Discovering that your home is under a termite infestation is, perhaps, one of the nightmarish situations you have faced or must face as a homeowner. This is because termites are some of the most elusive pests out there.
Termite as known to be silent destroyers, chewing through wood without any visible signs of damage. Therefore, you may not notice that your home is being eaten by these wood-loving pests until it is too late, by which time the structure supporting your home or furniture might prove weak due to the prolonged infestation by termites.
Taking control of the situation is important in ensuring you can protect your home from irreparable damages early enough. Choosing an effective control method for dealing with a termite infestation in your home begins now you discover that termites are in your space.
Termite Control Methods
You can select from different control methods and end-up with the one that is likely to give the best results in dealing with the termite infestation. Here is a list of some of the effective control methods of dealing with a termite infestation in your home.
Use Termiticides, But With Caution
Termiticides are specifically manufactured to deal with termite infestation problems. However, the problem with using Termiticides is the possible contamination of the environment. Water sources and other areas of the environment can get contaminated with the chemicals used in clearing the termite infestation. Considering the risk of contamination, it is worthwhile exploring the alternative termite control methods.
Consider Using Other Types of Chemicals
Apart from using Termiticides for the control of termite infestation, you can make use of a range of alternative chemicals. The main difference between other chemicals and Termiticides is the mode of application.
The chemicals are applied to the soil bordering the wooden structure around the house. The chemicals are then soaked into the soil and prevent the termites from creeping from underneath the surface.
Similar to the case of using Termiticides, the use of other strong termite-control chemicals necessitates extra caution. The chemicals can cause contamination in the environment and affect the normal lives of individuals around the home. Animals and pets around the house might also be at risk of poisoning when the chemicals are applied with less caution.
Make Your Structure Inaccessible to Termites
Many cases of termite infestation arise because of the way construction is done. The direct contact between wood frames and the soil gives termites easy access to your home. Poor ventilation spaces between the wooden frames and the soil gives termites the conducive environment to spread from the soil and into the home.
Since there will be much visible signs of damage, termites and chew away your wood without you noticing for months, sometimes years. Reinforcing your home with a concrete base is a good idea of dealing with termite infestations during construction. You should also cover all exposed wood surfaces with a sealant.
The use of barriers will ensure that termites around the home will not gain entry inside the house. In most cases setting up barriers around your home structure proves an effective method compared to the alternative approaches. Making your home inaccessible to termites will necessitate periodic checks to ensure that termites remain away from the exposed wooden surfaces.
Check out for Leaks and Fix them immediately
Leaks from broken pipes might cause you more damage than you can think of. As the leaks occur, the wooden structure around the lean dampens and provides a conducive environment for termite infestation. The termites can easily bore through dampened wood and quickly spread to all other parts of the wooden structure.
The process of drying already dampened wood might also prove challenging in the course termite control processes. Staying on the look-out through conducting periodic checks of your home will ensure there are no leaks that will cause further damage.
Repairing leaks also requires caution. When done in a hurry and unprofessional manner, leaks can occur again and give way to termite infestation in your home. You can repair leaking areas on your own or call for the assistance of professional teams. Dealing with the problem of dampening areas goes a long way in ensuring termites lack the conducive environment for further infestation.
Clear bushes and trees that are too near your house structure
While it might sound like a step that is harmful to the natural environment, clearing bushes and trees around the house structure could save your home from termite attacks. Bushes and trees can host termites for long periods of time.
As the termites come into contact with exposed wood surfaces, the infestation of your home begins. Clearing the areas near your house could end up saving you the headaches and time wasted from having to deal with termites.
The pest control company might have to do regular checks around the hose structure as the natural plants tend to spread fast. Clearing the vegetation on time will help you save on the additional costs of exterminating termites. The use of this preventive method will prove cheaper in the long-run and have a lower impact on the natural environment.
Avoid Piling Wood and Other Debris that is not in Use
It is common to have unused piles of wood lying around hear your home. This debris might remain piles near your home for prolonged periods of time. The “undisturbed” woodpiles provide a conducive environment for termite infestation.
Plywoods and other types of wood left lying around the compound can attract termites and give them the space of homing in. Clearing and getting rid of unused wood piles remains an effective approach toward controlling termite infestations.
Use Chemicals as Termite Bait
Working with a professional termite control service provider will enable the use of termite bait. Chemicals meant to eliminate the termites are set as bait for the pests, and the chemical composition of the bait attracts the termites.
Once the termites touch the toxins and return to their mounds, they contaminate the entire infested area. This approach is highly effective as the chemicals used in the process of baiting termites are not meant to deal with other types of pests.
Summary
The different termite control options have both advantages and disadvantages. The use of one termite control approach could focus on the level of severity of the infestation. Moreover, some of the control methods can bring harm to the natural environment and humans in the vicinity.
Choosing the right control methods with the least impact on the environment and human health may prove challenging, and almost certainly you need expertise in this area to provide a good balance. This warrants the involvement of a professional termite control company.
In addition to the certifications for the performance of termite extermination processes, professional teams can recommend a suitable control approach based on the severity of infestation.
The individuals with professional experience in dealing with termite infestations will also offer periodic visits to ensure your home is free from termite invasions. The observation and sealing-off of areas that can act as entry points for termites will go a long way in ensuring that the termite infestation problem is dealt with in a definite manner.
