Apr 10, 2025 | Termite Control
Termites may be small, but the damage they can cause to your home is anything but. With warmer weather in spring and summer, these pests become more active, particularly in places like North Carolina where the climate is ideal for their colonies to thrive. Protecting your home from termites is essential to maintaining its structural integrity and avoiding costly repairs. This comprehensive guide to termite control near me will walk you through what you need to know about termites, how to identify early warning signs, and practical steps to keep them at bay this season.
Termite Control Near Me
What Are Termites and Why Are They a Concern?
Termites are wood-eating insects that live in colonies and can chew through wooden structures, flooring, and even wallpaper. The most common types in North Carolina are subterranean termites, which thrive in moist environments and can silently damage your property. Unlike other pests, termites don’t just infest; they destroy.
What makes them particularly challenging is that their activity often goes unnoticed until significant damage has already been done. This means prevention and early detection are crucial for homeowners.
Why Spring and Summer Are Termite Seasons
Termites are most active during spring and summer due to the warmth and humidity that North Carolina provides. During these seasons, reproductive termites, also known as swarmers, search for new locations to establish colonies. If they find your home or yard hospitable, it could spell trouble.
Subterranean termites also require moisture to survive, making water sources such as leaky pipes, clogged gutters, and standing water attractive to these pests. The combination of environmental factors and increased termite activity makes spring and summer critical times for homeowners to take preventive action.
How to Protect Your Home from Termites
1. Recognize the Warning Signs
Early detection is key to avoiding termite damage. Look out for these common signs of termite activity:
- Discarded Wings: Reproductive termites shed their wings after swarming. You may find piles of wings near windows, doors, or light fixtures.
- Mud Tubes: Subterranean termites create pencil-width mud tubes to travel between their colony and food sources. These tubes are often found along the foundation of your home or in crawl spaces.
- Hollow-Sounding Wood: Tapping on wooden surfaces that sound hollow could mean termites have been feeding on the inside.
- Droppings: Also known as frass, termite droppings look like small piles of sawdust or sand and may be found near affected wood.
If you spot any of these signs, it’s time to take immediate action.
2. Maintain a Termite-Unfriendly Yard
Keeping your yard tidy and less appealing to termites can go a long way in protecting your home. Here’s how you can do it:
- Clear Debris: Remove any fallen branches, wood piles, or other debris close to your home’s foundation.
- Store Firewood Away: If you rely on firewood, store it at least 20 feet away from your home and off the ground.
- Trim Overgrown Plants: Make sure plants and shrubs are not directly touching your home, as they can create a bridge for termites to enter.
3. Manage Moisture Around Your Home
Since termites thrive in moist environments, moisture management is a simple yet effective strategy:
- Fix Leaks Promptly: Repair any leaky faucets, pipes, or air conditioning units. Even small drips can create enough moisture to attract termites.
- Redirect Water: Ensure that downspouts and gutters are properly directing water away from your home’s foundation.
- Ventilate Crawl Spaces: Proper ventilation reduces humidity in crawl spaces, making them less inviting to termites.
4. Perform Regular Inspections
One of the best ways to stay ahead of termites is to inspect your home regularly:
- DIY Spot Checks: Walk around your property and check for mud tubes, discarded wings, and other signs of termites.
- Professional Inspections: Hire a trusted pest control service for annual inspections. Professionals can identify subtle signs of termite activity that may go unnoticed.
Taking Action Today Can Save You Tomorrow
When it comes to termites, being proactive is your best defense. By recognizing warning signs, managing moisture, maintaining your yard, and scheduling regular inspections with termite control near me, you can significantly reduce the risk of a termite infestation. Spring and summer are ideal times to take these steps to your home for years to come.
For homeowners in North Carolina, expert guidance in termite control is just a call away. Protect what matters most by contacting a local pest control professional who understands the unique needs of your region. Don’t wait for termites to make themselves at home in your home!
Jul 19, 2023 | Termite Control
Subterranean termites are a common type of termite that can cause significant damage to your home if left untreated. These termites typically live underground and build their nests in the soil. There are several termite treatment options out there to help keep termites under control, including the Sentricon Always Active® system. Here is more information on subterranean termites, along with ways to prevent and eliminate them.
Signs of Subterranean Termites:
- Presence of mud tubes: Subterranean termites build mud tubes to travel from their nest to their food source, which is typically wood. These tubes can be found along your home’s foundation or walls.
- Damaged wood: Subterranean termites can cause significant damage to wood and other building materials. Look for wood that appears hollowed out or damaged.
- Presence of swarmers: Subterranean termites will often swarm during the spring or early summer months. Look for winged termites or termite swarmers around your home or inside your home.
Benefits of the Sentricon® Always Active Termite Baiting System:
- Effective at preventing subterranean termite infestations by using bait designed to attract termites. Once the termites consume the bait, it will be shared with the rest of the colony, leading to the colony’s demise.
