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Termites 101: From Inspection To Control

Posted on April 7, 2022

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Termites 101: From Inspection To Control

A house is more than just a place to live. It’s where you keep your family safe, make beautiful memories, and store your most precious belongings. But when it suffers from certain damages—like termite damage—that could cause a great deal of stress.

If you live in Tennessee, you’re familiar with termites—and the damage they can cause. If not treated on time, they can cause lasting and irreparable damage to your home. We understand how harmful they can be, which explains why we’ve created this guide to help protect yourself against them.

For more than eight decades, Jamison Pest and Lawn has educated homeowners about the ins and outs of pests and lawns. Because of our vast experience, we can help you identify termites and find the best treatments or prevention methods to keep them away.

This article will help you learn about the following:

  • What Do Termites Look Like?
  • Types of Termites
  • How to Get Rid of Termites?
  • Termite Inspection
  • Termite Control
  • Tips to Prevent Termite Infestation

What Do Termites Look Like?

Everyone’s heard of these little creatures, but not many people can identify them. Termites are wood- and cellulose-eating insects that can cause extensive damage to your home over time. If these insects are not taken care of, they can chew through the walls of a building and cause the entire structure to crumble.

They are small, wingless social insects that are closely related to cockroaches. They live in colonies and thrive in warm, moist environments. There are an estimated 2,700 species of termites that have been identified. They are found in every continent, be it North America, Europe, or Australia, and can live in nearly every habitat type.

The termite species can either be workers or swarmers. The swarmers are the ones that can reproduce. They are dark in color and are 4 mm in length. They can also have wings.

Workers, also called soldiers, do not reproduce— these are white or cream. As the word suggests, these workers do all the work and create nests and passages.

Termite colonies can contain hundreds to millions of individuals and can last for decades or even centuries.

What do termites look like

 

Types Of Termites

Though there are many species of these termites, these are generally classified into three broad categories in North America. You will find one or all of these depending on your area.

Subterranean Termites

Subterranean termites are a type of termite that builds their colonies underground. They can be devastating for homeowners because they can eat through wood quickly, causing structural damage to your home. A mature subterranean termite colony can have between 60,000 and two million workers. These termites use their scissor-like jaws to eat wood 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and like other termite species, they also feed on cellulose products.

Drywood Termites

Drywood termites are a type of pest that can cause extensive damage to your home. They are not as common as other types of termites, but they pose a significant threat to homes in certain regions. Drywood termites live inside the wood, where they are challenging to detect. They emerge only during swarming periods or when repair work is being done on infested homes. The Drywood termite colonies are small and widely dispersed it takes years to mature.

Dampwood Termites

Dampwood termites are drawn to wood with high moisture or water damage. These termites are larger than other termite species and can be found in stumps, lumber, fallen logs, or tree branches left in direct contact with the ground. They may also infest rarely-seen areas affected by roof leaks or cracked drainpipes.

Now that you know different types of termites, it’s time to learn how to get rid of termites.

How to Get Rid of Termites?

If you’ve noticed that your home is beginning to show signs of termite infestation, it’s essential to act quickly. Termites can cause substantial damage to a wooden structure, and repairing the damage can be expensive. The earlier you catch the infestation, the better your chances are of keeping costs down. We recommend calling your area’s local exterminator as soon as possible.

If you live in Tennessee and have a termite problem, please contact us at Jamison Pest and Lawn. We are always happy to hear from our customers, and we want to discuss your options.

The most effective way to prevent termite damage is to schedule a service with a professional pest control company.

The first step in any termite control program is diagnosis.

Step 1: Get A Termite Inspection

Prevention is better than cure” we have all heard this saying, and this implies home maintenance as well. The first step in treating the damaging effects of termites is a termite inspection. If you are moving to a new home or want to ensure that your existing house has no damage, then an inspection can greatly help.

It is highly recommended that you hire a professional termite control contractor for an inspection. This service will allow you to identify problem areas so that you can take preventive measures and further investigate any potential issues.

To identify these creatures’ activity, a termite inspector will survey all accessible areas of a home or structure, not only for present infestation but also to review potential hot spots for future termite infestation.

Free termite inspection

Parts That Need To Be Checked During An Inspection

Inspectors will go over the entire home, inside and out. The inspection will vary based on the home’s location — some common exterior areas to be looked at will include fences and other wood-manufactured structures. On the inside, they will inspect the attic, crawl space, basement, etc. Let us look more closely at these areas.

