Termites are a common problem among Houston homeowners. It is difficult to tell if you have an infestation, but it's also nearly impossible to get rid of house termites on your own. While termites don't bite or transmit diseases to humans, they can do some real damage to wooden structures. Termites are dangerous because they can cause severe structural damage in just six months.
If you think you have a termite problem, but you're not quite sure - read on. In this article, we explore the different types of termites found in Houston, how they can destroy your home, and why hiring pest control in Houston is the best way to get rid of them completely.
The Types Of Termites Found In Houston
There are several types of termites all around the U.S. Some termites here in Houston are:
- Formosan Termites - Formosan Termites are ½ an inch long and creamy white to brown. Their heads are rounded on the sides and tapered toward the front. These termites are important to look out for as they are the most aggressive and can have up to 350,000 workers in a colony.
- Drywood Termites - Drywood termites are ⅜ - 1 inch long and are creamy white to light brown. These termites don't have a worker caste, but they do have colonies of up to 2500 members. Some signs of these termites in your home include finding shed termite wings, termite frass (feces that look like sawdust), and small, round holes in wood.
- Subterranean Termites - These termites are about ⅛ of an inch long, range in color from creamy white to dark brown, and have long oval-shaped bodies. You can tell if you have these termites if you find mud tubes on the exterior of your home, darkened wood structures, or bubbling and uneven paint. Subterranean termites can be found all over the U.S.
While there are many different kinds of termites, all of them pose a serious risk to your property and should be handled by a professional.
How Termites Can Slowly And Silently Destroy Your Home
The reason why termites are so frightening is that they can slowly destroy your home without you even knowing it and, sometimes, until it's too late. The name of the game for a termite is a slow one. They slowly eat away at the wood of your house, but while they do so, they also grow their colonies. The largest termite colonies can eat up to a pound of wood per day.
Of course, any severe damage caused by termites usually takes a solid year. The danger, however, is if you don't get yearly termite inspections, and they continue eating away at your home without you knowing.
Is There A Way To Prevent Termites In My Home?
There are several ways to help prevent termites in your home. One way is to seal up any cracks or crevices around your home's exterior to help keep swarmers out. Another way is to make sure no water can accumulate around your foundation. Following that, it's best to repair any leaky faucets, pipes, and A/C units and ventilate crawl spaces, basements, and attics. Finally, be sure to store firewood at least 20 feet away from your home and eliminate wood-to-soil contact as much as possible.
The Best Way To Get Rid Of Termites And Keep Them Away
Getting a yearly termite inspection for your home should be a part of your regular home upkeep. Though getting an inspection won't automatically keep them away, it will help you identify if you have a problem in the first place; then, you can take the necessary action and call someone to exterminate them for you. There's no question; the best way to get rid of termites is to hire a professional. Here at All-Safe Pest & Termite, we understand how to identify a termite problem and safely eliminate it.