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There are three main forms of termites: drywood, dampwood and subterranean. Every type of termite colony includes employees (who eat your house), soldiers (who defend others from predators such as ants) and swarmers (flyers that locate new areas to colonize). Though 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 absolute, tan wings although there are color variations. Workers 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 timber and often end up in attics, flooring boards and window frames.
Dampwood termites like decaying wood or timber that is rich with moisture. They often strike wood that's 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 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 float into the timber. Cracks in paint are another easy access point for termites.
Be mindful of maintaining your exterior paint. As an example, when you hammer Christmas lights then take the nails out, you leave behind little holes and create an open door for a termite colony. .
Subterranean termites often burrow into cracks in the homes foundation. In regions like the San Francisco Bay Area, a lot homes have raised foundations, Wilson states. Termites build mud tubes up to the bottom floor, often along posts. But even in the absence of articles, Wilson says, mud tubes can extend from the ground up through thin air to connect with the base of the home. .
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So what can you do if you find a termite in your house If you see one shed wing or one termite flying by, it doesnt mean you have an infestation. But if you see a group of shed wings or any of the other warning signs noted above, its best to find a professional inspection.
Termites are actually simple to kill,'' Wilson says, but you need a termiticide to perform it. Unfortunately, good pesticides are not available to the public. Most home stores sell termite spray, article source but those are watered down to meet public safety specifications, so theyre not as successful.
If you have an infestation that's isolated to one portion of your home, state the door trim, you can replace the trimming, Wilson states. But if you've got a full-on termite infestation, you need a bigger scale treatment.
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Subterranean termites must get cut off from the house at the soil. Pacific Coast Termites makes a chemical barrier between any areas of grime and the home, in addition to around the entire home. It functions as a shield the termites cant break through.
Drywood and dampwood termites can be murdered with a timber treatment product like XT2000 Orange Oil, which read this is injected under pressure into the wood through ink-pen-sized holes. This item saturates the wood and will prevent future infestations. Treating a moderate infestation navigate to these guys this manner takes approximately four to six hours.
Homes that are exceptionally infested (you can see termites everywhere) can require fumigation. Either a huge tent is put over your house, or all the doors and windows are sealed, and the home is gassed with pesticide that will kill each of the termites. This procedure can take anywhere from six hours to one week, depending on the kind of infestation.
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Employ an excellent, quality coat of exterior paint on your house, since termites wont eat through paint. Ensure that all windows, doorframes and foundation gaps are caulked and sealed. Dont basic or nail up Christmas lights then pull them down. The tiny holes create termite homes. Instead, either abandon the nails in the pockets year-round or fill the holes when you eliminate the nails. .
Quickly solve any plumbing leaks, standing water on your roof or other issues involving decaying wood. Provide appropriate ventilation under your elevated home to keep that region dry. Subterranean termites adore wetness.