Time is of the essence if you have termites lurking in the walls and floors of your Modesto home. While these pests are small, measuring just a quarter-inch to a half-inch in length, the damage they can cause to your home is structurally devastating. If the termite population is large enough, these pests can destroy a home within just a year or two.
Even worse, termites are not covered under most homeowners’ insurance policies, adding even more stress to the situation—and your pocket. To avoid all this, you’ll need the help of Modesto pest control services.
Read on to learn what is attracting termites to your home and what termite damage looks like. We’ll also suggest whether you can prevent termites and what to do if you have termites in your home.
What Attracts Termites To My Home?
Six factors primarily draw termites. These include:
- Wood
- Landscaping
- Moisture
- Darkness
- Warm shelter
- Cellulose materials
Because wood draws termites, the presence of tree stumps, mulch, and outdoor firewood piles will attract them further. Damage to roofing, especially gutters or basement areas, can heighten a home’s risk for attracting termites by providing them with opportunities to enter it.
What Does Termite Damage Look Like?
It may take a few months to a few years to notice termite damage. Unfortunately, without regularly scheduled pest control services, there’s no guarantee that homeowners will know about the status of termites in their homes until signs of damage start to show.
Termite damage can be extensive. Damage as a result of a termite infestation include:
- Wood that produces a hollow sound when it’s knocked, from walls to furniture
- Pinpoint-sized holes in drywall
- Loosening tiles due to increased moisture
- Maze-like markings in floorboards, walls, or furniture
- Wood or laminate flooring that appears warped
- Squeaky floorboards
- Peeling paint which may look like water damage
- Drywall that sags or is discolored
- Windows and doors becoming jammed
- Crumbling wood underneath flooring or in walls
How Can I Prevent Termites?
The most effective means of termite prevention is professional pest control services. However, homeowners can also apply the following three suggestions on their own to avoid attracting termites in the future.
Maintain landscaping, which entails regularly cutting the grass, trimming shrubbery, pulling weeds, and picking up fallen twigs and leaves. It’s also critical to remove all tree stumps and mulch and store firewood 20 feet or more from your home’s foundation.
Keep plants several feet away from your home’s foundation. Also, limit the number of plants that you have within proximity to your foundation.
Repair damage that causes high moisture as soon as they’re noticed, such as clogged gutters and drains. Use downspout gutters to draw rainwater away from the home. Also, remove birdbaths and fountains; if not, clean them regularly.
What Should I Do If I Have Termites?
Termites can be an overwhelming and serious problem that professionals best handle.
Peace of Mind Pest Control is a local, family-owned, and operated pest control business that’s been serving home and business owners in Modesto and Stanislaus County for nearly 15 years. We provide free pest control inspections and also free re-services for persistent pests.
If you suspect you may have termites in your Modesto home, call the professionals at Peace of Mind Pest Control today at 209-314-8027. In addition to pest control, we also offer termite repair services to fix any damage caused due to these pests.
