How To Tell If Your Naples Property Has A Termite Problem
10/15/2021
Termite damage cost is no laughing matter. In fact, termites are among the most expensive pests you can get in your home. Our humid and warm climate in Florida means we have to worry about these dangerous and destructive little devils even more than many other states’ residents do. That’s because the wood has a hard time standing up to our high humidity and blazing temperatures. And if there’s one thing termites love, it’s damaged wood that’s easy to eat and tunnel through.
Furthermore, treating termites yourself is often not an option because do-it-yourself (DIY) treatments are often ineffective. That means, to save yourself both time and money, you need to nip possible termite problems in the bud before they start. Let’s talk about how.
What Are The Dangers Of Termites?
As we said above, the considerable expense of termite damage is the main danger these pests pose to you and your property. All in all, termite damage costs Americans more than five billion dollars a year, on average. That’s more than some natural disasters. Sometimes, termites can do so much damage that they make your house unlivable – and insurance won’t always cover everything.
The only real way to protect yourself is to keep your property termite-free. The best place to start is to have an annual termite inspection done by a professional pest control company. Measures you can take in between your inspections include:
- Get rid of all damaged or softened wood in your house – including decking, railing, stairs, and other wood issues.
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Remove rotting logs and fallen trees from your property.
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Keep a barrier of at least six inches between your home and garden mulch.
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Trim back tree branches and shrubs away from your house.
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Store firewood off the ground at least 20 feet from your home’s exterior.
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Seal all cracks and holes in your home’s siding and foundation.
What Are Signs Of Termites?
Termites are serious homebodies. They eat the same wood where they live inside or underneath. That means they don’t have to forage for food as ants do.
Unless you see termite swarmers (reproductive adults with wings), you might never lay eyes on an actual live termite, even if your home is severely infested. Their lack of wandering can mean you can easily miss the signs of termites, especially early on in an infestation. And aside from termite swarmers, almost all the other signs of termites have to do with the havoc they wreak on your house. Watch for these signs:
- Termite frass/carton (a mix of termite droppings and sawdust)
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Pinholes in drywall
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Buckled flooring
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Sagging ceilings
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Warped window and doorframes
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Bulging walls
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Tunnels in wood
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Damage that looks like water damage without the water
What To Do About Your Termite Problem
Treating termites yourself is often not an option – at least not a viable one. Most people think they can do it themselves with a few termite granules and some elbow grease. However, things like termite granules and over-the-counter (OTC) termite sprays are usually only effective at temporarily reducing termite problems because termite colonies are incredibly complex and often spread out throughout your house. This makes them just about impossible to get rid of on your own.
Fortunately, here at Keller’s Pest Control, our trained technicians stay on top of the latest and greatest termite eradication techniques, so you don’t have to worry about the termite population in your home bouncing back. There won’t be a termite population by the time we’re through with them. So give our Naples exterminators a call or visit our contact page to schedule your service!
