When you purchased your first home, what were you most worried about? Were you afraid you’d find something wrong that you didn’t notice during your initial inspection? Were you scared you wouldn’t know how to properly maintain things? These are both normal things to be concerned about but they usually work themselves out in the long run. Something that doesn’t work itself out, in the long run, is termite damage. If your Salt Lake City property doesn’t have protection against these destructive pests or is already infested, we are here today to help.
How Destructive Are Termites?
It is hard to imagine that a pest the size of a termite could cause any amount of damage to a property, but they do so regularly. How? Slowly and steadily over the course of several months and sometimes years. You see, something most people do not know about termites is that they do not sleep, they work constantly chewing tunnels through wooden structures. This, combined with the fact that some termite colonies have hundreds of thousands of members, makes these pests a force to be reckoned with.
The Difficulties In Identifying Termites
One reason termites are such formidable foes is that they are difficult to identify. This has to do with where they construct their nests and where they live their lives. Unlike ants that build visible hills and regularly come above the surface to scavenge for food, termites stay underground and do their best to never come out into the open air. To avoid the elements termites tunnel up to the exterior of homes and businesses, climb up through cracks and crevices, or create mud tubes, and eat out the inside of wooden structures. They only make holes in their exterior when absolutely necessary.
Some Ways To Identify Termites
Although termites do their best to stay out of sight, they are not impossible to identify. To spot these pests inside and around your Salt Lake City property, here are some signs to look out for:
Mud tubes running up the exterior of your home’s foundation
Mud filling in certain cracks and crevices throughout your home’s exterior foundation
Live swarmers (winged termites) buzzing around
Tight-fitting or squeaky doors and windows
Overly squeaky floorboards and stairs
Discoloration in walls, ceilings, and floors related to water damage
Bubbling or peeling wallpaper and paint
Other structural damage related to moisture problems
Strategies To Prevent Termites
If your Salt Lake City property is not already dealing with a termite infestation, now is the time to put in place prevention steps to keep it that way. Here are a few great tips and tricks our experts recommend to everyone to keep these destructive pests away:
Use a dehumidifier around extra humid areas in your home or business.
Make sure your gutters are in good working condition.
Fix leaky piping and fixtures.
Repair or replace structural wood that is negatively affected by water damage, rot, or decay.
Eliminate sources of water build-up around your property.
Store firewood, untreated lumber, and scrap wood at least 30 feet from your home’s exterior.
A Better Solution To Termites
The absolute best way to prevent termites is with high-quality pest control services. To make sure your home gets the care it deserves at a reasonable price, look no further than to the experts at Pest Pro Pest Control. Our team takes great care to provide top-tier termite control and elimination services for residents and business owners in and around Salt Lake City. Call us today to become one of our happy customers and find your path to a termite-free property.