Top Termite Control Questions (With Answers)
Compared to common pests that invade homes or workplaces, such as ants and cockroaches, termites are probably the most destructive and difficult to figure out. These tiny creatures will hide in your walls, crawl spaces, roof void, or other inaccessible areas for years without your knowledge. By the time you notice them, a huge portion of your home's wooden foundation has been eaten.
Whether your home has had a termite infestation or you're looking to protect your property from future infestations, you likely have some questions about termite control. Here are three of the most asked questions.
How Do You Tell If Your Home Has Termites?
This question can be challenging to answer because unless you have evidence of swarms (flying termites) or you have noticed some damage, termites are often unseen. They rarely leave the soil, wood tunnels, or mud tubes they create. That said, the damage they cause may give them away. Check out for blisters in wood flooring, hollowed wood, and cracked plaster or paint on walls.
If you have seen swarms, confirm whether you're dealing with a termite swarm or an ant swarm, as these two can be confusing. Termite swarms have straight antennae with front and hind wings of equal length, while ant swarms have elbowed antennae with front wings longer than hind wings.
To avoid all the trouble, you can also call a pest control professional to inspect your home and determine if there is a termite problem.
How Do Pest Control Professionals Eliminate Termites?
Pest control professionals utilize a wide range of treatments for termites, depending on various factors like the infestation size, where the termites are located, and your preferences. For starters, some treatments fall under the chemical treatment category. They include soil-applied termiticide barriers, termiticide-treated building materials (pre-construction), applied wood treatments (post-construction), and termite baits.
It's worth noting that termiticides should only be left to qualified pest control technicians. If misused, they can contaminate your home and ground drinking water wells. Termite baits have reduced risks to humans and the environment, but they also use slow-acting termiticides, so let them be handled by pros as well.
Each Exterminator Claims the Termiticide They're Using Is the Best. Who Do You Believe?
An exterminator may prefer a certain termiticide based on their interactions or experiences with that product. Also, product performance can vary between different locations because of factors like soil type and type of termites. Therefore, it's highly likely the preferences of your exterminator are quite valid.
Again, reputable pest control professionals will first inspect your home and the soil type before determining the products to use. Thus, you should focus more on getting a trained and certified exterminator instead of worrying about termiticides. And if you have a preference for a particular product, you can always suggest it to them. Go to sites like this one for more information.