Pest Control Blog | San Joaquin Pest Control

I Think I Have a Termite Problem - What Do I Do Now?

Written by Stephanie Morgan | Nov 11, 2015 1:00:00 PM

So you think you have termites: don’t panic. This is a problem, but it’s a very slow moving one. Termites are tireless eaters who will consume your wood 24/7, but they’re also very small. It’s going to take them some time to cause significant damage.

However, make no mistake: these little critters will wreck the inner structure of your home if you let them be. But we’re going to discuss exactly how to get rid of this little pests. First, let’s ensure we really are dealing with termites.

  • Why Do You Think You Have a Termite Problem?

What did you see that made you believe you had termites? Did you actually see a termite inside a living area of the home? That’s a bad sign; that termite is very lost, and that usually happens when an infestation has spread throughout the home. But if you merely suspect that you have termites, we have to be certain. Have you seen any of the following?

Piles of discarded wings: When termites establish a new colony, they sprout wings and “swarm.” Once the location has been established, the termites shed the wings in giant piles.

Mud tubes: These small mud tunnels can be found on exterior walls or on your foundation. Termites use them to travel safely to and from the nest.

Hollow-sounding wood: If you suspect termites in a specific area of the home, check if the wood in that area is hollow. You can accomplish this by knocking soundly on an individual piece of lumber.

  • I Definitely Have Termites. What Do I Do Now?

Well, that depends on the extent of the infestation. If the infestation is small, you have several options available to you. These include heat treatment, baited traps, spraying termiticide and the Electro-Gun. Since the infestation is confined to one spot, we don’t have to worry about eliminating stragglers.

However, once the infestation has spread throughout the home, structural fumigation is your only reliable option. There are simply too many hiding places in the home for termites, so fumigation is necessary to penetrate every area of the house.