Most homes in California have termites. The majority of home dwellers are not bothered by the presence of termites. They usually don’t even notice them until they begin to cause damage. When they do cause damage, it most commonly manifests itself as mildew and other fungi that grow when moisture accumulates in places where there is little natural air flow. Termites, however, can also cause structural damage to your home. In addition to causing structural damage if left unchecked, termites cause a host of problems when they invade your home or structure:
Of course, not all homes in California have termites and not every homeowner has a problem from this common household pest. If you live in an area with a high concentration of termite activity or if you suspect that there may be a colony or nests around your house, you should take steps to protect yourself from them.
How to Know if Your Home is at Risk
There are several ways to determine if your home is at risk for termites. One way is to use a bait test. If you suspect that there may be termites near your home, place small amounts of food near the suspected locations and then wait to see if the food disappears or if the ants or termites come to retrieve it. If so, this indicates that you may have an infestation in the area. Another method is by seeing if there appears to be mud on your walls or ceilings. Often, termites like damp environments because they need moisture to thrive. If you notice any signs of mud, then it’s likely that you have a problem with these pests in your house. Finally, one way to know for sure whether or not your home has a termite problem is by hiring a pest control company for a professional inspection for evidence of infestation.
What you can do to Protect your Home
You can take preventative measures to protect your home from termites. These include:
– Keep areas in your home that don’t see air flow, like closets and crawl spaces, dry.
– Install a vapor barrier over the wall area of deck or patio where it is desired to maintain airflow.
– If you live in an area with a high termite activity, make sure you hire a professional exterminator to get rid of any nests or colonies that are present. This will ensure that the entire structure is protected.
Where Termites Nest in California
Termites typically nest in the ground, but they can also live in the attic, wall voids, or inside your home.
Types of Termite Infestations
There are two types of termite infestations that can take place in a home. The first is when it takes over an area of the house that is not accessible for treatment, like inside walls or under floors. When this type of infestation takes place, there will be no visible signs of damage and you won’t be able to find any evidence that termites are present. The other type is what we would classify as a visible infestation, where you see evidence of their presence in the form of dead or dying termites or droppings on surfaces around your home.
When dealing with a visible infestation, you should start by using a long-handled brush to sweep up all the droppings found in various locations around your home.
You should then seal up areas that have been invaded by termites and use materials like drywall mud paste to fill cracks and holes where they have gained access. Liquid insecticide can also be used to treat areas that are accessible with a long-handled brush and even spray affected areas with insecticide solutions from outside the home.
Signs of a Termite Infestation
The most common signs of termite infestation are droppings, wings and live insects found in the dirt. In addition to these, you might also find mold and other fungus that has grown in areas with little or no natural air flow.
Droppings: These tell you that the termites have been present for a while and will soon be causing damage
Wings: These reveal that there is a nest nearby
Live insects: You may see some termites flying around your property. If they’re flying around inside your home, they’ve already started to cause damage.
Mold: Termites can cause mold growth when moisture accumulates in places where there is little natural air flow. This causes the fungi to multiply rapidly which leads to fungal infections. This will likely show up as mildew on surfaces of walls, woodwork or any number of other places where it can grow undetected.
How to Protect your House from Termites
If you live in an area with a high concentration of termites, you’ll want to take some preventative measures. You can protect your home from termites by taking the following steps:
1. Remove wood debris and dead vegetation from around your house
2. Keep your property clean and free of any clutter or items that could create food sources for the termite colony
3. Use contact insecticide on areas where there is a known infestation
4. Repair any structural damage caused by termites
Conclusion
House termites are a common problem for homeowners. In California, the average home has about 1.5 feet of termite infestation. These bugs can cause significant structural damage to a home if left untreated. If you think you may have a termite problem, it’s important to have an inspection done by an expert.
