How To Get Rid Of Termites: A Comprehensive Guide For Frisco Homeowners

Termites are sneaky insects that damage Frisco properties for years, undetected. The first step in getting rid of these destructive pests is knowing how to detect an infestation in the first place. Join us as we share some tips to help you uncover evidence of termite activity and how to evaluate your property to consider the speed at which termites can cause damage. Then, we'll share with you the most trusted method for termite control and how you can prevent future infestations after the termites are gone. This is a quick and comprehensive guide for all Frisco homeowners. If you need a termite specialist near you, consider reaching out to us. All-Safe Pest & Termite specializes in termite control and termite damage prevention, providing state-of-the-art, award-winning termite pest control in Frisco. We'll make sure you have the right protection to safeguard your property. With that said, let's get into our quick guide on termite detection, damage evaluation, control, and prevention.

Spotting The Signs: How To Identify Termite Infestations

The most important thing you can know about termites is that evidence of termite damage is most often subtle and difficult to detect, even if you know where to look. Subterranean termites have natural behavior patterns that help them hide from view – and also hide their activities from view. So, if you currently have a termite infestation, you may not know it. Here are a few ways to find out.

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  Look under the objects in your yard. Termites don't come out in the open, but you may uncover them. For example, pick up a dead branch and look for workers on the ground or the underside of the branch. A worker termite is ⅛ of an inch long, pale colored, and has six legs and two small antennae. Some people describe them as looking like fat, white ants. 
• Dig around the base of wooden structures that touch the soil. If you have a fence, back deck, shed, skirting, or some other structural wood that makes contact with the ground, you may dig at the soil to uncover workers or soldiers just below the surface. You can also check the wood for termite tunnels, which, when exposed, look like trenches carved in the wood. 
• Check your crawl space. Subterranean termites create structures called mud tubes, and they often make these structures in shaded locations where the light of the sun and moon are blocked. Look for wiggly mud lines on the interior walls of your crawl space. 
• Check underneath your deck. This is another concealed location for mud tubes. You may also find worker termites and soldiers hiding under leaves, branches, boards, and other things. 
• Examine your entire foundation. Termite workers love creating mud tubes on foundation walls. Make sure you check your entire foundation all the way around, no matter how difficult the job is. Don't put it past worker termites to create a single thin mud tube in the one spot you didn't take the time to check.
• Tap on wood timbers. Termites create tunnels that are stacked on top of each other. If they've hollowed out a stud or support beam, you'll know it. Tap and listen to see if the wood sounds hollow. 
• Look for swarmers. A helpful warning sign of a termite infestation is the appearance of winged termites. A swarmer is about ⅜ of an inch long, black in color, with six legs and white wings that stack on top of each other. These reproductive termites are the only members of a colony that come out in the open.
• Look for swarmer wings. When termites mate, they shed their wings. You may find these wings on your property, in hidden spaces, or caught in spider webs. Termite wings are equally sized. Keep this in mind, as it will help you tell the difference between termites and flying ants. 

If you find signs of termites in your yard, the next step is to evaluate your termite problem. All properties are not created equal. Termites thrive in certain environments. Let's take a look at some of the conducive conditions that can allow termites to damage your property rapidly.  

From Bad To Worse: How Termite Damage Can Escalate Quickly

When you find termites on your property, you can determine a bit about how bad your situation is by considering what you've found. Here is a list of the warning signs, along with the risks they represent.

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  If you find worker termites in several locations, it may mean you have a large colony or several colonies exploring your yard. But the more important fact to consider is how much food you are putting out for termites to eat. When termites find dead branches piled on the ground, campfire wood sitting next to a fire pit, wooden boards around flower beds, and other sources of food, the termite colony will grow quickly in response. So, lots of wood, cardboard, paper, and other items that have cellulose will increase how fast termites can damage your property.
• When termite workers find wood-to-soil contact, they can go straight into your home without creating mud tubes. Needless to say, it is not good to have these conditions present. The more wood-to-soil contact you have, the faster termites can cause damage. 
• There are many things you may keep in your crawl space. If you have debris under there, like wood, cardboard, paper, clothing, etc., you'll have more issues with termites. You also need to consider the humidity or ground moisture in the location. Worker termites require moisture and are attracted to moist conditions. The more favorable the conditions, the more likely it is that termites will target your home.
• The space underneath your deck is another catch-all for stuff. If you have termite food under there, you'll have more trouble with termites. You also need to consider leaf litter. Leaves capture moisture and create an environment that is attractive to worker termites.
• In some homes, it can be impossible to examine the entire foundation. If you have spots you can't check, you will have a hard time tracking termite activity.
• Termites don't eat pressure-treated wood unless it is compromised by water damage. As you evaluate your home, consider any moisture problems. The more moisture is a problem, the faster termites can grow their populations and consume the wood of your home. Consider natural wood sources as well. If you have structures that are made from untreated, unstained, and unpainted wood, termite colonies are likely to grow faster on your property. 
• If you see a large group of swarmers, it is an indication that there is an active and mature nest nearby. When you see a large swarm, it is time to call a professional immediately. The same is true of swarmer wings. Reproductive termites discard their wings after mating. Finding piles of shed wings in or near your home indicates a newly established colony.

Once you've evaluated your situation, it is time to consider what to do about the termites you've found. While termites damage homes relatively slowly, it's important that you not be lulled into a false sense of security. The damage termites do over time is both substantial and expensive. A simple way to address these pests is to jump to our contact page and drop us a line. It is simple to do, and once it is done, we'll walk you through the process of taking the steps needed to deal with these pests.   

Professional Termite Control: Long-Term Termite Control And Protection

When you find termites in your home or on your property, you may consider applying your own termite treatment. There are many products available to consumers. But termite control isn't easy, and there are many pitfalls. Hiring a professional removes the guesswork. If you choose to go with All-Safe Pest & Termite, here are a few ways our certified professionals will deal with your termite infestation:

Inspection: We will examine your yard and consider the conditions that can make your property a target for termites and identify any active populations. 

Treatment: If termites are in the wood, we will use Termidor, the most trusted name in professional-grade termite control, to arrest termite activity. Termidor has a transfer effect and uses worker termites to eliminate colonies.

Colony Elimination: Along with Termidor for colony elimination, we can install The Sentricon® System with Always Active™. The bait in the Sentricon® System is picked up by termites and shared. It is always active in guarding your property and eliminating termite colonies. It also provides a foolproof way to detect termite activity.    

Want to learn more about the services we offer in Frisco and the surrounding area? Call, write, or text. We are your local termite company with the experience to get the results you want. 

Protecting Your Property: Effective Termite Prevention Methods

Once the termites are eliminated, how do you prevent future infestations? If you have The Sentricon® System installed, you don't have to do anything. Sentricon® actively works to eliminate termite colonies even at the inception of an infestation. It is also the most effective termite prevention method available. If you don't choose to go with Sentricon®, there are some ways to reduce the risk of an infestation. While not as effective as Sentricon®, it is better to have some protection than no protection at all. Check out our other blogs for termite prevention tips. Each blog is a bit different, and you'll find a lot of helpful advice by checking out more than one. If you'd like to speak to someone directly, remember that we're always here to answer your questions and guide you toward the right solution for your Frisco home. Connect with us any time for assistance.