Overwhelmed by the Complexity of ? This May Help
How to Protect Your Home and Prevent Termite Infestation
Termites are a serious pest that can cause significant damage to your home. Fortunately, there are several ways to protect your home and prevent termite infestations.
Taking steps to avoid termite infestation can help you save money on repairs and replacements. This includes avoiding damp areas around your house, replacing soil that has wood-to-ground contact and eliminating sources of cellulose material that termites can use to establish their colonies.
If you suspect termites, you should hire a professional to inspect your home and recommend treatment options. Termite control companies have highly trained and experienced professionals, who can quickly detect termites and provide effective treatment options.
Full foundation physical barriers (Figure 4) – A number of companies offer termite barriers made from stainless steel mesh or other materials that are installed underneath the entire slab, or foundation, of a building. These barriers prevent termites from entering through unseen cracks and crevices in the slab or other foundation elements.
These types of barriers are expensive, but they do offer a great degree of protection. They are usually used in conjunction with liquid termiticides or bait stations to provide a complete and long-lasting barrier of protection.
Liquid termiticide treatments are the most commonly used type of termite control, and they are typically applied to the soil under and around the foundation of a home. These treatments work by forming a zone of treated soil that is lethal to termites. This technique takes advantage of the foraging behavior of subterranean termites, who are constantly seeking moisture in the soil.
In addition, the treated soil prevents termites from tunneling into the structure and infesting it. This is particularly effective for new construction or other structures that are not yet completely protected from termites.
For this reason, it is important to have the termite barrier inspected regularly to ensure that it remains effective. If it is not, termites will continue to find gaps in the barrier and can potentially spread throughout the structure.
Bait Stations & Foam: In addition to treating the exterior soil with a liquid insecticide, baiting stations are also placed strategically around the outside of a home. These stations contain small pheromone-filled capsules that termites can detect and take to the nest when they come in contact with them.
They can also be injected directly into cracks, voids and other places where termites hide, which results in rapid, targeted control. Termidor Foam, for example, is a foaming termiticide that is shot into voids where termites can hide and poison them as they enter.
Other direct chemicals, such as boric acid and diatomaceous earth, can also be used to kill termites and are a less costly alternative to baiting stations. Boric acid, for example, dehydrates termites and shuts down their nervous systems.
Diatomaceous earth, meanwhile, is a fossilized aquatic organism that contains silica, which can penetrate termites’ exoskeletons and kill them without harming people or pets. This method can be effective in small areas, but it is not recommended for large homes and must be done professionally.
This post topic: Home Products & Services
