The Trick To Effective Termite Control For Your Lynchburg Home

What if the structural wood of your house is currently being eaten away and you don’t even know it? This could be the case if you have a termite infestation. These “silent destroyers” often invade Lynchburgh homes and businesses, do thousands of dollars’ worth of damage to the structures, and owners are none the wiser—until it is too late.

Termites, although not dangerous to humans, are some of the costliest pests to have inside your home. They feed on the cellular material that is found inside wood so any wood in your home could be a target for these pests. Worse than that, they don’t make their presence known until they’ve already done irreparable damage. That’s why it is important for you to know the signs to look for and what you can do to prevent termites from ever entering your home. Otherwise, you could be stuck shelling out thousands and thousands of dollars for repairs.

What Do Termites Look Like?

Every termite belongs to one of three castes: workers, soldiers, and reproductive members. As such, their appearance depends upon which caste they belong to.

• Workers, which comprise most termites, have soft creamy-white bodies which are blind, wingless, and small in size. You most likely will never see a worker termite as they remain either hidden in their nest or in the wood from which they are gathering food.

• Soldiers look similar to workers, however, they are a bit larger in size. They have long yellow heads and strong mandibles which they use to protect their colony. 

• Reproductive members, also referred to as swarmers, have transparent wings that are twice as long as their bodies which are dark-brown or black in color. Of all termites, these are the ones you are most likely to see. They are the ones that leave the colony in search of places to start new colonies.

Signs That You Might Have A Termite Infestation

Because you are unlikely to see any actual termites—save reproductive members during a termite swarm—it is imperative that you know other signs that indicate a termite infestation. These include:

• Wood that looks bubbly, splintered, or filled with small holes.

• Floors that feel spongy when walked upon.

• Walls that sound hollow when you tap on them.

• Warped wood around windows and doors.

• Mud tubes on your foundation around the perimeter of your house.

• Shed wings of swarmers around your home.

If you notice some or all of these signs, you should call the professionals at All Pest Control & Solutions right away.

How To Prevent Termites

Like all pests, when it comes to termites, it is best to take preventive measures to reduce your risk of an infestation. What this means for termites is taking away anything that might draw them to your house in the first place. Termite prevention techniques include:

• Replace any water-damaged wood on or in your home.

• Use dehumidifiers, air conditioners, and ventilated fans inside your home.

• Fix leaky pipes and fixtures.

• Keep gutters free of debris and clogs to prevent water damage.

• Avoid wood-to-soil contact on the exterior of your home.

• Keep a gravel barrier around all exterior wood.

• Keep woodpiles away from the exterior of your home.

Call The Professionals

The unfortunate fact is even if you take all these preventive steps, you could still find yourself dealing with a termite infestation. If that is the case, don’t wait. Call the professionals here at All Pest Control & Solutions right away.

Not only will we eliminate any infestation with which you are currently dealing, but we will work with you to prevent future termite invasions. Any delay means more damage to your property, so call us before it’s too late.