Wooden Exteriors

If you’re building an outdoor structure out of wood, you must avoid termites. Wooden structures are a tasty treat for these insects; if you don’t use products resistant to termites, your wood could fall apart. You need to be more attentive to areas such as decks or sheds. The inspector you hire should also check the roof fencing, if there is any.

Exposed Deadwood

They love wood and go anywhere where you keep wood. Killing termites is hard enough, but finding them is even more challenging. Piles of wood, mulches, and tree trunks are some prime locations where you will have to look for them.

Foundation

Termites are hard workers. They generally like to start from the foundation and then move upwards. Keep an eye on the mud tubes that are visible in the foundation. This means that these insects have made their way in.

Open Passages

They are typically attracted to the warm, moist environments created by cracks in the foundation, vents with poor seals, and doors. When inspecting for termites, be on the lookout for any signs of an infestation as well as any places where they might get into your home — including gaps in the siding.

Windows

Windows and nearby areas can also serve as entry places for termites. This is why it should also be checked during an inspection. When termite swarms appear, they tend to lose their wings. These wings settle on the ground, and the window panes.

What Should I Do Before A Termite Inspection?

From the above section, it is clear that the termite inspectors will check almost every crucial aspect of your home for termites. Since your whole house will be involved, you need to do the following before the inspection.

You should make sure that you remove all the essential things present inside the home and keep them away till the inspection is completed. You should also move the furniture ahead so that the inspector is given entire space to inspect thoroughly. Be ready to provide access to the other areas of your home, such as a garage or basement as these make an essential part that needs to be checked for termites.

Step 2: Schedule Termite Treatments

Once you know whether or not your home has been infected with termites, you can begin scheduling treatments with a certified pest control technician in your area. The technician will usually visit your property on multiple occasions throughout the year to monitor progress made by previous treatments and ensure that no new colonies have appeared since the last visit(s). This process may take several months, depending on how long it took for an initial infestation and how many new ones have occurred.

Termite treatment

Tips To Prevent Termite Infestation

Many reports say termites are the most significant danger to your Tennessee home. The homeowners spend over 5 billion dollars for termite damage repairs. The amount is increasing with each year. You can avoid paying a massive sum by following some preventive measures. Some of them are given in the following section:

Keep Your Home Free From Leaks

There are several different kinds of things that can be done to prevent a termite attack. One of the most important things to do is to repair any leaks in your house as soon as you can. Why? Because they are heavily drawn to water and moisture. A leaky roof can lead to termites eating away at your wood.

Ensure That There Is Proper Ventilation

Extra moisture is never good for any part of your house. Moisture buildup not only leads to roof damage such as rotting and mold/mildew growth but also increases the chances of termites. An airtight seal is crucial for any home’s moisture control. Whether it’s a house or a storage unit, the right ventilation on windows and doors can keep the moisture out. Proper ventilation and sealing can thus prevent infestation by termites as well as limit rots.

Keep Wood stacks Away From Your Home

We hope that now you are fully aware that how much the creatures love wood. You don’t want to give wood-loving termites any place to nest. If you want to keep them out of your house, there are a number of fast fixes you can use. First and foremost, keep all woodpiles at least 20 feet away from your house. This includes firewood, mulch piles, and other leftovers (if any). Make sure the exterior looks clean.

Repair The Cracks And Openings

Termites are very small in size. They are usually just 3-4mm in length. Due to this, they can easily enter your home through the smallest of cracks. To prevent this you need to ensure that you repair these cracks as soon as possible. You can do this by using cement to fill the gaps and close the passage.

Make Use Of Termite Baits

In the past, it was common for termites to damage homes and buildings. Fortunately, there are many termite control products that can remedy the situation. Termite bait stations are one of them. These can act as a perfect prevention measure to control these little creatures. The stations are designed to lure them into the stations using bait so that they do not reach your home.

Are You Worried About Termites in Your Tennessee Home?

Termites are a problem that can ruin your Tennessee home, but they don’t have to. If you’re worried about termites, don’t stress! We’re here to help.

Taking advantage of a free termite inspection from a qualified professional contractor such as Jamison Pest and Lawn is a wise idea because our personnel is trained to inspect the house. Our inspectors have years of experience with the damage inflicted by termites and can detect damage that may not be visible to you at first glance.

We not only offer inspection services but we also provide termite control plans to help you protect your home. Our exterminators mostly provide liquid termite treatment which is safe for your family and environment. It involves coating your home with a protective barrier that keeps termites from attacking it. We also offer termite protection for new construction, which will help protect your property from destructive pests.

So if you need any help with these services and want to make your home, free from termites then contact us today at (901) 452-1505. We will be happy to help.

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