One of the most common disappointments for homeowners is discovering termite damage that has occurred on their home. From rodents to insects, termites are prone to cause the most damage to the structure of the home and are even prone to destroy the foundation with time. When termite damage has been discovered, there are a few steps to take when dealing with the problem and to take preventative measures for the future.
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Make a Cardboard Trap
You can handle part of the termite problem by making a cardboard trap that is moist, which will quickly attract hundreds of termites. After a day, take the cardboard outside and burn it. This process can be repeated several times to control most of the problem yourself. If you are not yet completely infested with termites, this should do the trick, but if you are having to do this often then you may want to call a termite exterminator to come out to your home and let them take care of the problem.
Hire a Termite Exterminator
Structural fumigation with the use of a tent and a chemical barrier that is made will be needed where dry wood termites have invaded with the help of a professional exterminator like those from Go Evergreen Pest & Termite. The house will be hermetically sealed for fumigation before it’s aired out for a day and a half. Once this is done, you will want to have the exterminator come back to your home and make sure that they were able to get them all. The exterminator may want to do a few follow up things such as setting some traps to make sure all the termites have been taken care of.
Remove Moisture from the Home
Termites are drawn to areas where moisture is present, making it important to prevent future infestations by repairing leaks and cleaning up any standing water that is present on the property. The water can be swept away or even sucked up, depending on the amount of water that has accumulated. You can also clean wet gutters and remove any debris that may be present.
Use Boric Acid
Boric acid is a common solution to termite infestation by having bait stations that include using wood that is soaked in the chemical. The bait can be placed in a nearby garden and should be sprayed with boric acid each day for an efficient way of gradually killing off the termites.
Termites may be small, but they can do a lot of damage to the foundation of your home. They can cost you an arm and a leg if you let the problem go on without it being treated. Although it can feel overwhelming to find that termites are present on your property, there are a number of steps to take to remove the insects and have more control of the problem. It will not only work to protect the structure of your home, but can prevent further damage that will likely become more severe with time.
