Have you ever watched a competitive eater consume food? If you haven’t, consider this. The current world record for the most hot dogs eaten in 10 minutes is 74. That is insane. But what if we told you there was one creature that could put competitive eaters to shame? We are talking about termites. Although small, termites are fantastic eaters. For one, they don’t sleep. This allows them to eat almost constantly. Second, they are great at working together as a team. If termites were the size of humans, all of the wood within your home would be gone in a matter of days. Fortunately, this is not the case. If you are looking for a way to keep termites from chewing on your Salt Lake City home, we have just the secret for you.
What Are Termites?
Termites are social creatures with a never-ending hunger for cellulose, the main component found in wood. The most common species of termites here in Salt Lake City are subterranean termites. These wood-destroying pests are known for the way they build their nests deep underground. Typically, subterranean termite nests are constructed near a harvest-able source of wood. To find new locations to build nests, termite colonies produce swarmers. These swarmers look for wood that has been softened by water damage, rot, or decay. If your home has been affected by these conditions, then it is at risk of a termite infestation. How can you know if your home has a termite infestation? Here are some signs you can look for.
- Mud Tubes: If stone, concrete, or another non-wooden material stands between termites and something they want to eat, they will build mud tubes to bridge the gap. These pencil-width mud tubes can be found running up the exterior foundation of homes in hidden locations.
- Pin Holes In Wood: To ventilate tunnels, termites dig exit holes out of the wood they are infesting. Although small, these pin-sized holes can be seen if you look closely enough.
- Tight Fitting Windows/Doors: As termites damage a home, certain problems arise. Tight-fitting doors and windows are one sign commonly associated with termite problems.
- Bubbling Wallpaper And Paint: As termites tunnel behind wallpaper and paint, damage can be done to the wallpaper and paint. This damage often appears as bubbling.
- Other Severe Structural Damage: Given enough time, termites can cause more severe damage around homes. Dipping floors, buckling walls, and sagging drywall are just a few examples of this.
How To Prevent Termites
If your home does not show signs of a termite infestation, it might not be too late for you to put in place some preventative measures. Here is what our experts recommend.
- Fix leaks in and around your home.
- Eliminate sources of water build-up.
- Check your gutters and make sure they are working properly.
- Store firewood at least 30 feet from your home’s exterior.
- Keep your yard free of leaf piles and other organic clutter.
- Repair or replace water-damaged, rotting, or decaying wood around your home.
- Use dehumidifiers inside as needed.
The Best Way To Deal With Termites
The best thing you can do to combat termites around your home is to hire a professional pest control provider. At Pest Pro Pest Control, we have reliable termite control options designed to fit your home's individual needs. Do you want to know if your home has a current termite problem? We also do thorough inspections.
Whatever your pest need is, we have your solution here. Give us a call today to find your answer to termites today!