Occasionally, homeowners begin to suspect they have a termite infestation in their home. This will often happen because they notice some of the following signs:
- “Sand” or what looks like small dirt piles in places they shouldn’t be
- Discarded insect wings (around a windowsill, for example)
- An actual swarm of insects (a sure sign of a problem, but you want to make sure they’re termites before deciding upon a treatment)
If these events happen to you, or you have some other reason to suspect a termite problem, your very first step should be to call a professional. Termites can be a tricky situation, and “homemade” or over-the-counter treatments won’t be effective on such a serious and potentially damaging problem. In fact, in many situations they will simply spot-treat one location, but drive the termites to hide more deeply inside your home. These store-bought treatments only kill on contact, but don’t address the colony which is generally hidden where you can’t reach it.
In most cases, by the time you actually notice the termite infestation, the problem has been ongoing for three to five years! During this time the colony has had plenty of time to spread, and to create unseen damage inside your home (in the walls, under floorboards, in the attic, etc). Any damage that you can see is likely just the “tip of the iceberg”.
So, if you suspect a termite problem, the absolute first thing you should do is pick up the phone. Give us a call, and we can assess the extent of your infestation. After we address the problem at its root (the colony), you can then begin the process of repairing any damages to your home. We can also discuss setting up a termite bond and future inspections. This will effectively guarantee our work against a re-infestation, and provide you with invaluable peace of mind.