Huntsville Homeowner's Comprehensive Guide To Dealing With Termites
September 10, 2022
Purchasing a home is an exciting and daunting task. After days of searching, hours of wading through paperwork, and multiple meetings with your agent, you finally find the home of your dreams. Although the house may appear in excellent condition, invisible problems may lurk in the walls, foundation, and attic.
Before you make a down payment of thousands of dollars and lock yourself into a multi-year contract, you must have the structure tested for termites. The best termite inspection option is using the Huntsville pest control experts from Custom Pest Control.
Do I Need A Termite Inspection Before Buying A Home?
In Alabama, realtors must provide annual inspections of homes under contract. Termites are attracted to the warm, humid Alabama weather, so a termite inspection is necessary.
During a termite inspection, our team will examine the following for termite damage:
- Roof
- Crawlspace
- Basement
- Foundation
- Wood structures
Our local termite control team from Custom Pest Control uses infrared scanners and FLIR cameras to identify termite activity. We also provide a wood-destroying insect inspection and report (WDIR) to the lender and homeowner. Within 30 days of closing, we provide the lender with a termite or closing letter.
Three Things To Look For When Searching For Termite Damage
There are two types of termites infesting Huntsville homes: eastern subterranean termites and drywood termites. When inspecting the house for an infestation of these termites, look for the following:
- Fecal matter: Drywood termites deposit fecal matter (frass) from the galleries as they tunnel through wood. Frass consists of small pellets no larger than a millimeter in size. Waste from eastern subterranean termite looks like sawdust located outside the nest.
- Exterior evidence: Eastern subterranean termites build tubes on the sides of the house's foundation. Proof of a drywood termite infestation is flying swarms during certain times of the year and the presence of discarded wings.
- Internal evidence: Signs of termites inside your house include warped doors, crackling sounds, blistering paint, and wood that sounds hollow.
During the inspection, our trained professionals probe the wood in the home and look for internal and external visual evidence.
Why Professional Termite Control Is A Must
Colonies of eastern subterranean termites range from 60,000 to over a million termites! Annually, a small colony can consume over two linear feet of a two-by-four pine board. Because these termites can cause havoc to the wood in your Huntsville home in a short time, you need the best termite control in Huntsville.
Although drywood termite colonies are not as large, they can still have over 2,500 termites in a single nest. These termites chew through floors, walls, support beams, and almost anything made of cellulose. Collectively, termites cost homeowners $5 billion in damage annually!
Termites are difficult to eradicate, and some, like drywood termites, are hard to locate in the home. Effective elimination of termites requires the destruction of nests and eggs utilizing a multi-faceted approach.
Things Homeowners Can Do To Prevent Future Termite Damage
Even if your home was certified "termite-free," or our experts eradicated termites from your Huntsville home, you need to take steps to stop future infestations. These are things you can do to prevent future termite damage:
- Divert water from the foundation
- Dehumidify the crawlspace with proper ventilation
- Remove wood scraps from the yard
- Create an 18-inch barrier between any wood, soil, and foundation
- Seal cracks and crevices in the foundation
- Move firewood at least 20 feet away from the foundation
Prevention is cheaper than an infestation of termites. Our trained pest control experts from Custom Pest Control have the tools and environmentally safe treatment methods to eliminate termites and stop future invasions. Contact us today and let us stop the termites before they cause tremendous damage to your home.