What To Do If You Spot Signs Of Termites In Your Tampa Home
Sadly, termites are common throughout the Tampa area. These destructive pests are active all year and could invade and eventually ruin your home if you aren't careful. With the threat of termites looming, it's better to familiarize yourself with Tampa pest control sooner rather than later. We at Urbanex have seen too many Tampa homes suffer extensive damage from termites, so we wrote this guide to help you spot signs of termites early on. Early detection is the key to effective termite and pest control and could save you thousands of dollars in repairs. So read on to learn more, and call on Urbanex for the best termite control in the Tampa area.
Easy-To-Spot Signs Of Termites
Termites are subterranean pests that spend most of their lives hidden beneath the ground or inside the wood. However, despite their stealthy nature, they leave obvious signs of their presence behind. Watch for these signs of termite infestation in your home:
Mud tubes: Termites construct these tunnels between their nests and food sources to stay protected when traveling between them. Mud tubes are present on the surface.
Mounds of feces: Termite feces, also called frass, takes on the color of the wood and appear near feeding areas. So chances are that if you find frass, you'll discover damaged wood nearby.
Strange rattling noises: Soldier termites (the colony's protectors) react to strong vibrations by banging their heads against nearby surfaces. The termites produce these noises to warn the rest of the colony that danger could be nearby.
These are far from the only signs that termites are in your home. Contact our Urbanex team for a comprehensive termite inspection if you want a broader view of what evidence termites leave behind. We'll help you identify all the signs in your home and what you can do about them.
The Extent Of Damage Termites Can Silently Create To Your Home
Termites that feed on wood and paper products do so from the inside out. That means the damage they're causing isn't visible at first. However, by creating hollow sections inside the wood, they weaken it significantly.
Eventually, applying pressure to the damaged wood will cause it to crack and splinter. In time, it will break entirely. Once you suspect or find evidence of termite damage, it's vital that you call our team ASAP to prevent further damage. If left unchecked, termite damage can threaten the structural integrity of your home.
Factors That Attract Termites To Your Home
Termites are looking for cellulose material to eat. While removing all the wood from your home is unreasonable, there are specific actions you can take to make the wood less appealing. Here are just a few examples:
Clear away fallen tree limbs: The closer termites get to your home, the more likely they will invade. You can deter them by cleaning up food sources, like fallen tree branches, and keeping them at least 30 feet away from your home.
Try to keep the soil closest to your home dry: Termites prefer damp soil because it's much easier to tunnel through. In addition, you can prevent the buildup of excess moisture in the ground by diverting rain runoff further away from your home's foundation.
Remove dead trees from your property: The softer the wood, the easier it is for termites to eat. Therefore, remove rotting wood from your property as soon as possible to eliminate a potential food source.
Other factors that attract termites depend on the condition of your property. For a comprehensive look, contact our Urbanex team for a professional assessment. Then, we'll suggest additional methods to deter termites from your home.
Contact The Pros At The First Sign Of Termites In Your House
Termite removal isn't easy, but when you team with the pros at Urbanex, you don't have to worry about a thing. We'll work hard to develop a treatment plan that suits your needs and protects your home. Reach out today for a free assessment.
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