You’re walking around your home when you notice a few strange lines of mud extending out from the foundation. You clean them away but they appear again not too long after. This is a huge indicator that you have a subterranean termite infestation on your hands.
Those mud tubes you found act as a shelter for the foraging termites. If you don’t get rid of them, then they can weaken the wooden and even metal structures around your Clearwater house. It’s time to attack the colony.
Here are a few tips for getting rid of subterranean termites and keeping them away for good.
1. Treat the Wood
If the termites aren’t in your home yet, you can apply a wood curer on the wooden structures around the home. It will make the termites second guess going for it and it will strengthen it. It’s a win-win.
Keep in mind that this isn’t a permanent solution. When the wood ages it will soften again and become vulnerable to a termite infestation.
2. Use Liquid Chemicals
You can spray the wooden structures around your home with liquid chemicals. This will stop them from biting, but like the wood cure, it’s not a permanent solution.
Spraying with liquid chemicals acts as a quick and easy spot treatment. This makes it a good method to use along with other ones. It shouldn’t be the only thing that you use.
3. Chemical Barrier
Subterranean termites live in the soil, mostly. You can stop them from gaining further entry to your home by creating a chemical barrier around it. This is usually done or should be done before your house is constructed.
You can do it after though. You must drill holes in your foundation and inject the liquid insecticide directly.
If you’re not sure how to do this, then you may want to get the advice of a professional. If you don’t then you risk doing more harm than good to your home.
4. Repellent Vs. Non-Repellent Chemicals
When it comes to choosing an insecticide, you’ve got repellent and non-repellent chemicals. Both have their own set of pros and cons. Repellent chemicals are used before you have an infestation on your hands.
You’ll spray a liquid barrier onto your wood surfaces. The problem is that it’s hard to create the perfect line of defense. It’s possible that you’ll leave gaps and if you do, the termites will find it.
Non-repellent chemicals won’t stop the termites from getting to the wood. It will kill them when they burry themselves into it though. If you’re lucky the foraging termites will get the chemical on them and take it back to their colony to kill even more of its brethren.
5. Bait Traps
Baiting subterranean termites is a popular and effective way of dealing with them. Grab your traps and put a piece of untreated wood in each one. Place them around the outside of your home at 10 ft intervals.
Each month you’ll pull the traps out of the ground and check them. If you have any in the traps, place poisoned bait in with them. Some termites will die, and some of them will take the contaminated bait back to their colony.
The outside traps won’t work for the termites already in your home obviously. You must pick up a few inside bait traps.
Place them in areas where you see the mud tubes we were talking about in the beginning. After you hang them, they will act the same way the outside traps do.
6. Fumigate Your Home
If your infestation is too serious, then none of the methods above will do much good. You must have your entire home fumigated. Call a pest control company to do the job and start getting your house ready for the process.
Either seal up your food or take it out with you, for example. You won’t be able to enter your home for a few days while your home is being treated so make sure you’ve got everything you need.
7. Avoiding Future Infestations
The best way to get rid of subterranean termites is by avoiding getting them. Here are a few things to keep yourself from suffering from another outbreak.
Avoid Water Accumulation
Water and moisture act as a prime environment for subterranean termites. You must stop water from accumulating around the foundation of your home. You can do this by installing gutters and downspouts.
You’ll also want to watch your use of mulch around the foundation of your home if you have a garden. Mulch is also a good living place for termites.
Fix Structural Issues
There are certain structural problems around your home that will increase your chances of attracting termites. The main thing to keep in mind here is to make sure none of the wooden places of your home are touching the soil.
There should be at least 12 inches between your home and the ground. This goes for your deck or porch.
Ventilate Your Home
Dark and humid places around your home such as your attic or crawl space make for an ideal shelter for subterranean termites. You can lower your chances of getting them by making sure these areas are well ventilated.
Get Rid of Subterranean Termites for Good in Your Clearwater Home
Subterranean termites can be hard to get rid of once they get into your Clearwater home. You must take special measures to get rid of them and keep them from getting back in.
Keep these tips in mind when you’re dealing with your infestation and stop your house from becoming lunch.
Do you need to have your home fumigated for subterranean termites? Contact us to schedule an appointment.