It's Termite Awareness Week!

That’s right, it’s termite swarm season. And with swarms comes disgruntled consumers seeing mounds of termites in and around their precious property. Termites pose a significant threat to your home’s property value. If there is ever a time to see if you have termites, the time is now! Call today for your free termite inspection!

Here are a few clues that termites may be present in a home:

1. Mud tubes (used by termites to reach a food source) on the exterior of the home
2. Soft wood in the home that sounds hollow when tapped
3. Darkening or blistering of wood structures
4. Cracked or bubbling paint
5. Small piles of feces that resembles sawdust near a termite nest
6. Discarded wings near doors or on windowsills, indicating swarmers have entered the home

Termite Facts

• Termites are wood-destroying insects whose presence dates back to the dinosaurs.
• Termites are known as “silent destroyers” because of their ability to chew through wood, flooring and even wallpaper undetected.
• There are about 2,000 known species of termites in the world.
• The most common termite species found in the United States are subterranean termites, Formosan termites, dampwood termites, drywood termites.
• Subterranean termites are by far the most destructive species of termite as they eat 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• Each year, termites cause more than $5 billion in property damage.
• Termite colonies can have upwards of 2 million members.
• Termites are present in 70 percent of countries across the world and their population outnumbers human beings on a ratio of ten to one.
• The queen termite can lay up to 40,000 eggs per day.

Termite Prevention Tips

There are many steps a homeowner can take to help prevent termites from infesting their property. Most importantly, a homeowner should eliminate or reduce moisture in and around their home, which termites need to thrive. Here are some other tips:

• Divert water away from your home’s foundation by installing properly functioning downspouts, gutters and splash blocks.
• Reduce humidity in crawl spaces with proper ventilation.
• Trim vines, hedges and other vegetation to prevent them from blocking vents.
• Remove old form boards, grade stakes, tree trunks and roots near a building, as they may attract termites.
• Maintain an 18-inch gap between soil and any wood portions of your home.
• Store firewood at least 20 feet away from the house and and 5 inches off the ground. Check it for pests before bringing it indoors.
• Routinely inspect the foundation of your home for signs of termite damage.