The statistics tell us that one in five homes in North Carolina have been or will be infested by termites. That means the average homeowner in North Carolina is at significant risk for termite infestation. Termites cause over $5 billion in property damage annually.
If you’re reading this, you’re probably thinking you need to take action right away to protect your home. You’re right—but don’t try to take care of the problem on your own. Do-it-yourself termite treatment is dangerous, ineffective, and in the long run, could end up costing you more money. For true peace of mind against termites, you need a professional termite treatment plan. Triangle Pest Control offers just that in our termite control services!
How do termites do so much damage?
The most common termite found in the North Carolina is the eastern subterranean termite. They live in underground colonies of up to 2 million hungry termites. Termites are always looking for food. They create mud tunnels to get from their colony to your home searching for food. Once inside, they get behind walls and quietly eat away at the soft wood frame, severely impacting the stability of the main support beams.
As the warmer weather approaches, termites send out swarmers. These winged termites start new colonies. While swarmers are most often seen in the spring, once inside your home, there is no “season” for termites. They are there day and night, winter, spring, summer and fall –eating away at one of your most valuable assets.
What kind of treatment is available?
Subterranean termites attack from the ground up. Treating the soil to create a barrier between your home and the soil is a common approach. The barrier must be complete. This means treating soil inside and outside the home and around utility entrances. Concrete block or brick foundations must be drilled and treated when termite evidence is found. If you do not create a complete barrier around your house, termites will simply look for gaps.
Knowledge of building construction is very important to identify potential points of entry that may not be immediately obvious. Some chemicals target the termites themselves. Some of these products are more toxic than others. If you have children or pets, professional use of the most effective, least toxic chemical is important. Altriset is an EPA-approved pesticide that targets termites directly. It is rated a “reduced- risk pesticide.”
The keys to successful termite treatment are:
- A complete chemical barrier around your home.
- A safe and effective direct chemical treatment.
- Routine monitoring and maintenance.
Why call a professional for termite treatment?
Treating your home for termites is not a single day’s work. Termite colonies are hard to destroy. All colonies feeding on your home need to be identified. Spot treating a single colony can be a costly mistake. The colony that is actually feeding on your home could be under the house across the street! Identifying a termite problem and locating the source colony or colonies takes training and experience.
A trained termite control professional knows where to check and how to check for potential problems. Understanding the behavior of the eastern subterranean termite, the effectiveness and toxicity of the chemicals on the market, and a knowledge of building construction to identify potential points of entry are important to an effective termite treatment program. Most homeowners do not have sufficient expertise in these areas. Termite treatment and control as a do-it-yourself project can be a costly and potentially dangerous mistake.
A professional termite treatment addresses these key elements. A trained termite control professional will target the colony or colonies feasting on your home, ensure that the chemical barrier is complete and eliminate termites using the proper equipment, and the safest and most effective chemicals available. Look for a professional who will guarantee their work, and take all the necessary steps to ensure that your home is termite-free.