Termites look like winged ants, and can be both annoying and destructive. Homeowners who fail to notice a termite infestation may experience significant structural damage.
Let’s look at some tips for controlling termites:
Minimize Your Risks of Termite Infestation
Termites live in or inside homes, typically feeding on wood or other hard plant materials. If you live in a climate that termites prefer, you’ll want to do what you can do reduce the risk of them choosing your home for their next meal. To minimize your risks of a termite infestation, keep extra wooden construction materials or boards away from the base of your home, and store them several inches off the ground.
In addition, consider removing dead or decaying trees, stumps, or roots on your property as well — termites love rotting wood or wood that’s close to soil. If you know that an area is infested with termites, avoid storing additional wood or paper products there, as the termites will expand their colony to include the fresh food source.
Eliminate Moisture Around Your Home
Termites are naturally tropical bugs, and are fond of warm, damp areas with a readily available source of food. To cut down on the risk of termite infestation, or to begin to control an existing colony, get rid of extra moisture in the area. This may mean repairing leaky faucets, cleaning out gutters, or removing extra brush or plants around the foundation of your home. You may also want to open windows or vents to your basement or other damp areas to encourage aeration, as well as removing any areas of outdoor standing water in pots, planters, or children’s toys.
When to Call for Professional Termite Control in Scottsdale
If you notice that your wood beams or boards begin to sound hollow when tapped, you may have a termite problem. Visually inspect your home to see if you can spot winged insects that look like ants, a nest of chewed wood and mud, or tubes made of mud on the walls. Termites are often silent, so you may not notice that they’ve taken up residence until you need to call for professional help.
Cummings Termite & Pest Control is one of the professional pest control companies providing permanent pest control and removal for Scottsdale residents.
