Termites are single-cell creatures that feed on wood, cellulose. If there is a lot of food available, they can quickly multiply. They’re also known as white ants because of their white cast from chewing the cellulose in wood. Once inside your home, termites will feed and multiply, causing extensive damage to wood foundation walls and other building components. When you discover little signs of activity in the cracks of your home or if you notice damage to your home after several weeks of being closed for the winter, it’s time to take action against termites.
To get rid of termites and prevent them from returning in the future, you must eliminate their food source. By sealing off entry points with caulk or masonry sealant and keeping food waste inside your home during the colder months, you reduce the amount of food that termites have access to as well as reduce their population numbers inside your house. You should also regularly inspect your foundation walls and any other cracks or openings where they may be hiding before they can establish a large enough colony to cause further damage after dark when no one is home.
Seal off termite entry points
The first step in getting rid of termites is to seal off entry points. This includes sealing cracks around windows and doors, as well as any openings or cracks in your foundation walls.
Inspecting these areas regularly is vital so that you can catch termites before they establish a colony.
You should also seal up any abandoned homes that may have been infested with termites in the past. Keep in mind, however, that this doesn’t always work because at some point, they’ll find another opening to enter from. These holes will need to be sealed up as well if no other entry point exists.
Be aware of your surroundings
If you’re concerned about termites, you should take a few precautions to detect and prevent any infestation. Look for signs of termite activity such as little piles of dirt or sawdust on the ground near your home. If you find these signs, it’s likely that there is a colony in your area.
To find out if this is true, place sticky traps near the suspected entry points where they could be entering your home. In addition, look for signs of damage around the outside of your home by looking close at the walls, foundation, and windows and doors.
Once you’ve found entry points or have evidence that termites are still present inside your home after trying these methods, it’s time to call a professional pest control company like Pest Patrol Termite Control (http://www.pestpatroltermitectal.com/).
Build a barrier to keep them out
If you don’t want to use caulk or sealant, you can also consider building a barrier to keep them out from within your home. One method is to fill up the cracks with a thin layer of insulation. This will not only keep these openings sealed, but it will also help prevent additional damage that could be caused by termites and reduce their ability to return in the future.
Get rid of their food source
The best way to get rid of termites is to eliminate their food source. Termites feed on cellulose, which is found in wood. If you seal off entry points and keep food waste inside your home during the colder months, they will have a hard time finding food and their population numbers will go down.
You should also regularly inspect your foundation walls and any other cracks or openings where they may be hiding before they can establish a large enough colony to cause further damage after dark when no one is home.
Frequent inspection is key
This is a preventative measure you can take to stop termites from getting inside your home or building. The only way to permanently get rid of them is by removing their food source and preventing them from returning.
Summing up
Termites are a common problem for homeowners. The good news is that it’s actually easy to get rid of termites once you know how!
