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There are 3 main types of termites: drywood, dampwood and subterranean. Each kind of termite colony includes employees (who consume your home ), soldiers (who defend others from predators such as ants) and swarmers (flyers that locate new areas to colonize). Though you dont generally see termites unless theyre swarming (flying), its great to know how to identify them, Wilson says.
Drywood termites commonly possess a brown body with a red head. Swarmers have sheer, tan wings although there are colour variations. Employees are light, tan and look like maggots, with no wings.
Dampwood termites are much like drywood termites, often with a tan or brown body and sheer wings. These employees also resemble maggots.
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Drywood termites are partial to dry, nondecayed timber and often end up in attics, floor boards and window frames.
Dampwood termites such as decaying wood or timber that is loaded with moisture. They often attack wood that is making contact with the ground and are found in areas 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 home. Make sure you check around windows regularly and reapply caulk when it begins to show signs of age and cracking. Swarmers lose their wings and float into the timber. Cracks in paint are another easy access point for termites.
Be mindful of maintaining your exterior paint. As an example, when you hammer up Christmas lights then take the nails out, you leave behind small holes and produce an open door for a termite colony. .
Subterranean termites often seep into cracks in the homes foundation. In regions such as the San Francisco Bay Area, a lot houses have increased foundations, Wilson states. Termites build mud tubes up to the floor, often along posts. But even in the absence of posts, Wilson says, mud tubes can stretch from the ground up through thin atmosphere to connect with the base of the home. .
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So what do you do if you find a termite in your home If you see one drop wing or one termite flying by, it doesnt mean you've got an infestation. But if you visit this site 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, good pesticides are not readily available to the general public. Most home stores promote termite spray, but these are watered down to meet check over here public security specifications, so theyre not as successful.
If you've got an infestation that's isolated to one portion of your house, say the door trim, you can substitute the trim, Wilson says. But if you have a full-on termite infestation, you need a larger scale treatment.
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Subterranean termites must be cut away from the home at the soil. Pacific Coast Termites creates a chemical barrier between any regions of dirt and the house, as well as around the entire home. It functions as a shield that the termites cant break through.
Drywood and dampwood termites can be murdered 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 timber and will prevent future infestations. Treating a moderate infestation this way takes about four to six hours.
Homes that are exceptionally infested (you can see termites everywhere) can require fumigation. Either a huge tent is put over your house, or all the doors and windows are sealed, and the home is gassed with pesticide that will kill all 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 consume through paint. Ensure that all windows, doorframes and foundation gaps are caulked and sealed. find out here Dont staple or nail up Christmas lights then pull them down. Even the tiny holes make termite homes. Instead, either leave the nails in the pockets year-round or fill the holes when you eliminate the nails. .
Quickly solve any plumbing leaks, standing water on your roof or other difficulties involving decaying wood. Provide proper ventilation under your elevated home to keep that region dry. Subterranean termites love wetness.