How to Handle Termites

The opportunity to own a home is considered to be a dream by many. However, once this dream becomes a reality, the last thing you want is to watch your home be destroyed right before your eyes by creatures that are about the size of rice grains. A termite infestation can number in the millions and cause damage to your home before you even realize what's going on. Years can pass by before noticeable signs begin to show up in your home. Although it would be better to know about the problem sooner than later, having information on how to handle termites can always be useful to homeowners.

Liquid termite treatments
Termite baits
Termite bait stakes

Instructions

- 1
  
  Cracks on your house should be repaired immediately.
  
  Avoid creating the conditions that will make your home a tempting environment for termites to dwell in. If your home has chipped paint or drywall that is cracked, these places should be covered immediately. Dirt should also be removed from your gutters because this can be a food source, which welcomes the presence of termites. You should also avoid storing any wood near your home. Wet wood can be especially inviting for termites because they can chew through it with less effort than it would take for them to chew through dry wood.
- 2
  Search your home for signs that indicate problems associated with termites. The wood in a basement or crawlspace can be checked to see if there is evidence of termite damage. The goal is to find out if any of the wood is hollow. You can accomplish this by taking the big end of a screwdriver and tapping on things like floor beams and wall boards. Other signs of a termite presence are mud tubes, which are tunnels that termites build to travel through.
- 3
  Maintain a dry environment inside and outside the home because termites thrive in areas with lots of moisture. All of your home's faucets and pipes should be free of leaks. The attic should have proper ventilation so a breeze can blow through, because if it doesn't then the attic will have a chance to build up humidity. You also want to make sure your gutters are clean so they can route water from your home. Clogged gutters can overflow with water and create a wet environment that you don't want when trying to handle termites.
- 4
  Discover the type of termite species you are having trouble with. There a several kinds of termites, such as the drywood and the subterranean species. In the United States, all but 10 percent of termites are subterranean termites. Humid areas on the coast are prone to the dampwood termite species. It's important to identify what type of termites you're dealing with because the best way to handle them can differ depending on the species.
- 5
  Treat your home yourself. There are several ways to deal with termites on your own. You can spray liquid termite treatments around your home, or you can lay out termite baits or bait stakes. If the termite infestation is too much for you to handle, call a professional who will come in and fumigate your home for you.

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