Loading ...Author: Ryan Knapp
Many homeowners are unaware that they may have visitors in their home who are slowly eating away the home’s value. These visitors come slowly and like to stay in places where no one can see them. They do not like to live alone, so they will bring many friends with them. Their daily work usually goes unnoticed until it has spread into every corner of a home. It is at this point that a homeowner realizes that they have unwanted visitors and that something needs to be done quickly, before it gets too late!
Termites are a well known insect throughout the world due to their ability to eat wood. Many are unaware that termite damage each year matches that of tornadoes, hurricanes, and hail storms during the same year. It is estimated that termites cost Americans around $1 billion dollars a year. Unfortunately, most insurance companies do not offer coverage for termite damage, which is interesting because termites have been destroying wood for over 240 million years!
These insects are nature’s tool to break down damaged or dead wood and return its particles into the soil. They do not differentiate the wood found in a forest vs. the wood contained in your home. Termites are so small that they can enter a home through a crack as thin as a piece of paper. Once inside a home, termites will quickly spread throughout the dwelling as a colony can average more than a million termites in size.
It can be unnerving to know, that deep within the walls of your home, is a colony of termites eating away the foundation of your personal livelihood. What can we do to prevent a termite intruder into our own homes? First, if you live in an area known for termite infestations, it is recommended to have a termite control expert inspect your home once a year. Inspections are especially important for those thinking of buying or selling a home. Second, avoid leaving wood in direct contact with the ground. Most home foundations are cement based with the wood structure of the home beginning about 6 inches above the ground level. This is the recommended clearance level for all wood sections of a home. Third, all wood decking, fencing, etc., should be chemically treated. Treated wood keeps moisture out and thus keeps the surface of the wood from expanding and allowing termites to enter. Fourth, common yard maintenance helps greatly. Make sure brush and grass found close to the home is cut regularly. Trim dead branches from the trees that surround the home. And finally, do your own inspections of the wood, both outside and inside your home. By doing so, you will be able to quickly detect a termite problem and be able to eliminate it before it spreads.
Through regular pest control, your home will be protected against termites and their destructive force. Don’t wait, thinking that you do not have a termite problem. Take a few minutes and inspect the wood in and around your home. It’s always better to catch an infestation in its early stages.
Ryan Knapp is an Internet Marketing Specialist at 10x Marketing. For more information regarding termite control and other pest control products visit Do My Own Pest Control.