Don’t Skimp On Termite Control For Your Havertown Or Philadelphia Region Home

Termites are destructive pests that pose a real threat to homeowners throughout Havertown and the surrounding areas. These wood-eating pests quickly spread their populations, leading to large-scale infestations. If you want to guard your home from the dangers of termite damage, the best thing is to secure professional pest control. The experts at Cunningham Pest Control are here to address all your termite control and prevention needs.

What Are The Types Of Termites?

The most common termites we deal with are subterranean termites. Subterranean termites are the most destructive termite species around. In fact, these silent destroyers can cause a structure to deteriorate over time completely.

Moisture-rich, warm environments draw in subterranean termites. You can typically find them hanging around damaged wood near the foundation of the house. As moisture pests, termites need water to survive. They use their saw-toothed jaws to feed on moisture-damaged wood and create mud tunnels in the soil to travel to openings around your foundation.

Colonies of subterranean termites range in size from 60,000 to two million termites. Even a small colony can eat 1/5 ounce – 5 grams of wood every day, and when you consider the fact that several colonies can co-exist at once, it makes sense how these tiny critters can do such colossal damage.

How Long Does It Take For Termites To Destroy A Home?

Even though termites are small, they can cause large-scale damage to local homes. When termites infest your Havertown or Philadelphia region property, they weaken the structure from the inside out, causing real damage that compromises everyone’s safety. The scary part is that it can take up to three years for you even to notice the beginning signs of an infestation.

If you’re seeing visible damage to your home’s foundation and structural timbers, you may have a termite problem, and these wood-eaters might not be new to the area. It can take anywhere from three to eight years to see the results of termite damage, so there’s no telling how long an infestation has been going on by the time you find it.

Why Termite Control Is Absolutely Necessary

As we’ve discussed, termite damage can become a large-scale problem that can devastate your home and your loved ones. For this reason, we highly recommend securing professional termite control services. To better understand the damage termites cause, consider that U.S. home and business owners collectively spend over five billion dollars each year on termite repairs and prevention costs.

Aside from the safety risks and the expense, you should also know that most homeowners’ insurance plans don’t cover termite damage, making the whole situation an even bigger nightmare. Professional termite control is the best way to protect your home from these wood-eating pests.

Is There Way To Prevent Termites?

When it comes to reducing your exposure to termite damage, the best thing you can do is take preventative action and be proactive in your termite prevention efforts. Here are some ways to prevent termite activity around your Havertown or Philadelphia region home:

• Apply loose mortar or weather stripping around doors and windows.
• Avoid any wood-to-soil contact throughout the property.
• Divert water from the house by maintaining functional gutters.
• Eliminate any rotting or moisture-damaged wood.
• Eliminate excess moisture around the property.
• Examine any wood or wooden items brought onto your property
• Fix downspouts to extend further away from the house
• Fix leaky pipes, faulty faucets, and plumbing issues.
• Grow indoor plants that are known for absorbing humidity.
• Install a dehumidifier in moisture-rich areas of the house
• Install vent fans in moisture-rich areas like kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms.
• Keep outdoor lights turned off at night, as light sources will draw termites.
• Make sure you keep woodpiles and wooden structures at a good distance from the house.
• Make sure your soil is well-drained to reduce moisture.
• Monitor mulch distribution as mulch contains moisture.
• Reduce excess moisture throughout the property.
• Service your HVAC unit on a regular basis to control moisture levels.

While these preventative measures give you a great jumping-off point, we still suggest securing professional pest control services from your local experts. Cunningham Pest Control is here to address all your termite control and prevention needs, so call today, and we’ll get started.