Facts About Termites
Many people know that termites can be a major problem for the wood around your home. These little bugs not only cause a lot of damage, but it can also hit the pockets just as hard. Here are a few tips to help you keep your home safely protected during termite season.
Why Do Termites Eat Wood?
According to Pestworld.org, termites consume not only wood but dead plants, trees, paper, and plastic. They enjoy cellulose which provides them the nutrients they need to survive. Cellulose is found in these materials which makes for an easy and nice meal for them to munch on throughout their lifetime. Termite jaws are built for breaking apart and eating wood, making them a bothersome and dangerous threat.
How Are Termites Getting Into My Home?
Termites will come into your home through the foundation blocks, through shrinkage cracks, exterior walls, and anywhere where the concrete has been opened up (i.e. penetration through pipes). Termites create mud tubes underneath your home to reach the foundation. They will then burrow into your walls, eating away at the structure of your home.
How to Spot a Termite Infestation?
Termites are particularly hard to get rid of. They have a very long lifespan with queens living up to 30 years according to Pestworld.org. They are slow at building a colony large enough to see so it could be hard to determine how much of a problem you have in the early stages of the termite infestation. If you see piles of broken-off wings, mud tubes along walls, studs, floor joists, sill plate, and baseboards. On the exterior: mud tubes on the walls, in the mulch, woodpiles, stumps, etc., you most likely have a termite infestation.
What To Do If You Have a Termite Infestation.
Typically, termite infestations are not manageable without pest control help. In larger cases like basements, attics, decks, and patios, you need quite a lot of bait stations or pesticides to stop the problem completely. If you feel as though you have a termite infestation, contact a professional exterminator at Epcon Lane to assess the situation and not only stop the problem but also ensure you are protected year-round.
Past and Present Termite Treatment
Throughout the past few decades, there have been a variety of treatment plans for termites. We are here to walk you through the past, present, and future of termite control in Akron, Ohio and surrounding areas.
Past Termite Treatment
In the ’80s, pest control companies used chlordane, a strong man-made chemical, to combat termites. Due to environmental concerns, the chemical is now banned. Companies have created substitute chemicals with varying success to eliminate termites in your home.
Present Termite Treatment
At Epcon Lane, we take a different approach. To uphold our promise of minimal environmental impact, we use a baiting method. Not only is it safer, but it also works better! A baiting method eliminates termites from your home, rather than erecting a barrier around your house.
We use a method called Exterra (coined from the words “exterminate,” “termite,” and “terra”). We install the Exterra stations in your lawn and monitor them for signs of termites. When a station is disturbed, our exterminator baits it, removing termite remains and re-baiting as necessary. The process is repeated until the termites are gone. Simple but effective!
How to Prevent Termites
There is good news when it comes to termite infestations. Termite and wood boring insect damage can be caught early or avoided completely when working together with a licensed inspector to safeguard the biggest investment most people make, your home. The following are some great tips that you as a homeowner can do to help in the prevention of termite infestation.
- Protect the foundation by making sure all downspouts, gutters, etc. are diverting water away from the structure.
- Keep crawl spaces free of humidity with proper ventilation.
- Do not allow the soil to come in contact with wood portions of the structure.
- Keep firewood stored off the ground and at least 20′ from the structure.
- Keep mulch away from the foundation.
Our inspectors are licensed through the state of Ohio and are able to give you a thorough evaluation of your home and offer advice to keep pests at bay. Not only with termites but our TermiPest+ Program can help keep an additional 50+ pests outside before they enter your home.
Contact Local Termite Exterminators
Instead of suffering the expense and trouble (not to mention the creeping damage to your largest personal investment—your home!), why not call Epcon Lane? We give you peace of mind as we handle your pest problems with efficiency, thoroughness, and consideration of the environment. Call Epcon Lane today for expert pest control in Ohio.