Can you imagine if the only thing people ate was wood? Forests would disappear faster than we could regrow them. Luckily, we have a wide range of foods that we can enjoy to sustain ourselves with. Termites, however, do not. All they do is eat wood. Fortunately, termites are nowhere near as big as humans are. Unfortunately, this does not stop them from doing a considerable amount of damage to homes here in Wilmington. If you are not prepared for termite season, now might be the time to start thinking of ways to get your home the defenses it needs.
What Is Termite Season?
There is no defined start date for termites season, in fact, there is no start at all here in Wilmington. Due to our generally warmer weather here in North Carolina, termites are a year-round problem. They can slow down a bit during our colder winters but rarely stop entirely. One thing termites do have a season for is termite swarmers. These winged reproductive termites are produced from fully mature termite colonies. Their job is to find and establish new nests. If you see strange-looking ant-like bugs with long slender wings buzzing around your home, there is a good chance your home has a termite problem. If you see them outside, then there is a chance it could have a problem very soon. Either way, you are going to want to get your home a little extra protection.
The Damage Termites Do
The amount of damage termites can do to a home depends on a few factors. The number of fully mature colonies sharing a home as a meal is one of these factors. Just one fully mature colony can consume a full 2 by 4 of wood in about 6 months. This damage is spread out in the form of tunnels chewed along the grain within structures of wood. One of the biggest problems with termites is that they are silent destroyers. Most often homeowners do not realize they have a termite problem until major damages start to show around their home. Some of these signs include tight-fitting doors and windows, dipping ceilings, overly squeaky floorboards, bubbling wallpaper, and hollow-sounding wood. We can assure you, finding these signs is not how you want to identify termites.
How To Make Your Home Less Attractive To Termites
If your home does not already have an active termite infestation it is not too late to prevent a future problem. Here are some things you can do around your Wilmington property to make it less attractive to termites.
- Repair or replace wood inside your home that has been damaged by water or rot.
- Fix leaks in and around your home.
- Make sure your gutters are working properly and able to channel water away from your home’s foundation.
- Trim back tree branches and bushes so that sunlight can shine on your home’s exterior foundation during the day.
- Store firewood and lumber at least 30 feet from your home’s exterior and keep it covered if possible.
- Keep your yard clean of organic debris such as stick and leaf piles.
- Do not leave cardboard or other paper/wood-based products outside.
- Seal up gaps and cracks in your home’s exterior foundation.
- Limit soil-to-wood contact around your home.
- Avoid using wood-based mulches.
- Remove dead stumps and trees from your property.
How To Get Rid Of Termites
If you think your home might be currently under attack by termites, let the professionals here at Jay Taylor Exterminating take a look. Our team of highly trained pest technicians can assess your home and tell you with certainty if termites are around. If a problem is present they will put in place treatments to eliminate termites quickly. If you are looking for a better way to keep termites away from your home, we also offer year-round termite control. Whatever your home needs, we have your answer here. Give us a call today to find your solution to termites.