Everyone knows that termites can be a big problem, but how big of a problem are they here in Texas? Termites can be found in all 50 states, and Texas is one of the highest-ranking states when it comes down to how severe termites are. In fact, homes along the gulf coast are ranked number 4 in the country for the highest risk of a termite infestation. If you live here in San Antonio, your home falls under this statistic.
How To Identify Termite Damage
As you may know, termites are the number-one wood-destroying pest here in America. They are not, however, the only thing that destroys homes. Our goal is to help you distinguish the damage termites do to homes from the damage of other common wood destroyers such as carpenter bees, carpenter ants, and rot. Here are some things to consider.
- Do you see pencil-sized mud tubes running up your home's exterior foundation? These small highways are constructed by termites as a way to get in and out of your home's wood.
- Are the holes in your home's wood higher up and roughly a half-inch in diameter? This is not a sign of termites, but rather of carpenter bees, a different problem pest entirely.
- Is there sawdust around the holes in the wood of your home? If so, chances are you are not dealing with termites but carpenter ants. They are known not to eat wood but to leave it behind as dust.
Beyond this, termite damage can be extremely difficult to spot--unless they have been eating away at your home for a long time. At this point, you would notice the damage they have done in the form of dipping floors, bubbling wallpaper, hollow-sounding walls, and (at worst) severe structural failure. You want to find termites before you find these problems in your home.
Tips To Prevent Termites Infestations
Assuming your home does not have a current termite infestation, here are some great ways to try to keep them away.
- Fix leaks in and around your home.
- Make sure all of your gutters are in good working order and draining properly.
- Reduce moisture in basements and crawlspaces.
- Make sure firewood and other wooden debris are a fair distance away from the walls of your home.
- Trim back bushes and trees from your home’s exterior so that sunlight and air are able to keep the dirt around your home dry.
How Family Pest Can Help With Termites
The truth about termites is that they can be a pain to deal with on your own, nearly impossible to eliminate and keep out. If you feel up to the task, we wish you luck, but if you are looking for a cheaper, easier solution for getting and keeping termites out of your home, the pros here at Family Pest Control are standing by to lend you a hand. If you would like to speak to one of our pest service representatives about our termite protection plans, feel free to give us a call. We would be happy to meet your pest control needs.