termites chewing wood

When your house suffers a natural disaster, you probably don’t worry about the actual house first. Once you know that you and your family are okay, then you can begin thinking about the potential damage. While taking care of your property is important, everyone wants to be safe above all else. Once you get the facts on whether or not termites can be hazardous to your health, you’ll be able to reset your sights on prevention and eradication as well.

Are Termites Harmful?

Termites in Reno are well-known for their ability to chew through the wooden parts of a home, but many people misunderstand how long this process can take. By the time most homeowners realize they have incurred an infestation, termites will have already done thousands of dollars’ worth of damage (which takes at least a year-and-a-half).

While termites are one of the most destructive forces in nature, if you catch an infestation early, you can get professional help to eradicate the infestation to avoid costly damage. Another reason you’ll want to catch an infestation early is the potential health risks of termites. Although termites have never been linked to disease transmission like other pests, they can cause an allergic reaction in both adults and children. So… are termites harmful? Only if you don’t know how to spot an infestation early.

While you may never see worker termites eating your house from the inside-out, there are plenty of other signs you may be able to notice if you pay attention:

Mud tubes: the most common species of termites, subterranean termites, will create mud tubes out of soil and saliva up the sides of foundation walls in dark, hidden places.
Swarms: a termite swarm is their method of reproduction, which usually occurs during the springtime. If you see a group of “swarmers,” or winged termites, in a large, buzzing cloud on your property, you have an infestation.
Tightening around doors and windows: if your doors and windows become difficult to open and close, there may be internal damage to the frames due to termite activity.
Clicking noises in the walls: as soldier termites warn other termites of danger, you may be able to hear them if you listen closely.

How Can You Keep Them Out?

If you notice signs of a termite infestation, it is important to call a professional pest technician immediately. DIY eradication methods hardly ever get the whole infestation, so you’ll just be exposing yourself to more damage if you don’t get it taken care of.

Fortunately, there are some ways you can try to avoid a termite infestation in the first place. Since termites prefer to feed on moistened, rotting wood, controlling moisture buildup on your property is a must. The best ways to do this include:

Maintaining the lawn regularly
Monitoring pipes for leaks and repairing them when needed
Limiting condensation with dehumidifiers and fans
Expelling rain runoff away from the house with gutters and downspouts

Along with moisture control, limiting soil-to-wood contact is essential. If you allow termites to bump into your house while they crawl around under the soil, an infestation could quickly ensue. However, a 12- to 18-inch buffer of pine straw, gravel, or rubber mulch can help prevent this occurrence.

While these methods can help, there is no such thing as a guarantee when it comes to preventing termites on your own. Calling Pestmaster® Services, on the other hand, is a guaranteed method of prevention. Whether you have an infestation already or you want guaranteed prevention from these costly home-invaders, give us a call today to find out more about our innovative termite solutions.