The Easiest Way To Keep Termites Away From Your Crestview Home

Termites are the incredibly destructive yet rarely seen ninjas of the insect world. Each year, over $11 billion dollars in damage is inflicted on the United State's homeowners by these silent but deadly (to the lumber in your walls) pests.

Termites are an incredibly populous insect species, with over 2,000 known types around the world and over 45 calling the United States home. They range in size from 1/8 to 1 inch and are creamy white to dark brown. They have long, oblong bodies with heads that are much larger than the heads of ants, insects they're commonly confused with.

Termites are social insects and live in colonies, sometimes many hundreds of thousands of members strong.

In their natural environment, termites feed on cellulose, helping to decompose dead trees and prevent forest fires. Once they make their way into your home, however, the application of those wood grinding skills termites are known for and their 24/7 appetite for cellulose translates into costly repair bills and, given enough time, serious damage to your home.

Let's take a look at the signs of termites in your home to watch for, why termite problems often go unnoticed, and what Crestview pest control professionals recommend as an effective termite treatment for homes in our area.

How To Tell If Your Home Has A Termite Problem

Termites are experts at staying out of sight, coming up into the structure of a home from the ground and often not seen for years as they tunnel through the lumber holding up the roof above your head. Once the colony is established, clearing every termite and termite egg out of the structure will not be an easy task, so it pays to watch for evidence of termites in your Crestview home and resolve the problem before it has a chance to start. 

Watch for:

• Small holes in wood with little piles of sawdust by them (the termite frass)
• Shed wings of the flying reproductives, the swarmers
• Hollow-sounding wood and blistering paint
• Mud tubes leading from the ground to your home

Consider adding a yearly termite inspection as an extra layer of protection against the costly damage termites can inflict on your home.

How Termite Activity Can Go Unnoticed For Some Time

Unlike most other pests invading your home, termites are silent, and even with thousands of them tunneling through your walls, you're not likely to suspect their presence.

Subterranean termites will tunnel up from under the ground and make their way straight into untreated wood they come in contact with. Unlike ants, everything termites need is within the lumber of your home. You're not likely to spot them wandering around scavenging for food or returning to their nest.

Don't Try To Get Rid Of Termites On Your Own

Handling termite removal on your own is not easy and, most often, a recipe for failure for these reasons:

• Termites are hard to spot, and colonies often exist for years before they are noticed.
• A termite queen will lay thousands of eggs each day, growing the number of termites in your home.
• Identifying the termite type infesting your home is key to successful treatment and is hard to do without falling back on years of experience.
• Unlike most other communal insects, the termite colony is not done for if the queen is done- any of the hundreds of thousands of workers can be the start of a new colony.

The biggest issue with attempting termite control on your own is the fact that termite treatments usually involve dangerous chemicals, and application requires trade-specific equipment and extensive training.

You'll Need Professional Assistance To Get Rid Of Termites

At Cadenhead Services Pest Control, we've been helping Crestview residents keep their homes termite free for over 40 years. Our technicians are trained and experienced to ensure that every last little invader is cleared out of your home. If you're struggling with a termite infestation reach out to us today so we can help, and to learn more about our residential and commercial pest control services in Crestview.