Termites cause an estimated five billion dollars in damage to property across the country each year. Homeowner policies do not generally cover termite damage, leaving homeowners with an expensive repair bill. Drywood termites, which are small, creamy white, six-legged insects, chew through dry wood beams, subfloors, and walls.
You need to recognize the signs of a termite infestation and eliminate them using the best pest control in Santa Rosa, Armed Force Pest Control. Our termite experts will take the appropriate actions to remove termites from your home.
Five Alarming Signs You May Have Drywood Termites
Because termites operate in hidden locations, how do you know if you have a termite problem? Here are five signs you may have a termite problem:
Warped doors: You may think your doors are warping due to age, but the problem may be termites. They produce moisture as they eat wood within the door or window framing that causes the wood to swell. Over time, the doors and frames will warp.
Blistering paint: Blistering paint may be the result of the moisture termites produce. Another cause of blistering is the tunnels created by the termites. When the tunnels are near the surface, the paint will blister.
Damaged wood: Drywood termites damage wood by creating tunnels known as galleries. Tunnels are typically parallel to the wood grain and weaken the wood. You may hear a crunching sound as you walk over these weakened, hollowed-out areas.
White "ants": The creamy-white and almost transparent termites look similar to ants. A few ants are partially white, but no ant is all white. When you see "white ants," you have an infestation of drywood termites.
Termite swarmers: Occurring early in the morning or late evening and during the spring and fall, a swarm of termites will leave the nest looking for a new location to form a colony. When you see a dense group of bugs moving through the evening sky or gathering under an outdoor light, you likely have active termites.
Attics, crawlspaces, doors and windows, and covered woodpiles, should be examined for signs of drywood termites. Evidence of termites requires quick action to avoid expensive damage to your Santa Rosa home.
How To Identify Drywood Termite Droppings
Drywood termites keep the galleries they are creating clean. They push their excrement out of the galleries as they tunnel through wood. This excrement, known as frass, consists of small droppings consisting primarily of cellulose and resembling lightly colored sawdust. Because multiple termites are working to bore through the wood, the frass piles are somewhat large mounds found at the nest entrance. If you see a frass mound, you likely have a termite colony on your Santa Rosa property.
How To Get Rid Of Drywood Termites
Here are some of the best ways to get rid of termites around your Santa Rosa home:
Move firewood at least 20 feet away from the home.
Seal foundation cracks and crevices.
Create barriers between wood and soil.
Inspect wood parts of the house for damage.
Watch for swarms in spring and fall.
You can take these steps to prevent and moderate existing termites around your home, but for an active infestation, professional intervention is required.
Complete Drywood Termite Management With Armed Force Pest Control
To completely eradicate drywood termites in your home, you need the licensed professionals at Armed Force Pest Control. Our team of experts will provide an inspection of the walls, foundations, doors, and windows of your Santa Rosa home and will apply appropriate treatments to infected areas. Reach out to us today and take steps to prevent damage to your Santa Rosa home or business, with our effective home pest control and commercial pest control services.