Termites can be dangerous to homes and commercial properties all over the Kansas City Metro Area. Termites are infamous for their ability to damage and even destroy wooden structures. What’s worse, termite treatment can be just as expensive as repairing termite damage. That’s why you need to focus on termite prevention and know the early signs of termites so you can nip problems in the bud before they get out of hand.
Dangers Of Termites
Termite colonies are large and complex entities that can sometimes extend hundreds of feet throughout your home’s wooden framing and contain hundreds of thousands or even millions of individuals. What’s worse is that a mature termite colony is highly motivated to propagate itself as much as possible. That means that once you have an established infestation, satellite nests will be popping up all over your home.
That’s why termites are so dangerous to your home. They breed and spread clandestinely, eating through your home’s wooden frame while you’re none the wiser. Since termites tend to stay inside or in very close proximity to their colonies, you will probably never see a termite out of the nest unless you see a termite alate (more on these below). If you’re not vigilant, termite colonies can do significant and costly damage to your house, maybe even leading to a total loss.
Warning Signs Of Termites
Termite alates are one of the biggest and most obvious signs of termite infestation. These winged reproductive adults fly out of the mature nest to pair off, mate, and establish their nests. You might see a cloud of small flying termites with long white wings. These are the alates performing their mating ritual, called the swarm. If you miss the swarm itself, you might still see shed wings. Alates shed their wings almost immediately after mating, so if you find a bunch of shed termite wings, you almost assuredly have a swarm on your property.
Other signs of termites have more to do with the damage they cause. Look for warning signs like:
- Buckled floors
- Sagging ceilings
- Warped walls
- Misshapen window or door frames
- Pinholes in drywall
- Frass/carton (termite droppings)
How To Prevent Termites
Since termite treatment is so complex and expensive, your anti-termite measures should focus on prevention over cure. The good news is there’s a lot you can do to make your home less attractive to these destructive devils. Take measures like:
- Use dehumidifiers to remove moisture from basements and other humid areas.
- Replace rotten or water-damaged wood inside or around your home.
- Get rid of rotten logs or dead trees that could attract termites.
- Keep a six-inch barrier between your home and all garden mulch.
- Trim tree branches and shrubs away from your house.
Annual inspections are another vital part of your anti-termite plan. Having professional inspections can help you catch termite problems much earlier than you otherwise would on your own. Skilled technicians can intercept termite issues at even the earliest stages of infestation. You might not notice termites until they’ve done enough damage for you to see it from the outside or that the colony has matured enough to start sending out swarms.
At Augustine Exterminators, INC, our expert technicians have experience with annual termite prevention and eliminating any size termite infestation. We stay on top of the latest and greatest termite control technologies so you can rest assured that the termites in your wall will never come back. So give us a call or visit our contact page to schedule your termite inspection today!