Fort Worth Property Owners’ Helpful Termite Prevention Guide

Termites may not be much bigger than the size of an ant, but these pests can cost homeowners thousands of dollars in property damage. Preventing termites before they happen or catching them early is the key to saving money. Here’s what Fort Worth property owners should know about what a termite infestation is like, how you can prevent them, why annual inspections are so important, and the best form of termite protection for your Fort Worth home.

What A Termite Infestation Is Like For Fort Worth Properties

One of the reasons that termites cause so much damage is because the signs of an infestation often go unnoticed for long periods of time. Even with thousands or millions of termites living in your home, it can still take three to eight years on average for the damage to become obvious.

Although the signs of a termite problem may be more subtle, here’s what homeowners in Fort Worth should be looking for:

• Drywall that begins drooping or becomes discolored
• Wood that sounds hollow when you tap on walls or floors
• Paint on your walls that begins to peel or look like it’s been water-damaged
• Loose tiles from the added moisture that termites bring in
• Tiny, pin-sized holes in your wood walls or floors
• Laminate or wood floors that begin buckling over time
• Doors and windows that suddenly feel stuck or don’t fit their frames anymore
• Mud tubes located around the foundation of your home
• Maze-like patterns that appear when you inspect your walls, wooden floors, or other furniture in your home
• Termites flying in swarms around your property
• Discarded wings, which may look like fish scales, that get left behind after a termite swarm

Easy & Effective Termite Prevention Tips For Fort Worth Properties

Part of controlling termites is taking the necessary steps to prevent them before they infest your home. While these pests may be harder to prevent than others, here are some ways that Fort Worth homeowners can help stop termites from infesting their property:

• Keep moisture away from the foundation. Moisture is a big attraction for termites, and if you’re letting it touch or keeping it too close to your foundation, you’re creating an easy pathway into your home. Make sure you’re keeping gutters clear, taking care of plumbing issues, and regularly checking that the soil next to your foundation isn’t too moist.
• Eliminate wood-to-soil contact. When wood structures or wooden siding touches the soil near your home, this is another easy way for termite infestations to emerge. This can give termites easy access to food, so it’s usually a good idea to keep any wood siding or wood materials at least six inches off the ground. 
• Keep firewood away from your home. Even if you’re keeping your wood siding from touching the soil, stacking firewood against your home can provide termites with a food source. Make sure you’re storing firewood or woodpiles several feet from your house. 
• Reduce the moisture in crawlspaces. Vents that are obstructed by debris, wood, or even moisture and humidity can lure termites in. You can reduce the moisture and humidity in crawlspaces by installing a vent or vapor barrier and regularly keeping debris away from your crawlspace.

Why Annual Termite Inspections In Fort Worth Are Necessary

Even with taking the necessary steps to help prevent termites, these infestations can still happen. Watching for the signs of termite damage can help you catch these pests early, but the best way to find termites before they’ve caused too much damage is by getting an annual inspection from a pest control company. A specialist will not only know where and what to look for, but if there are termites in your home, they can recommend treatment and help identify the amount of damage caused.

The Best Termite Protection For Fort Worth Properties

Whether you suspect you’ve got termites or just want to schedule an annual inspection of your home, the best way to rid your home of termites is by contacting us at All-Safe Pest & Termite. With years of experience protecting Fort Worth homes from termite damage, we’ve dealt with infestations of every size. If you suspect you’ve got termites in your Fort Worth home, there’s only one thing to do – call us today at All-Safe Pest & Termite to schedule an annual inspection of your home or to learn more about our services.