Termites are a nightmare for any homeowner. Not only are they generally disgusting to live with, but they can also do a lot of damage to your home. They feed on wood and often get into the framework of your house, causing what can be catastrophic damage. If you see a termite, you need to act fast, since they tend to multiply quickly and the damage they cause can move quickly. Here are the steps you need to take if you think you might have a termite infestation.
Confirm That You Have An Infestation
There are a few signs you can look for if you think you might be dealing with a termite issue. Sagging floors, holes in wood and hollow wood are all pretty common signs of a termite infestation. As mentioned before, termites feed on wood, so that’s where you’re likely to see the signs. If you’re seeing any of these problems, it’s probable that your termite issue is already progressed quite far. Another thing you can look for is mud tunnels, which termites use to travel around with the food that they’ve gathered.
Call A Professional Pest Control Team
The next thing you need to do is call a professional team to come in and do an inspection. Termites are one of the pest control issues that are best left to the pros. They can be difficult to spot, and even harder to get rid of. The first thing they’ll do is come in and asses the issue with an inspection. This means going over all the areas of your house (especially the known termite problem spots) and figuring out the details of the issue, including what they’re after, where they’re hiding and how they got in in the first place.
Getting Rid Of The Problem
Once they’ve gathered all the information they need about the problem at hand, they’ll go over with you their plan to get rid of it. They should be able to put your mind at ease as they explain exactly what they’ll be doing and how. If you have any concerns, feel free to voice them, and ask as many questions as you like. This can be especially important for those with kids or pets living in the home. If you’re uncomfortable with the contents of any of the products the pest control tech suggests, make sure you mention it beforehand, so that they can review alternatives with you. Once you’re comfortable, the techs will get started on taking out all of the pests in your home, with the methods you discussed.
Prevention In The Future
The last step you and your pest control technician will tackle is preventing the issue from coming back. This step involves your pest tech discussing the information they gathered during the inspection, including how the bugs got in and what was attracting them. They’ll give you some suggestions on how to avoid these pitfalls in the future. They’ll also go over some options for periodic pest inspections that you can schedule ahead of time in order to make sure your house is still pest free.
