It isn’t much of a secret that there are a multitude of pests outside. Many of whom would like nothing better than to find their way inside. Homeowners inadvertently attract pests like ants, cockroaches, mice, as well as termites every day without even being aware. Each pest that makes its way in can cause a lot of trouble inside a home, but the termite is special. This pest can move in and be there for years without anyone having any idea at all that their home is being consumed slowly from the inside out.
The termite eats cellulose. That means that their main source of food is plant based building materials. Wood, wallpaper glue, drywall, and even paper is fair game to these hungry little beasts who are eating 24 hours a day inside the walls. Over time, the termite can do considerable damage to the structure as well as the very foundation of the building costing thousands in repair costs.
Everyday homeowners set out the welcome mat for termites without having a clue that they have done so. Most of us are guilty at one time or another of neglecting home maintenance, we also invite these pests into our homes in ways we do not even think about.
Misidentification
We have gotten tons of calls over the years from folks who thought that those flying ants that they saw in the yard were just ants and ignored them or that the dark spot they saw on the ceiling was the result of some minor water damage. The fact is, termites, like ants, will swarm to find a suitable nesting spot and they are looking for items made of wood to do that. The damage spotted inside the living area of a home from termites is often mistaken at first for something else entirely.
Stumps and trees
Many of us have either old stumps from cut down trees or aging, rotting trees somewhere on our property. Both of those can attract a nest of termites to our yards. When they finish with those, it is only a matter of time before they find the house.
Dirt to structure contact
Subterranean termites, the most common termite in the U.S., make their homes in the dirt. From there, they tunnel up into the home especially if there is any underground wooden access.
Too much mulch
A lot of us love a beautiful garden. Mulch is often used to keep weeds down as well as give our flower beds a manicured look. Unfortunately, mulch is wood. Garden areas up against the home can spell trouble if we tend to go overboard on our use of mulch attracting subterranean termites quickly to our home.
Clogged gutters
Gutters can be a real problem. They can quickly be littered with twigs and leaves. With everything a homeowner has to do around their home, it’s no wonder gutter issues will often go unnoticed. Unfortunatley, clogged gutter can lead to water damaged wood, which is an attractant for termites.
Too many times termite protection is overlooked. We tend to not worry too much about things that we can’t see, but the fact is, most of us will not see evidence that we have a termite problem until it is far too late. Termites cause billions of dollars in damage all over the country each year. By the time that the damage is visible to the average homeowner, the repair costs could be insurmountable.
The good news is that this does not have to happen to you. Spencer Pest Services offers the Sentricon® System with Always Active™ to not only eliminate termites but to keep them away all year long. Sentricon® with Always Active™ is a baiting system that attracts the termites away from the wood of a building. They then feed on the bait and take it back to share with the nest. In just a little while the termites are gone. After that, trained technicians will monitor the bait stations to assure that your home is never attacked again. Put an end to termite damage and give Spencer Pest Services a call today.