Termite Awareness Week
March 9th through the 15th is Termite Awareness Week, when pest control professionals and homeowners aim to educate about termites, the infamous wood-destroying insect that is responsible for billions of dollar’s worth of damage every year. Termites feed on the cellulose found within wood, and their feeding habits can quite literally hollow out your home. Termites can infest support beams, flooring, sheds, lumber, wooden decks, outdoor wooden furniture, and even posts, wall studs and insulation. Termite damage can render your home structurally unstable, and ruin the value of the property, making it near-impossible to sell. It’s important to deal with a termite infestation immediately, as they can ruin your home if left to proliferate. If you need termite control treatments in the Richmond, Henrico, or Hanover areas, contact the licensed experts at Critter Authority. Our termite control experts can quickly and effectively locate and eliminate termite infestations, then provide you with a regular termite program to keep these wood-destroying pests away from your home.
What Type of Termites Are In Richmond?
The areas of Richmond, Henrico, and Hanover are home to two of the most destructive termite species:
- Eastern Subterranean termites: named for their underground nests, these termites need large amounts of moisture to survive, which is why they often construct mud tubes to connect the soil to wooden structures. Subterranean termites often start out infesting crawl spaces, where you can easily spot their mud tubes connecting to the foundation.
- Formosan Subterranean termites: similar to the Eastern Subterranean species, these termites mostly live underground. Formosan Subterranean termites are notable for being extremely destructive, with their damage spreading to railroads, utility poles, boats, and the rubber covering around wires.
What Attracts Termites?
Termites are attracted to two main things: wood and water. Termites feed on the cellulose within wood, so they will constantly be searching for new places to feed. Termites can infest dead logs or firewood you have in your yard, and then slowly make their way to your home. Any wood directly touching soil is at risk of becoming termite food. Termites can’t survive for long without water, as they will quickly dry out and die. Moisture or humidity inside your crawl space or the rest of your home can attract termites, as these conditions make it ideal for them to build their mud tubes. Additionally, flooding and leaky pipes can moisten and soften the wood in your home, rotting it in the process. Rotten, saturated wood is easy for termites to feed on, and if you have soft wood in your home, this may attract termites that will spread to the healthier wood in your home.
How To Get Rid of Termites
The best way to get rid of termites is to contact a licensed pest control professional like Critter Authority. Termites will aggressively infest a property, and unfortunately, most DIY methods are ineffective against these destructive nuisances. Pest control companies have access to professional-grade pesticides that can effectively eliminate termite infestations from your home.
How To Prevent Termites
In order to effectively prevent termites, it’s recommended that you have a pest control company inspect your home for wood-destroying insects once every 2-3 years, or when you begin seeing signs of termites. Some signs of termite damage include:
- Discarded wings
- Frass (aka termite droppings)
- Wood that sounds hollow when you tap on it
- Wood that is visibly damaged and collapses easy
- Mud tubes
Beyond having inspections done, there are also several preventative steps you can take to keep termites out of your house. Making sure you repair all leaks immediately, and having your crawl space encapsulated, or your basement waterproofed, can help remove the moisture that termites need to survive. Cleaning up fallen logs and removing firewood from near your home can also help prevent termites. Make sure none of the wood in your home is touching any soil to prevent termites from infesting it. Critter Authority can also help, we offer preventative termite treatments in the Richmond, Henrico, and Hanover areas.
Termite Pest Control in Richmond, Henrico, and Hanover
Termites are one of the most destructive insect pests you can have on your property. Termites will feed on the wood within your home, hollowing it out in the process and creating structural instability. Termite Awareness Week is designed to help homeowners understand the threat posed by termites, and the steps that you can take to prevent termite damage in your home. If you are looking for termite pest control or preventative termite treatments in Richmond, Henrico, or Hanover, contact the experts at Critter Authority today. Our team offers FREE estimates, so get in touch with us to get on the schedule at (804) 492-2804!