Why Are Termites Dangerous To Your Home?
Termites are notorious for causing incredible amounts of damage to a home. Just the thought of a termite infestation is enough to strike fear into the heart of any homeowner. Not only do they cause damage to a home, but that damage can be extremely costly to repair. So what exactly is it that makes termites so dangerous to your home?
How Termites Destroy Your Home
While there are a number of insects who may make their way into your home and set up camp, very rarely do any of them do as much physical damage to a house as a termite infestation. Termites have the ability to go undetected within your home, sometimes for years, eating away at the structure and causing all kinds of damage. Termites cause billions of dollars worth of damage every single year. A stealthy invader with the ability to cause that much damage is certainly dangerous to your home.
When you have a termite invasion, you are often dealing with an entire colony of termites. While that may not sound too scary, consider the fact that a colony can include tens or hundreds of thousands of termites. While the termites themselves may be relatively small, when you realize how many of them there may be you see how they can cause massive amounts of damage. In the course of a year a colony of termites could eat several pounds of wood. When we’re talking about the wood that makes up the structure of your home it’s easy to realize how dangerous this could potentially be.
The good news is, very rarely does termite damage cause something as significant as a building collapse. This would take years and years of work on the behalf of the termites, and you will likely see the signs of an infestation long before it gets to that point. The important thing is to act immediately when you do notice signs of an invasion. The longer you let the termites remain, the more damage they are able to do.
Act Quickly To Avoid Costly Damage
If you have a pretty good indication that you have a termite issue in your home, it’s a good idea to call in your local pest control expert at once. While there is always the possibility of attempting the do-it-yourself approach, a pest control technician will know how to quickly and effectively resolve the issue. Not only is termite detection difficult, but completely eradicating the infestation can be extremely challenging. This is often one of those situations where it’s much better to leave it to the professionals.
If you have been able to avoid a termite infestation up to this point, there are a few things you can do to make sure it stays that way. First, you need to do a thorough walkthrough of the inside and outside of your home. Look for any cracks or gaps in the foundation or walls, and fill those in immediately with caulking or other methods. If you don’t already have screens on your windows and doors, consider installing them now. Finally, keep all wood sources as far from your home as possible. Woodpiles should be stored several feet out from the walls of your home, and it’s also a good idea to avoid using wood mulch in your flowerbeds.
Need Professional Help? We've Got You Covered!
A termite infestation isn’t the end of the world, but it’s certainly something you need to take care of as quickly as possible. While these critters can certainly be dangerous to your home, it is possible to catch the problem early and prevent large amounts of damage. Consider having a pest control expert visit your home to do a termite inspection for your peace of mind. In cases such as this, it’s often better to be safe than sorry. Zap Termite & Pest Control is a pest control company in Sacramento that can provide you with comprehensive protection against these destructive pests.