Jan 30, 2025 | Termite Control
When most people think of pests, they picture mosquitoes buzzing around in the summer or rodents sneaking indoors to escape the winter cold. However, there is one often-overlooked pest that can cause serious long-term damage if left unchecked: termites. With March approaching, Termite Awareness Month, now is a perfect opportunity for homeowners in North Carolina to prioritize termite inspections. By understanding these silent destroyers and taking proactive steps, you can protect your home from potentially costly damage.
Why Termite Inspections Should Be A Priority
The Unseen Threat Lurking Year-Round
While most pests might take a break during colder months, termites are active year-round, especially given North Carolina’s mild climate. These tiny invaders don’t hibernate but continue to feed on wood, putting your home at risk. Unlike ants or spiders, termites work silently, often causing damage before you even realize they’re there.
Ignoring the threat can result in significant damage, with termites quietly consuming the wooden structures of your home. By the time their presence becomes noticeable, the damage may be extensive and expensive to repair. That is why scheduling a termite inspection should be a priority for homeowners, even during winter.
Recognizing the Signs of Termite Infestation
Identifying a termite infestation early can save you from costly repairs. Despite their ability to hide, termites leave telltale signs that can alert you to their presence.
- Mud Tubes: These are the pathways termites build to travel between their nests and food sources. Made from soil, wood particles, and saliva, these pencil-width tubes can often be found on exterior walls, foundations, and along beams or walls inside your home.
- Wood Damage: If knocking on wooden surfaces produces a hollow sound, termites might be the culprits. They typically eat wood from the inside out, leaving the exterior intact until it is too late.
- Swarmers or Wings: Reproductive termites, or swarmers, leave the nest to start new colonies. Finding discarded wings around windowsills or other areas suggests an active infestation.
- Frass (Termite Droppings): Termites produce pellet-like droppings called frass. Discovering small piles of these dark pellets near wooden structures can indicate an infestation.
- Visible Damage to Wooden Structures: Over time, termites can cause visible structural damage, including buckling floors, cracked drywall, and doors or windows that become difficult to open.
The Importance of Professional Termite Inspections
Knowing these signs is helpful, but identifying an infestation early often requires the expertise of a professional. This is where professional termite inspections come in. A trained pest control technician can conduct a thorough inspection, identifying signs of termites in hard-to-reach or hidden areas like attics and crawl spaces.
Professional inspections are crucial because termites can remain active in areas that are not easily visible. A licensed pest control expert can uncover hidden damage and ensure your home remains protected.
Preventative Measures to Keep Termites at Bay
The best way to protect your home from termites is to prevent them from entering in the first place. Here are a few simple yet effective prevention tips:
- Seal Cracks and Gaps: Ensure all cracks in your foundation, gaps around windows, and holes for utility lines are sealed. Termites can exploit even the smallest openings to gain entry.
- Maintain Proper Drainage: Moisture attracts termites, so ensure water drains away from your home. Regularly clean gutters and ensure the soil around your foundation slopes away to prevent water pooling.
- Remove Wood Debris: Store firewood away from your home, remove old tree stumps, and clear any wooden debris around your foundation. Termites are drawn to wood, so minimizing these sources can deter them.
- Schedule Annual Inspections: Even without visible signs of termites, annual inspections can catch issues early, preventing major problems down the line.
Wrapping Up the Termite Threat
Termites may be silent, but their impact is anything but. For North Carolina homeowners, understanding the importance of early termite inspections and staying vigilant against these pests is vital. By recognizing the signs of an infestation early and taking preventive measures, you can protect your home from the costly damage termites can cause.
Remember, when it comes to termites, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Consider scheduling a professional inspection today with a licensed pest control company near you. Secure your home’s future by learning more about how you can protect it from termites and other pests.
Oct 11, 2023 | Termite Control
We’re moving in the cooler season, which means termites might not be on your mind right now. But there is no better time to begin thinking about your termite protection plan! There are several termite protection treatments and plans to consider, but if you’re looking for 24/7, 365-day protection, the Sentricon Always Active Bait Station could be the best choice for you. Let’s go over the benefits of this eco-friendly termite control option that might just be perfect for your home.
Sentricon Termite Bait Station Benefits
Sentricon is a highly effective, environmentally responsible treatment option for preventing and eliminating termites. These bait stations are placed strategically around the perimeter of your property and offer 24/7/365 termite protection for your home by eliminating entire termite colonies. Here are some other great benefits to the Sentricon bait stations:
- Home termite inspection. When you have Sentricon installed, a comprehensive property inspection is performed by a pest control company, checking for signs of existing or previous termite infestations and damage.
- Continuous monitoring. Bait stations are monitored as needed to protect your home against future termite invasions.
- Annual termite inspections. Annual interior home inspections for termites and pests are included.
- Lifetime termite warranty. Every installation of the Sentricon system comes with a lifetime warranty against termite infestations and damage.
- Green termite control. Sentricon bait system poses no hazard to groundwater and has no label restrictions to use around wells and cisterns. It is EPA approved and is the only termite control product to receive the Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award.
Ready for an always on termite protection plan? Give our team a call today for a free quote!
Mar 13, 2023 | Pest Control
Spring is a time for renewal and growth, but unfortunately, it’s also a time for pests to emerge from their winter hiding spots and wreak havoc on homes and gardens. North Carolina, with its warm and humid climate, is particularly susceptible to pests during spring. Here are some of the most common spring pests homeowners in North Carolina may experience, along with tips on how to prevent and control them.
Termites
Termites are a serious problem in the south, and spring is the time when they start swarming in search of new nesting sites. Termites can cause extensive damage to the structure of homes, and if left untreated, can lead to costly repairs. Homeowners should be on the lookout for signs of termite infestations, such as mud tubes, discarded wings, and wood damage. To prevent termite infestations, homeowners should remove any wood debris or stumps near their homes, repair any water leaks or moisture problems, and have regular inspections by a licensed pest control professional.
Ants
Ants are another common spring pest in this area. They are attracted to food, water, and shelter and can quickly become a nuisance in homes and gardens. Ants can also cause damage to plants and can even bite humans and pets. Homeowners can prevent ant infestations by keeping their homes clean and free of food debris, sealing cracks and crevices, and trimming plants away from the home’s foundation.
Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes thrive in warm, humid environments, making the south an ideal location for them to breed. Mosquitoes can transmit diseases such as the West Nile virus and Zika virus, making them a serious health concern. Homeowners can prevent mosquito infestations by removing any standing water around their property, such as in bird baths or clogged gutters. In addition, homeowners can install screens on doors and windows to prevent mosquitoes from entering the home.
Ticks
Ticks are another common spring pest. They are often found in wooded areas and can transmit diseases such as Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Homeowners should take steps to prevent tick bites by wearing long-sleeved clothing, using insect repellent, and avoiding tall grass and brush. In addition, homeowners can keep their yards free of debris and trim back any overgrown vegetation to reduce the likelihood of tick infestations.
Cockroaches
Cockroaches are a year-round problem, but they become more prevalent in the spring as the weather warms up. Cockroaches can contaminate food, trigger asthma and allergy symptoms, and transmit diseases. Homeowners can prevent cockroach infestations by keeping their homes clean and free of food debris, sealing any cracks or crevices, and reducing humidity levels.
By working with your local pest control company and taking proactive measures, you can protect your home and family from these common spring pests.
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!
