Generally, the first sign of
infestation is the presence of
swarming termites on the window or
near indoor light. If they are found
inside the house, it almost always
means that they have infested. Other
signs that may be found are termite
wings on window sills or in cobwebs,
and shelter tubes which are tunnels
constructed by the termites from
soil or wood and debris. Usually,
wood damage is not found at first,
but when it is found it definitely
reveals a termite infestation.
Anywhere wood touches soil is a
possible entry into a home for
termites. Examine wood which sounds
dull or hollow when struck by a
screwdriver or hammer. Inspect
suspected areas with a sharp,
pointed tool such as an ice pick to
find termite galleries or their
damage.
Control
measures include reducing the
potential infestation, preventing
termite entry and applying chemicals
for remedial treatment.
Inspect
thoroughly to determine if there is
an infestation, damage, and/or
conditions that could invite a
termite attack or the need fo
remedial control measures. The tools
and equipment needed for an
inspection include a flashlight, ice
pick or sharp-pointed screwdriver,
ladder and protective clothing.
Outdoors
Check
the foundation of the house, garage
and other buildings for shelter
tubes coming from the soil. Look
closely around porches, connecting
patios, sidewalks, areas near
kitchens or bathrooms and
hard-to-see places. Check window and
door frames and where utility
services enter the house for termite
infestation or wood decay. Also look
behind shrubbery or plants near
walls. Pay special attention to
areas where earth and wood meet such
as fences, stair carriages or
trellises. Open and check any
exterior electrical meter or fuse
box set into the wall, a common
point of infestation.
Indoors
Carefully check all doors, window
facings, baseboards and hardwood
flooring. Discoloration or stains on
walls or ceilings may mean that
water is leaking and can decay wood
and aid termite infestation. It is
very important to inspect where
plumbing or utility pipes enter the
foundation or flooring. Also examine
the attic for shelter tubes, water
leakage, and wood damage.
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Prevention
Many termite problems can
be prevented. The most
important thing to do is
deny termites access to food
(wood), moisture and
shelter.Follow the
sugestions below.
-
have at least a 2-inch
clearance between the
house and planter boxes
or soil-filled porches
-
elimiate all
wood-to-soil contacts
such as trellises, fence
posts, stair casings and
doorfacings (they can be
put on masonary blocks
or on treated wood)
-
separate shrubbery from
the house to help make
it easier to inspect the
foundation line
-
use wolmanized wood
(pressure-treated wood)
so that rain will not
rot it
-
seal openings through
the foundation
-
remove wood scraps or
stumps from around
foundations
-
have at least 12"-18"
clearance between floor
beams and the soil
underneath
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Termite
treatment often requires specialized
equipment. Therefore, it is
recommended that you always use the
services of a pest control operator
because he is familiar with
construction principles and
practices, has the necessary
equipment and knows about
subterranean termites.
Exterminating Termites
If you think you have a termite
infestation in your house, you need
to call a structural pest control
company to conduct a professional
inspection. To find a company, ask
friends or coworkers for
recommendations, or check the yellow
pages. If the inspection finds
evidence of drywood termites, you
have several options, depending on
the degree of infestation.
Fumigation and heating of the entire
house are the only options that
ensure eradication in the entire
structure. If the infestation is
contained in a small area, local or
spot control may be effective.
However, hidden infestations in
other part of the structure will not
be eredicated.
Total (Whole-House) Eradication
For the
heat method, pets, plants, and other
items that might be damaged by high
temperatures must be removed. The
house is then covered with tarps,
and hot air is blown into the tarp
until the inside temperature reaches
140° to 150°F and the temperature of
the structural timbers reaches
120°F. The time to complete this
procedure varies greatly from one
structure to another, depending on
factors such as the building's
construction and the weather
conditions. The procedure may not be
practical for structures that cannot
be heated evenly.
Local or Spot Control
Local or
spot control methods include the use
of pesticides, electric current,
extreme cold, localized heat,
microwave energy, or any combination
of these methods. Local or spot
control also includes the removal
and replacement of infested
structural timber. These methods are
intended to remove or kill termites
only within the specific targeted
area, leaving open the possibility
of other undetected infestations
within the structure. These
treatments are NOT designed for
whole-house eradication. Any pest
control company that claims
whole-house results with local or
spot control methods is guilty of
false advertising and should be
reported.
Local or
spot treatment with pesticides
involves drilling and injecting
pesticides into infested timbers, as
well as the topical application of
toxic
chemicals. The electric current
method involves delivering electric
energy to targeted infestations. For
the extreme cold method, liquid
nitrogen is pumped into wall voids
adjacent to suspected infestation
sites, reducing the area to -20°F.
The localized heat method involves
heating infested structural timbers
to 120°F. The microwave method kills
termites by directing microwaves
into termite-infested wood.
If you see the following signs in
your house, you might have termites:
• sawdust-like droppings
• dirt or mud-like tubes or trails
on the structure
• damaged wood members (like window
sills)
• swarming winged insects within the
structure, especially in the spring
or fall
seen. Prevent infestations because if
they occur they will almost always need
professional pest control service.