If ever there’s a pest that you want to do everything in your power to keep out of your Aiken home, it’s the termite. That’s because termites can cause immense damage to the wood inside homes. And you may not even realize you have termites until they’ve already done irreparable damage. That’s why you need to know what attracts termites to a home in the first place. Then you can take proper steps to ensure your Aiken home is better protected from these destructive pests.
Identifying Termites
Termites are small ant-like insects that feed on the organic matter that is found in wood. They are usually pale yellow, brown, or black. Additionally, they have segmented bodies, antennae, and six legs.
Termites live in colonies that consist of three different castes. There are workers, who are responsible for gathering food for the colony; soldiers, who are responsible for defending the colony; and reproductives, who are responsible for setting out and creating new colonies.
Unless you see a reproductive termite (also called a swarmer termite), you are not likely to see an actual termite. Termites prefer to stay inside their colonies (which are usually underground) and inside the wood that they are eating. As such, termites can cause incredible amounts of damage to the structural wood in your home before you even know they are there. Any wood in your home is at risk. That means structural wood, flooring, siding, baseboards, window and door frames, furniture, and antiques could all be at risk if termites get inside your home.
Termite-Prevention Techniques
As it is not so easy to tell if your home has become infested with termites, it is best to take precautionary measures to lower your exposure to these destructive pests before they have a chance to cause any harm. What this means is identifying the factors that might attract termites to your home in the first place and then removing them.
If you want to protect your home from termites, you should take these steps:
- Remove or replace water-damaged or decaying wood in your home.
- Utilize dehumidifiers to keep humidity levels low throughout your home.
- Fix leaky pipes or fixtures.
- Keep gutters free of debris to prevent overflowing.
- Limit wood-to-soil contact around your home, such as around deck posts and the exterior of your home.
- Fill in cracks in the foundation of your home.
- Store woodpiles away from the exterior of your home.
- Keep your yard free of debris such as leaf piles.
- Inspect wooden objects such as antiques and firewood for termites before bringing them into your home.
What To Do If Termites Invade Your Home
In the unfortunate case that termites do invade your home, act quickly and call the professionals at Aiken Pest Control right away. Here at Aiken Pest Control, our state-of-the-art Termite Control Program uses NAVIGATOR® SC to attack termites right at the source (their colony) so you can be sure your home is free of these destructive pests.
When it comes to termites, failure to act means more costly damage inflicted upon your home. So, don’t wait. Call Aiken Pest Control right away for termite services for your Aiken home.