- Creates a protective barrier around your home by being installed in the ground around your home’s perimeter and checked regularly by a pest control professional. If termite activity is detected, the bait will be replaced to ensure that the colony is eliminated.
- The baiting system is environmentally friendly and does not require the usage of harsh chemicals, making it family- and pet-friendly.
Remember to look out for signs of termite activity, such as the presence of mud tubes or damaged wood, and schedule regular inspections with your local pest control company to catch any infestations early.
Feb 13, 2023 | Termite Control
Once the cold weather begins to creep away is when we should begin to see swarming termites. Especially after a big rainfall, mature winged adults will swarm from their original nesting site in hopes of forming new colonies. The most common termite you will see swarming is the Eastern subterranean termite, which is native to North Carolina. Here are some fast facts about these termites:
- They live below ground
- Their main source of food is woody materials, like tree stumps
- They appear long, narrow, and oval with a creamy white to dark brown color
Why do Termites Swarm?
Swarming is beneficial when creating new colonies. Termites swarm after a colony has reached a certain capacity and is ready to expand. This normally happens once per year for most colonies. Hundreds or even thousands of swarmers, also known as alates, are produced with the sole purpose of reproduction and expansion.
Where does it Usually Occur?
Swarming can occur indoors or outdoors. They cannot survive indoors because of the lack of soil to colonize. If found indoors, they are usually found near windows and light fixtures as they are attracted to light. Whether indoors or outdoors, they usually can’t cause damage. As swarmers, they can’t bite, sting, or chew. The presence of swarms indicates that a colony is nearby, though; so, although the swarmers can’t cause damage, the nearby colony can.
How to Prevent Termites:
- Getting rid of water sources by eliminating or reducing standing water around your home.
- Repairing any leaky faucets, pipes, and air conditioners.
- Removing any tree stumps from your property.
- Keeping firewood stored at least 20 feet away from your home and elevated off the ground.
- Scheduling an annual termite inspection of your home and property to help detect termite problems early before they can cause significant damage.
If you begin to see swarming termites and aren’t sure if your home has become infested, be sure to give your local termite control company a call and they can inspect your property and set up a proactive termite control plan.
Nov 8, 2022 | Termite Control
Termites can be active well into the fall and winter months. They will typically find themselves digging a little deeper to keep warm. If they make their way into your home, then they don’t have a need to burrow deeper, as your home is already providing enough warmth for the winter.
Continuing termite control into the cooler months will help to protect your home up until spring begins again. Be sure to keep up with termite control to lessen the chance of termites swarming in the spring and summer months.
Regardless of the season, there are common signs of termite infestations to look for in your home, including:
- Noises: Beyond visual cues of termites being nearby, you can sometimes hear them! Once a colony becomes large and more established you can sometimes begin hearing clicking or knocking sounds behind your walls.
- Swarms: This is the earliest sign of termites. In late spring or early summer, termites will begin emerging to reproduce to establish new colonies. If you begin to see swarmers, that usually means a colony is nearby.
- Wood Damage: It could be your window, door, or floor that is impacted. Sagging floors will usually indicate a more established colony. If a door or window doesn’t close properly, it could also indicate termites.
- Mud Tubes: If you begin seeing mud tubes around your property, it typically means termites are close by. The tubes are used as protection and also help to retain moisture, which is vital for termites.
If you suspect you have a termite problem or want to stay proactive against them, reach out to your local pest control company to receive a free termite inspection and discover the best plan of action perfect for you and your home!
Dec 21, 2021 | Termite Control
It’s estimated that termites cause billions of dollars worth of damage annually in the United States. While they primarily feed on wood, they can also damage books, insulation, and swimming pool liners and filters. They like to wreak havoc on trees, shrubs, and plants that are in bad health. Termites can infest buildings at any time. This can be particularly troublesome when buying or selling a home. A termite inspection and report are usually required as a condition of sale of a home.
Signs of Damage
When signs of termite damage surface, the infestation has often been there for years with extensive damage already sustained. Some signs of termites in your home include:
- A hollow sound made by tapping on wood with a heavy object
- Painted walls that bubble and peel
- Small entry holes where they tunnel through drywall
- Buckling ceiling and walls
- Appearance of water damage
- Maze-like designs in wood structures
- Mud tunnels on foundations
Significant damage from termites can have an effect on the structural integrity of your home and can even cause ceilings and floors to collapse. Termites can also ruin furniture and flooring.
Damage Costs
One question that many homeowners have is if termite damage is covered under a homeowner’s insurance policy. Unfortunately, in most cases the answer is no. Homeowner’s insurance typically does not cover termite damage or removal because it can usually be prevented through routine home maintenance. However, you should always check with your insurance provider to see what you are and aren’t covered for.
Prevention
Termites can be prevented with scheduled periodic professional inspections which can help identify signs of infestations early. This can help keep repair costs down and the damage to a minimum. Any professional termite control plan should eliminate termites, prevent future termite infestations, and prevent termite damage. If you suspect that you have a termite problem or want to have an inspection done, contact your local pest control company.
