Termite Treatment With Pest Fighter
Termites are wood-destroying insects considered to be one of the most destructive pests in the world. They’re either white or light brown and between a quarter to a half-inch long. The two most common termites in the Seattle area are Subterranean and Dampwood Termites.
Dampwood termites get their moisture from wet or moist wood in wooded areas around Seattle. Since termites need a lot of moisture, Dampwood termites aren’t a large threat to your structure as long as it’s kept dry.
Subterranean termites get their moisture from the ground. This means they’re very comfortable destroying dry structures and are one of the biggest threats to property owners in the Seattle area.
How Much Damage Can Termites Cause?
Its estimated, termites cost homeowners $5 billion per year. But not all termites are equal. Subterranean termites have hard saw-like teeth capable of biting off small pieces of wood bit by bit. Over time, they can take down an entire building rendering it a total loss.
Termite damage doesn’t happen fast, and it can go completely unnoticed for years while they eat your home from the inside out. They burrow deep into the wood, unnoticed, gnawing through it leaving galleries that can compromise the integrity of the wood.
The more termites you have the more damage the more damage they’ll do. The areas that are most at risk are wood frames, windowsills, and door frames.
How Do I Know if I Have Termites?
Termite infestations are common in April and May as a result of warmer temperatures and rainfall. During spring, they leave their nest to start new colonies. This is when they find their way into your home and start doing damage.
Termites look like winged ants. The difference is the termites have two body segments and two sets of the same sized wings while ants have three body segments and two different size sets of wings. Also, a termite’s antenna is straight while an ant’s antenna has a bend in it.
Below are five signs you may have a termite problem:
Discarded Wings
Termites shed their wings after their reproductive cycle. This usually occurs in springtime when temperatures are cool and there’s lots of moisture. If you notice a pile of small wings in your home, there’s a good chance you have a termite problem.
Noisy Floors or Bubbling Paint
Termites do damage from the ground up. They start with the wood below your flooring which can cause splitting or creaking noises under the floor. Termites also need moisture to do their work. The moisture can cause paint to bubble or leave moisture spots on drywall.
Mud Tubes
Termite nests contain tunnels that look like long mounds of wood that move in one direction. If you find mud tunnels you can open them up and check if termites are in them. An active tunnel will have termites crawling through it.
Warped Frames
If you have windows or doors that don’t close this could be a sign of a termite infestation. Termites produce moisture as they chew away at wood, leaving windows and door frames warped.
Frass (Termite Droppings)
Termites excrete wood-like droppings called Frass that look like sawdust or coffee grounds. You might notice a pile of frass around areas where termites have been eating through wood.
How Do I Get Rid of Termites?
If you have termites, you probably have wet wood in or around your building. Leaky pipes, condensation, and excessive runoff of water make your property vulnerable to termites.
To prevent termite infestations, make sure to clean up woodpiles around your foundation. Also, make sure to stop moisture from coming in contact with the structure of your home.
Once you have termites, it can be hard to identify the problem. Many entry points such as dark crawlspaces make it difficult to detect an infestation.
It’s best to call an experienced professional who can identify points of entry and remove all existence of termites. Even if you miss a small section, termites will find that area and continue to do damage to the structure.
Termite Control With Pest Fighter
Pest Fighter can help get rid of termites. Our trained technicians will do a full inspection and create a customized plan to get rid of termites.
We do a full inspection of the foundation and other areas where termites gain access to the property. From there we create a customized treatment plan that will eliminate the existing termite colonies.
Call 206-236-BUGS or send us a message to request a free quote.
