When it comes to pests, there are those that are nuisances, those that threaten our health, and those that threaten our property. One pest that falls into the latter group, that we face here in Tampa, is the termite. Termites are destructive pests that can damage or destroy the wood found in homes. Each year in the United States, termites are responsible for nearly five-billion dollars’ worth of damage. This means that Tampa homeowners need to take every preventative measure at their disposal. This means knowing what factors attract termites to homes and how to reduce them. Furthermore, should your Tampa home become infested with termites, you need to know the effective termite control solutions you can count on to get rid of them.
What Are Termites?
Termites are ant-like pests that feed on the cellulose found in wood. While this can help with breaking down fallen trees out in the world, it also means they can cause immense amounts of damage to homes, as well. Termites live in colonies that are made up of different castes. The three castes that makeup termite colonies are workers, soldiers, and reproductives. Each caste has its own responsibility within the colony. Workers gather food. Soldiers provide protection. Reproductives set out to create new colonies in a process known as a termite swarm.
Unless termites are swarming, you are not likely to ever see one in your home. This is because termites tend to remain within their nests or the wood that they are eating. As such, many people do not know their home is infested with termites until it’s too late. Termites prefer to feed on decaying or moisture-damaged wood. However, they will feed on almost any wood inside of a home if given the opportunity. This includes structural wood, flooring, siding, and wooden furniture.
What Factors Attract Termites To Properties?
As previously mentioned, termites prefer to feed on moisture-damaged wood because it is easier for them to eat. As such, the presence of rotting wood, moisture buildup, leaks, or flooding within a home, could all be factors that attract termites. Furthermore, termites might enter a home simply because there is easy access to it. This includes cracks in the home’s foundation and contact between wooden structures outside the home and the soil where termites live.
How Can You Keep Termites Out Of Your Home?
To keep termites out of your Tampa home, you should try to remove any factors that might attract them inside and seal off potential entry points. To achieve this, you need to:
- Remove or replace any decaying or water-damaged wood inside the home.
- Use dehumidifiers to address moisture buildup, especially in poorly ventilated areas.
- Fix leaky pipes or fixtures and ensure all drains are working properly.
- Keep gutters free of debris to prevent flooding.
- Fill in cracks in your home’s foundation with caulk.
- Store woodpiles away from your home’s exterior.
- Limit wood-to-soil contact around your home by creating gravel or cement barriers between the soil and any wooden structures such as wooden house siding and deck posts.
What To Do About Termite Infestations In Tampa
If you do find yourself dealing with a termite infestation in your Tampa home, contact the professionals here at EcoTech Pest Control Solutions right away for assistance. Our termite control plan is designed to effectively eliminate any termites from in and around homes to ensure your property is safe, once again, from termite damage. Furthermore, you can also opt for annual termite inspections to make sure no new infestations have materialized over the course of the year. This is an essential step in keeping your home safe from termites all year long. For more information on termites and termite control solutions, give us a call now.