Termites cost homeowners billions of dollars each year in repairs. With a pest this destructive, it's important to be proactive in your approach to termite control. Luckily, Elk Grove pest control professionals can help with termite control and prevention. Here's what homeowners need to know about identifying termites and the damage they cause, factors that attract termites to Elk Grove properties and how to remove them, and the benefits of year-round termite control.
How To Identify Termites And Their Damage
Termites are notoriously hard to spot, and unfortunately, there are not a lot of good early warning signs of termite damage. Usually, the damage they have done is fairly extensive by the time you notice signs of termites. This is because termites spend their time underneath the ground or within the wooden structures they infest. It is extremely difficult to spot a termite in the open. Instead, what homeowners will begin to notice are the telltale signs of termite damage, such as:
- Windows and doors that are hard to open and close
- Drooping or discolored drywall
- Loose floor tiles
- Peeling or bubbling paint
- Wood that sounds hollow when tapped
It is important to address termite infestations as soon as they are discovered. So no matter what the stage of the infestation is, once you notice signs of termites or the damage they are causing in your home, you should contact a professional about termite control and removal.
Why And How Termites Infest And Destroy Homes
Termites aren't malicious animals. In fact, in nature, they provide an important service by breaking down materials, but when they make their way into our homes, they are nothing but destructive. Termites both nest and eat the cellulose contained in wood and other products. If your home provides easy access to this resource, they won't hesitate to move inside your walls and begin to eat your home from the inside out. Most termites live underground and look for direct pathways into wooden structures without having to expose themselves to the open air. If your home provides this bridge, it's likely that termites will build a colony deep within your home's structure. You may not notice a termite problem at first, but over the course of several months or years, they will eat away at your home's interior structure until significant damage has occurred.
Factors That Attract Termites To Homes And How To Remove Them
Termites are attracted to homes with wood to soil contact that allows direct entry into the building. They are also more likely to infest homes with moisture issues, wet or moldy wood, and gaps and cracks in foundation walls. You can avoid termite damage by addressing excess moisture, repairing or replacing water-damaged wood, limiting wood to soil contact, and sealing cracks and crevices in the foundation of your home.
The Benefits Of Year-Round Professional Termite Control
One of the best ways to avoid the extensive costs of termite damage is to invest in year-round professional termite control, including annual termite inspections. Termite control in Elk Grove can help you avoid the frustration and expense of an advanced termite infestation. You can stop termites before they start by partnering with the right pest control professionals.
At Pro Active Pest Control, we provide homeowners with comprehensive termite control and prevention to safeguard homes against termite infestations and damage. Our services include a three-step process of inspection, treatment, and follow-up to ensure termite infestations are detected, eliminated, and prevented from returning. Protect your home with help from our pest control professionals; call today to get started with Pro Active Pest Control.