by MARSHALL BONE
Today’s homeowner has to navigate everything from rising insurance premiums to the added inflation for basic home maintenance items. Now that the days are getting longer, some common pests such as termites will inevitably become more active in the summer months, potentially wreaking havoc in your home.
Every homeowner needs to know the danger signs of termites and what to do about them early on. Learn how to spot the start of a termite infestation and take care of this problem before it gets worse and causes significant (and expensive!) damage.
Know the Warning Signs
Do a thorough home inspection at the beginning of the summer season and look for these common tell-tale signs of termites, especially if your home happens to be new to you:
- Inspect wood damage. Look for any signs of new tunnels, small holes, piles of sawdust, rotting wood, cracked paint or sagging areas in your home.
- Walk around the outer edge of your home and be on the lookout for tunnels in the soil leading to your house. These may indicate a problem is developing.
- Swarms nearby can sometimes be spotted indoors or outdoors as the winged-termites come out of their nests in spring or early-summer. You should familiarize yourself with their appearance and be on the lookout for discarded wings or mud tubes near windows and foundation.
Any of these signs may indicate that it’s time to bring in a professional for further assessment.
Time for Action
If you already know the warning signs or have experienced a termite infestation in the past, you know there are times you can take matters into your own hands safely with some basic home termite equipment. Other situations call for professional help, so it’s important to assess the damage and educate yourself on next steps.
- Sometimes a localized spray can take care of a newly developing issue but it’s best to consult with a professional before application.
- Plug any holes you can find and install a bait system outside your house to help eliminate the termite colony once and for all!
- You can try natural methods such as boric acid, a cardboard trap or boiling water if you know where the central problem is stemming from.
Some areas and homes are more prone to this problem than others so if you live in an older home or have recently purchased a home, be extra-vigilant.
Preventive Care
An ounce of prevention is worth it. Here are some proactive ways you can deter and prevent a termite infestation from beginning.
- Check areas where termites have entered your home in the past and seal them with plugs. Make sure to check any previous plugs or problem-areas yearly.
- Avoid allowing overgrowth near your foundation as these areas can make it difficult to spot issues.
- Keep an eye on places in and around your home that aren’t easily accessible such as attics and crawl-spaces – if the problem is undetected it can cause significant damage so it’s best to catch it before it becomes a larger issue.
Sometimes, a simple yearly spring clean-up is your best preventive action against termites. Dense overgrowth around your home’s foundation can hide termite damage and disguise their entryways.
When to Seek Help
It’s noble to try and take care of simple home maintenance issues on your own but there are definitely times you should reach for the phone and ask a professional to step in right away.
- If your DIY methods are not taking care of the problems promptly – don’t just stand by and let the issue get worse.
- If you begin to spot any kind of structural damage to your home (hollow wood, unsteady beams) you need trained help.
- If you’re considering using pesticides or chemicals to help take care of the issue, it’s best to seek help for safety and environmental reasons.
One thing is for sure – you need to know the signs of a termite problem so you can fix them early-on. Stay alert this season and protect your biggest investment.
Marshall Bone is a writer, copy strategist and all-around stylish guy who has been following trends in GQ for more than two decades. Voted best-dressed both his junior and senior year, Bone has continued this legacy and can be found covering various topics from men’s fashion to self care and grooming. He enjoys reading and is based in the greater Los Angeles area.
