the residence is gassed with pesticide that can kill all the termites. This process can take anywhere from six hours to one week, depending on the type of infestation.
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Employ an excellent, quality coating of paint on your property, since termites wont eat 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. The tiny holes make termite homes. Instead, either abandon the nails in the holes year-round or fill the holes when you eliminate the nails. .
Quickly solve any plumbing leaks, standing water on your roof or other difficulties involving decaying wood. Provide appropriate ventilation under your raised home to keep that area dry. Subterranean termites adore wetness.