There are many things you can do to make your home more inviting to people. You can paint your walls a bright color. You can bake cookies in the oven before guests arrive. You can play gentle music to fill the spaces indoors. What most homeowners do not think about is how they might be making their home more inviting to pests, like termites. Let’s talk about this today. Today's article addresses what you need to do to stop inviting different types of termites to your San Diego home. Contact Green Flash Pest Control if you think your home has an active termite infestation. Let us offer some simple options for pest control in San Diego to remove these destructive insects fast.
How To Identify A Termite Infestation In Your Home
It is only easy to know that termites are around when an infestation becomes severe and damage is noticeable. Early infestations are much more difficult to identify. The only two early signs of termites are the presence of swarmers (winged termites) around the exterior of a structure, and mud tubes. Mud tubes are pencil-width and usually run up the exterior of foundations to bridge the gap between soil and structural wood. Common signs of a more severe infestation include tight-fitting windows and doors, overly squeaky floorboards, sagging floors and ceilings, spots of discoloration on floors, walls, and ceilings, bubbling wallpaper, and hollow-sounding wood. For help spotting these pests inside your home early, schedule a thorough inspection. We have a great termite identification service at Green Flash Pest Control and we would be happy to pay your property a visit.
The Extent Of Damage Termites Can Cause To Your Home
Termites will not level your home in a month. They usually don’t even severely damage a home in a year. A fresh infestation takes a while to grow and usually damages a few two by fours worth of wood within the first year. The problem is that termites are silent. Signs of infestation do not show up till after damage starts becoming severe. By the time you notice a problem, support beams will be hollowed out, joists will start to deteriorate, and moisture damage will be rampant. If you ignore early signs of damage, more serious problems will arise, such as sagging floors, buckling support beams, visible pathways through wood, and the threat of total structural failure. Our job is to help members of our community spot termite problems before they lead to these severe issues. If you need help, we recommend starting with a thorough inspection and then considering some simple DIY prevention options.
Natural Ways To Make Your Home Less Appealing To Termites
There is no denying that professional termite control is the absolute best way to deter these pests. This does not mean, however, that there aren’t great natural options that will reduce your chances of an infestation. To help you today, here is a comprehensive list of prevention tips that will make your home less appealing to termites.
- Clean up sticks, leaves, cardboard, and newspaper from your yard.
- Remove fallen or dead trees from your property.
- Eliminate sources of water build-up on your property.
- Make sure your gutters are clean and working properly.
- Fill in holes, gaps, and cracks around your home’s exterior using some silicone caulk.
- Address damage to windows and doors and make sure they are properly sealed.
- Use a dehumidifier indoors to keep down moisture.
- Make sure you are using the vents above your stove and in your bathroom.
- Repair or replace structural wood that is water-damaged, rotting, or in decay.
If you do not have time to implement these preventative strategies on your property or you are looking for a more effective way to control termites, bring in our team at Green Flash Pest Control.
Call The Pros For The Best Termite Control And Protection
There are three tiers to termite control, DIY prevention, yearly professional inspections and services if termites are found, and year-round termite control. What you chose for your home depends on what level of protection you are looking for. Let our team at Green Flash Pest Control talk you through your options so that you can make an informed decision. You might find that our yearly control options are more than affordable and that they are a great fit for your San Diego home and property.
Call us now if you have any unanswered questions about the termites in San Diego or if you are ready to make an appointment for your home and property.