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There are 3 main types of termites: drywood, dampwood and subterranean. Every type of termite colony includes workers (who consume your house), soldiers (who defend other people from predators such as ants) and swarmers (flyers that find new areas to colonize). Although you dont generally see termites unless theyre swarming (flying), its great to know how to identify them, Wilson says.
Drywood termites commonly have a brown body with a reddish head. Swarmers have sheer, tan wings although there are colour variations. Employees are pale, tan and look like maggots, with no wings.
Dampwood termites are similar to 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 wood and often end up in attics, floor boards and window frames.
Dampwood termites such as decaying wood or wood that's rich with moisture. They often attack wood that's making contact with the ground and are found in regions with high rainfall or humidity.
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Drywood and dampwood termites enter your house through small cracks, often around window frames through cracks in the caulk. Be sure to check around windows regularly and reapply caulk when it begins to show signs of age and cracking. Swarmers lose their wings and burrow into the timber. Cracks in paint are another simple access point for termites.
Be mindful of maintaining your outside paint. As an example, when you hammer up 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 such as the San Francisco Bay Area, a lot homes have raised check this site out foundations, Wilson states. Termites build mud tubes up to the bottom floor, often along posts. But even in the absence of posts, Wilson says, mud tubes can extend from the ground up through thin atmosphere to connect with the bottom of the home. .
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So what can you do if you find a termite in your house If you see one drop wing or one termite flying by, it doesnt mean you have an infestation. But if you find a group of shed wings or any of the other warning signs noted above, its best to get a professional inspection.
Termites are in fact simple to kill, Wilson says, however you need a termiticide to perform it. Unfortunately, good pesticides are not available to the public. Most home stores sell termite spray, but those are watered down to meet public safety specifications, so theyre not as effective.
If you've got an infestation that's isolated to one part of your home, say the door trimming, you can substitute the trim, Wilson says. But in case you've got a full-on termite infestation, you need a larger scale treatment.
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Subterranean termites must be cut off from the home at the ground. Pacific Coast Termites makes a chemical barrier between any regions of grime and the house, in addition to around the entire home. It acts as a shield that the termites cant break through.
Drywood and dampwood termites can be murdered with a timber treatment product like XT2000 Orange Oil, which is injected under pressure into the timber through ink-pen-sized holes. This item saturates the wood and will prevent future infestations. Treating a moderate infestation this manner takes about four to six hours.
Homes that are exceptionally infested (you can see termites everywhere) can require fumigation. Either a massive tent is put over your home, or all of the doors and windows are sealed, and the residence is gassed with pesticide that can kill each of the termites. This process can take anywhere from six hours to one week, depending on the kind of infestation.
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Apply a good, quality coat of exterior paint on your property, since termites wont eat through paint. Ensure that all windows, doorframes and foundation gaps are caulked and sealed. Dont staple or nail up Christmas lights then pull them down. The tiny holes create termite homes. Instead, either leave the nails in the pockets year-round or fill out the holes when you eliminate the nails. .
Instantly solve any plumbing leaks, standing water on your roof or other difficulties involving decaying wood. Provide appropriate ventilation under your elevated home to maintain that region dry. Subterranean termites love wetness.