Discovering that your house has termites can quickly send you into panic mode. There are plenty of horror stories out there about these pests. Termites are known to cause major problems for homeowners because they can eat through the structural wood of your home creating extensive and costly damage. The best way to combat the panic that can accompany a recently discovered termite infestation is to have a plan. Now that you have discovered a problem it is time to decide what to do next.
Confirm that termites are the problem
If you discover damaged wood under or around your home it could be because of termites. But, there are other things that can cause damage to wood as well. Water and other types of animal activity can cause damage to wood. In addition, wood rot can occur over time when wood is exposed to the elements and not properly maintained. Before you do any type of treatment for termites it is important to confirm that the damage you observed was actually caused by termites. You can do this by looking for other signs of termites such as their mud tubes. Another, more effective idea, is to have a termite inspector look at your home to confirm your suspicions.
Deal with anything around your home that may attract termites
It is possible that you are inadvertently attracting termites to your home. A stack of firewood stored against your home is an invitation to termites. Other things that can cause issues include wood mulch and shrubbery touching the house. Dealing with these factors can help reduce the likelihood that you attract more termites to your home after you eradicate the current problem.
Call a termite professional
This is really the most important step to take after you discover termites at your house. They are notoriously difficult to eradicate and require a level of knowledge and experience that most homeowners do not possess. Termites can cause significant damage to your home so you do not have the luxury of trying to treat the problem on your own and the wait to see how it turns out. If you take that route and the termites are not completely eradicated it can lead to even more damage to your home. Calling in a termite exterminator provides you with the highest likelihood of successfully getting rid of these stubborn pests.
The knowledge that you have termites in your home can be truly frightening. All of the unknowns about the extent of the infestation and the damage make it difficult not to imagine the worst-case-scenario. It is important to remember that your termite problem is not going away until you take some type of action. Enlist the help of a termite professional and start moving toward a solution for your termite infestation.
