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There are 3 main forms of termites: drywood, dampwood and subterranean. Each type of termite colony includes employees (who eat your house), soldiers (who defend others from predators such as ants) and swarmers (flyers that find new areas to colonize). Though you dont generally see termites unless theyre swarming (flying), its good to know how to identify them,'' Wilson states.
Drywood termites commonly possess a brown body with a red head. Swarmers have sheer, tan wings but there are colour variations. Workers are light, tan and look like maggots, with no wings.
Dampwood termites are much like drywood termites, often with a tan or brown body and absolute wings. These workers also resemble maggots.
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Drywood termites are partial to dry, nondecayed timber and often end up in attics, flooring boards and window frames.
Dampwood termites like decaying wood or timber that is rich with moisture. They often strike wood that is making contact with the ground and are found in areas with high rainfall or humidity.
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Drywood and dampwood termites enter your house through small cracks, often around window frames through cracks in the home. Make sure you check around windows frequently and reapply caulk when it begins to show signs of age and cracking. Swarmers shed their wings and burrow into the wood. Cracks in paint are another simple access point for termites.
Be mindful of maintaining your exterior paint. For instance, when you hammer up Christmas lights then take the nails out, you leave behind little holes and create an open door for a termite colony. .
Subterranean termites often seep into cracks in the homes foundation. In regions like the San Francisco Bay Area, many houses have raised foundations, Wilson states. Termites build mud tubes around the bottom floor, often along posts. But even in the absence of posts, Wilson states sand tubes can stretch from the ground up through thin atmosphere to connect with the base of the house. .
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So what do you do if you find a termite in your home when you see one drop wing or one termite flying , it doesnt mean you have an infestation. But if you find a group of wings or any of the other warning signs noted above, web its best to find a professional inspection.
Termites are actually easy to kill, Wilson says, but you need a termiticide to perform it. Unfortunately, superior pesticides are not available to the public. Most home shops sell termite spray, but these are watered down to meet public security specifications, so theyre not as successful.
If you have an infestation that is isolated to one part of your house, state the door trimming, you can substitute the trim, Wilson says. But if you've got a full-on termite infestation, you need a bigger scale treatment.
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Subterranean termites must be cut off from the home at the soil. Pacific Coast Termites makes a chemical barrier between any areas of grime and the home, in addition to around the entire house. It acts as a shield that the termites cant break through.
Drywood and dampwood termites can be murdered with a timber treatment product like XT2000 Orange Oil, which can be injected under pressure into the timber through ink-pen-sized holes. This product saturates the wood and will prevent future infestations. Treating a moderate infestation this way takes approximately four to six hours.
Homes that are massively infested (you can see termites everywhere) can require fumigation. Either a huge tent is put over your home, or all the doors and windows are sealed, and the residence is gassed with pesticide that will kill each of the termites. This process can take anywhere from six hours to one week, depending on the kind of infestation.
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Apply a good, quality coat of exterior paint on your property, since termites wont consume through paint. Ensure that all windows, doorframes and foundation gaps are caulked and sealed. Dont staple or nail up Christmas lights then yank them down. The tiny holes create termite homes. Instead, either leave the nails in the holes year-round or fill the holes when you remove the nails. .
Quickly solve any plumbing leaks, standing water on your roof or other difficulties involving decaying wood. Provide proper ventilation under your raised home to keep that area dry. Subterranean termites love wetness.