If you have wood in your house, which most houses do, and if you live in an area where termites are active, you need to find out more about your local pest control firms. It is important to choose a reputable one and have them check your house at least once a year for termites.
If a problem is discovered the exterminators will be able to handle it for you. But, it can help to know what four key areas the exterminator should be checking when performing a termite inspection.
Knowing what these are will help you to identify issues and confirm the pest control report.
- Soil Around Your Home
Termites enter your home by digging tunnels into the soil around your home. This gives them access to your foundations and the wood in them. At the same time, the soil helps to keep the termites moist, which is essential for their health.
It is also the reason many experts recommend concreting around your home with a strip at least six inches wide.
A termite inspection should start here, if there are signs of tunnels then it is likely you have an active termite colony. The only question then is how long have they been active.
- Wood In Your Home
If there are signs of termite tunnels the inspector should head into your home to check any visible wood. Alongside this, they should have a look at the crawl space under your house. They will be looking for damaged wood. It can be warped, blistered, or simply have pinprick holes in it.
Any of these signals suggest a termite presence. The inspector may even be able to identify where the colony is, although that is not their primary role.
- Storage of Firewood, etc.
Moving away from the home an inspection should look at piles of firewood or deadwood. These are very attractive to termites, the further they are from the house the better.
If there is any sign of termites in this wood the inspector will need to decide if they have made it to your house. It will help them to decide the most appropriate treatment. This could mean destroying the wood stack or moving it further from your property.
- Wooden Fencing
Finally, an inspection should always include a look at any wooden fencing you have. This usually marks the boundary of your property. Signs of an infestation here tell the inspector that the termites are heading your way. They will be able to take action to stop them from reaching your house.
You don’t need to wait for an annual inspection to check these places for signs of a termite infestation. You can check them as often as you like and call for professional help if you think you have identified an issue. Don’t forget that termites can cause a lot of damage, the earlier they are spotted the less damage they can cause and the better it is for your wallet.
