Spring not only brings warmer temperatures but also new dangers to your home or business in the form of termites. Termites cause roughly $5 billion in damage across the US every year. Plus, for homeowners, damage caused by termites is normally not covered by home insurance.
The lack of coverage is due to the designation that damage caused by termites is preventable. This means that you will need regular inspections and the use of treatments if termites are detected. But when should such inspections begin?
Termite Season
There are two basic types of termites in California, drywood and subterranean. Drywood termites create colonies inside the wood while subterranean termites live under the ground.
While drywood termites are most active in the late summer and early fall, subterranean termites are mostly active in the spring. It is when they leave their colonies and swarm to find new mates. Once they have found their mates, a new termite colony is born. Such termites are called swarmers because they have wings until they find their mates.
If you see insects that look like flying ants around your property, that is a sign that termites might be present. The presence of discarded wings around your home, office, or facility is another visible sign that a colony may be nearby or even inside the building or home.
Protecting Your Property from Termites
Whether you have seen the aforementioned signs of termites or not, it pays to have your home inspected by professionals. They can locate and identify termite colonies that may be residing inside or near your home or building. By locating such colonies, they can be dealt with in an appropriate manner that protects the wood structure.
Standard passive protection from termites includes creating barriers around your home to prevent termites from going inside. Another popular form of protection is using bait near the colonies. The bait will steer the termites away from your property. The result is when the bait runs out, the colony will die out as well. In addition, you can also follow these tips.
- Remove dead trees and shrubs that have yet to be infected by termites
- Remove any newspapers, books, and other paper-based products from storage areas such as the basement, attic, or garage.
- Conduct regular inspections for mud tubes and discarded wings of termites during the spring
However, if termites have gotten into your home, you will need to have them removed to stop any further damage. A professional termite exterminator will be needed to locate and destroy all the termites present in the structure.
Contact Brickley Environmental Today
With numerous dangers facing your home or business, calling the professionals at Brickley Environmental is a good place to start. We offer our knowledge and experience along with the tools to detect and remove infestations of various types. The services provided by Brickley Environmental include the following.
- Asbestos Abatement
- Mold Remediation
- Lead-Based Paint Removal
- Demolition
- Hazardous Waste Removal
If you are facing any of these issues, call Brickley Environmental today. Our friendly, courteous staff will take your call and answer your questions, so you can make the best-informed decision about what to do next. At Brickley Environmental, we are here to help you.