Everything You Need To Know About Effective Termite Control For Your Phoenix Property

For property owners in the Phoenix area, there is probably one pest they dread seeing. This pest is none other than the termite. The main reason for this is how harmful they are to your property.

They can cause two different types of damage, which are the following:

Structural Damage

Termites eat wood, which means the very structure of your property is fair game for them. Given enough time, this pest can cost you a lot of money and create an unsafe environment for everyone on the premises.

Cosmetic Damage

Over time, termite damage will affect the aesthetics of your home. As they introduce excess moisture in the home, the paint will begin to peel, wallpaper may bubble, and doors will stick as you open or close them. Furthermore, though hidden, structural damage will cause sagging floors and ceilings. Termites sometimes even chomp on sheetrock and flooring as well. This cosmetic damage can be quite costly and is rarely covered by insurance.

Identifying Termites In Your Pheonix Home

It is quite unlikely you will see termites. They remain hidden within the structure of your home and use mud tubes to travel between their nest and their food sources. If you happen to be in the right place at the right time, you may notice termite swarmers during the swarming season.

Termites typically swarm in the spring or summer months. They emerge from the colony for about a half-hour, mate, shed their wings, and begin a sister colony nearby. If you're looking carefully, you may find their discarded wings near windows or doors.

You may also stumble upon termites if you happen to chop into infested wood during a construction project. If the wood is filled with what looks like small white ants, you can be certain you have a termite problem.

For the most part, termites will remain unseen and will silently destroy the structural integrity of your home for years before causing noticeable damage. However, if you look carefully or invest in a professional, you may be able to identify clues of a termite infestation.

Signs There Might Be An Infestation

With such a high potential for damage, the secret to staying on top of a termite infestation is to remain proactive in identifying termite activity. Since you're unlikely to see termites themselves, this requires being aware of the signs of an infestation.

The most common signs of a termite infestation include the following:

Wood flooring problems: If you’re noticing what appear to be blisters in the wood flooring, it’s a sign that termites might be present. The reason for this is because termites consume the subfloor. Often, this is mistaken for water damage.
Other wood damage: Besides the floor, you’ll want to look for damage along with other wooden materials. Listen for a hollow sound when checking the wood that makes up the home’s structure.
Termite swarms: Without question, this is the most obvious sign of a possible termite infestation. Though seeing a swarm guarantees that termites are nearby, its unlikely that you will catch them in the act.
Sounds within your walls: Termites communicate by making a clicking sound. They also make this sound when eating through the wood. Check carefully if you’re noticing these sounds in or near the walls.
Mud tubes: Termites will create mud tubes to protect their bodies from air. You may find these running along the concrete foundation of your home or in your basement.
Frass: Termites keep their colony clean by pushing their waste or frass out of small holes. It looks like small piles of sawdust.

Keeping Termites Out Of Your Phoenix Home

Even the most vigilant owners can miss the signs of a termite infestation until it’s too late. Therefore, it's important to exercise some preventative measures to help keep termites away:

Eliminate moisture: Termites need moisture in their immediate area. For this reason, it’s a good idea to ensure the moisture and humidity level is limited as much as possible.
Up-to-date repairs: Pre-existing damage practically screams “all you can eat buffet” to termites. Rotting roof shingles, leaking pipes, or messed up foundations are a few examples of what repairs are needed to maintain the protective barrier.
Woodpiles: You might desire to have woodpiles on the property. However, if they’re close to the home, it’s open season for termites.
Inspect the wood: Termites prefer moisture-damaged wood. The best way to prevent a termite infestation is to ensure your property doesn’t suffer such damage. Plus, this is a good way to stay on top of other problems you wouldn’t have known about otherwise.

Termite Prevention With Bug Science

When termites invade the home, it’s not a fun time. It’s one of the worst things that can happen due to how difficult it is to remove termites from your property. That’s why we offer the best form of termite protection for our customers to ensure they’re safe and comfortable as they should be.

If you're worried about developing a termite problem in the future or suspect you already have termites in your home, reach out to us today. One of our licensed home pest control technicians in Phoenix will conduct a free inspection and provide you with recommendations for moving forward.