When you moved into your home, did you check it from top to button for anything that looked strange? Most people hire a professional to inspect a property before purchasing it. The question is, is this the only time you should have a home inspected? No, it is not. If you don’t have some form of termite control in place, you should have your home inspected annually. If you have some time and would like to examine your house for termites, here are some signs to look for and what to do if you find these pests indoors.
Know The Signs Of A Termite Infestation
To inspect your home for termites, you have to first know what signs they leave behind. Most signs of termites do not show up for months, if not years, after the initial infestation. The only early sign of an infestation is mud tubes. These pencil-sized tunnels are constructed on the exterior homes if there is no direct access to structural wood from exterior soil. After termites chew on a structure for several months, other more noticeable signs tend to pop up. You may experience hollow-sounding wood, tight-fitting windows and doors, overly-squeaky floorboards, moisture spots on floors, walls, and ceilings, sagging drywall, and a rustling noise coming from inside beams and studs.
How And Why Termites Destroy Wood Structures
Three kinds of termites live in Corona; subterranean termites, drywood termites, and dampwood termites. Each of these pests destroys wood in different ways. Subterranean termites build nests underground around properties and only invade water-damaged or otherwise softened wood. Dampwood termites also live underground and eat water-damaged wood. They cannot, however, create mud tubes in the same way subterranean termites do. Drywood termites live inside the wood they eat and consume untreated hardwood. Although different, all three of these pests can cause extensive damage to properties given enough time.
How To Naturally Make Your Home Less Attractive To Termites
If you are confident that your home doesn’t have a termite problem, keep it that way by putting in place some prevention strategies. Here are nine great steps to take to make your Corona home less attractive to termites.
- Use caulk or liquid cement to fill in holes, gaps, and cracks in your home’s exterior foundation.
- Repair damage to your window and door screens.
- Repair or replace wood around your home that is water-damaged, rotting, or sun-damaged.
- Eliminate sources of moisture buildup around your yard.
- Make sure your gutters are in good repair and properly channel water away from your house.
- Remove sticks, leaves, cardboard, newspaper, and things of the sort from your property.
- Remove fallen trees and dead stumps from your yard.
- Use a dehumidifier indoors.
- Fix leaky piping and fixtures.
The Best Method Of Termite Control For Your Corona Home
Whether you think your home has termites or not, it is wise to schedule it for a thorough inspection. At Allied Pest Control, our team has the training and advanced equipment needed to identify termites in and around homes. We also offer detailed treatments to both eliminate and prevent these invasive pests. Our hometown team has been getting rid of pests for over 20 years and will be happy to assist with any pests pressures you are up against.
Contact us now to find freedom from termites or to learn more about our home pest control and commercial pest control services in Corona. We will walk you through our options and help you schedule your home for a service visit.