Battling Termites Within Your Home

Termites can cause a home a lot of destruction if they are present within the walls. They are known to chew through wooden items, causing damage to foundations and the structures of buildings in the process. If you suspect you have a termite problem within your own home, you will want to work fast and diligently for their removal so you can save your home from unnecessary repair. Here are some tips you can use to help you remove and keep termites out of your home for good.

Identifying Termites

It is sometimes difficult to determine if your problem is caused by termites or from carpenter ants. Carpenter ants have a stage in which they have wings, and they look similar to termites. If you see any winged creatures in your home, follow them to see where they are nesting. If they are termites, you will notice areas where there are holes in the wood of your beams. If you see sawdust areas, knock on the wood to see if it sounds hollow. If so, there may be termites living within.

Termite Removal

Termites are one of the hardest pests to remove from a home. Because of this and their ability to cause so much damage, it is recommended to hire a professional for complete termite treatment. A pest control service would have the proper pesticides to be able to remove termites without harming pets that live in your home. If you decide to try pesticides yourself, make sure to read the package directions to see if they are deadly to people or pets before attempting to apply.

You can make your own termite killing spray out of boric acid mixed with water. Place it in a spray bottle and use it directly on any termites you see. You can spray around doorways and areas where you suspect termites are hiding, as well. Boric acid will make termites dehydrated, killing them after they cannot find a water source.

Removing Things That Attract

Termites are attracted to wood and to moisture. If you make an effort to remove some of these things, you will be able to keep termites from returning after you have them exterminated. You of course, cannot remove all the wood in your home. You can however, take care of wood areas that seem moist. These are the areas termites like best. Fix any plumbing problems you may have in your home that are causing wet wood to occur.

If you have any woodpiles outdoors, move them far from your home to avoid termites from setting up camp inside. Make sure there are no areas of standing water outside of your home that termites can use as a drinking supply.