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There are three main forms of termites: drywood, dampwood and subterranean. Every type of termite colony includes employees (who consume your house), soldiers (who defend others from predators such as ants) and swarmers (flyers that find new places 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 absolute, tan wings but there are colour variations. Workers are pale, tan and look like maggots, with no wings.
Dampwood termites are much like drywood termites, often with a tan or brown body and absolute wings. These workers also resemble maggots.
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Drywood termites are partial to dry, nondecayed timber and often end up in attics, flooring boards and window frames.
Dampwood termites such as decaying wood or timber that is rich with moisture. They often strike 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 home through small cracks, often around window frames through cracks in the caulk. Make sure you check around windows frequently 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. For instance, when you hammer up Christmas lights then take the nails out, you leave behind little holes and create an open doorway for a termite colony. .
Subterranean termites often burrow into cracks in the homes foundation. In regions like the San Francisco Bay Area, many houses have increased foundations, Wilson states. Termites build mud tubes up to the bottom floor, often along posts. But even in the absence of articles, Wilson states , mud tubes can extend from the ground up through thin atmosphere to connect with the base of the home. .
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So what can you do if you find a termite in your house when you see one shed wing or one termite flying by, it doesnt mean you've got an infestation. But if you find a group of wings or any of the other warning signs noted above, its best to get a professional inspection.
Termites are actually easy to kill, Wilson states, but you need a termiticide to perform it. Unfortunately, superior pesticides are not available to the general public. Most home stores promote termite spray, but those look what i found are watered down to meet public safety specifications, so theyre not as successful.
If you've got an infestation that's isolated to one part of your house, say the door trim, you can replace the trimming, 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 get cut away from the house at the ground. Pacific Coast Termites makes a chemical barrier between any areas of grime and the house, as well as around the entire home. It acts as a shield the termites cant break through.
Drywood and dampwood termites can be killed with a wood treatment product such as XT2000 Orange Oil, which is injected under pressure into the wood through ink-pen-sized holes. This item saturates the wood and will prevent future infestations. Treating a moderate infestation this manner takes approximately four to six hours.
Homes that are massively infested (you can see termites everywhere) can require fumigation. Either a huge tent is placed over your house, or all the doors and windows are sealed, and the residence is gassed with pesticide that will kill all the termites. This procedure can take anywhere from six hours to one week, depending on the type of infestation.
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Employ a good, quality coating of exterior paint on your property, since termites wont eat through paint. Ensure that all windows, doorframes and foundation openings are caulked and sealed. Dont basic or nail up Christmas lights then pull them down. Even the tiny holes create termite homes. Instead, either leave the nails in the pockets year-round or fill out the holes when you remove the nails. .
Instantly solve any plumbing leaks, standing water on your roof or other issues involving decaying wood. Provide appropriate ventilation under your raised home to keep that region dry. Subterranean termites love wetness.