Each year termites cause billions of of dollars in damage to homes in the U.S., making them the most economically important wood destroying insects in the country.

By the time you actually see termites, they have likely already caused major damage to the structure of your home, so it’s important to discover their presence in your home before you actually happen to see a termite. Here’s some help:

Termites In Your Home? Follow the Moisture.

Termites thrive on moisture in the home. Homes stand a higher chance of termite infestation if there is wood paneling or support touching the ground on the exterior of the home, if there are cracks in the foundation or if there are woodpiles or stumps near the home, which are breeding grounds for termites. However, it’s possible to get a termite infestation even if these elements aren’t present.

Termites In Your Home? Follow the Smell.

Not only can termites do actual structural damage, but they can also cause odor due to their fecal pellets. These fecal pellets also cause discoloration and blisters on your walls, and you may have to replace them completely in order to get rid of the smell and the unsightly stains. Credits: The Trouble with Termites: How Termites Can Ruin Your Home

Termites In Your Home? Look for Mud Tubes.

You can easily identify Eastern subterranean termites by finding mud tubes. These species can survive only underground, as they need high moisture levels to thrive. They build mud tubes to maintain the requisite humidity levels. They use these tunnels to travel back and forth outside of the colony to gain access to wood and to forage for food. They construct the mud tunnel on anything that comes in direct contact with the ground. These tubes are usually between 1/4 to 1 inch wide, and are generally found in basements, the outside foundation of a home, or protruding from cracks between boards and beams.

Termites In Your Home? Look at the wood.

Other signs of a termite invasion include paint bubbles and small holes in wood. Also, when wood has been attached from the underneath, a hollow sound will emanate from the wood once you tap it with a blunt object or hammer. This indicates the presence of termites within the space they have created inside the structural wood. Credits: DIY Termite Control Options – How To Kill Termites Yourself

When termites are present they eat away at the wood rapidly, leaving it rough and hollow, and oftentimes leaving behind mud and dirt. Credits: 4 Easy tips to expel termite | Home Design, Decorating and Interior …

Termites In Your Home? Not If You Make Sure They Don’t Get There In the First Place.

We recommend these tips for controlling termites:

• Seal cracks and holes on the outside of the home including entry points for utilities and pipes.
• Keep basements, attics and crawl spaces well ventilated and dry.
• Repair leaking faucets, water pipes and AC units.
• Repair fascia and soffits and rotted roof shingles. Some termites are drawn to deteriorating wood.
• Replace weather stripping and repair loose mortar around basement foundation and windows.
• Store firewood at least 20 feet away from the house and 5 inches off the ground.
• Routinely inspect the foundation of your home for signs of mud tubes (used by termites to reach a food source), cracked or bubbling paint and wood that sounds hollow when tapped.
• Direct water away from your house through properly functioning downspouts, gutters and splash blocks.
• Visit Pestworld.org to find a qualified pest professional for additional advice and treatment if necessary.
  

 Credits: What To Do If You Have Termites – Hulett Pest Control

The most effective way to rid your home of termites is to consult a pest control expert who can help identify the problem and the extent of the damage, rid your home of termites and lay down additional materials to protect against future infestations.

Call ApolloX Pest Control

(888) 499-7378

The post Termites In Your Home? How Do You Know? appeared first on Pest Control.

This problem becomes larger the warmer your climate. In the Northeastern U.S. you won’t find termites entering a home through the firewood pile, but other dangerous pests may gain an entrance. If you live in the Northeastern U.S., see our article: “Termites In Northeastern Firewood Piles.”

Termites in Your Firewood Pile: Just the beginning…

Pests like termites, stink bugs, and Boxelder bugs can take up residence in wood piles during the winter. From there they can migrate into your home, where they can cause even more annoyances or, in the case of termites, severe structural damage over time. Strictly speaking, termites aren’t actually any more active in winter than they are in summer, but using firewood brings an added risk to your home.

Termites in Your Firewood Pile: A Homeowner’s Experience

We heard the story of a home owner who created a huge stack of firewood in his garage–enough to heat his home through the winter. Weeks later he noticed a little motion in the pile, examined it more closely and discovered chunks of wood infested with termites. He had no idea the extent of the infestation, and needed to have his entire home treated. The treatment was better than the consequences of ignoring the problem. Termites have been known to bring an entire structure down!

Termites in Your Firewood Pile: What to do?

Have you noticed bugs in your firewood pile? Don’t let the problem go. The presence of any bugs can indicate the possible presence of termites.

Call ApolloX Pest Control

(888) 499-7378

Termites In Your Firewood Pile: Don’t let them get there in the first place.

To keep termites, stink bugs, and other bugs out of your firewood, be sure to store it off the ground and away from the house. Placing your pile of firewood on a raised, plastic platform will prevent most bugs from entering the wood in the first place. If you keep your firewood outside all year long, storing it under sheets of plastic can help kill any bugs by raising the temperature underneath and overheating the insects.

When it does come time to bring firewood inside, be sure to inspect it carefully. While other, non-termite insects can burrow and leave tunnels, they’re a good indicator of whether or not any bugs have infested your wood.

Credits: How to Manage Your Winter Pest Problem – Lifehacker

Preventing Termites In Your Firewood Pile: Easier than removing them.

Know that preventing an infestation is much easier than removing one!

Credits: How to Manage Your Winter Pest Problem – Lifehacker

Remember, if you see insects in your firewood pile, and your firewood pile is stacked against your home–or inside your garage:

Call ApolloX Pest Control

(888) 499-7378

Don’t risk a termite infestation!

The post Termites In Your Firewood Pile? appeared first on Pest Control.