Blog
Termites Are A Year Round Concern
12/10/13
People may think that winter is the time of year that you can stop worrying about insects invading and causing problems in your home. But the truth is that insects can still cause problems for homeowners in the winter. Termites are one of these types of insects that are causing damage to your New York homes no matter what the temperature is outside. Termites are a pest that continuously works; 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, chewing through the structural wood in your home. As a homeowner it is crucial that you know how to identify termites, what the signs of termites are in your home, and how to protect against them.
In the winter, subterranean termites will go deeper under the ground in order to stay warm but will continue working and searching for food. If they make it into your home or have already made it into your home, termite workers will continue to work and cause damage to the structure of your house. Because they work and live underground and inside of wood, it can be difficult to notice their presence. But there are some signs you can look for to determine if termites are present in your home this winter or any other time of the year. Signs of termites include:
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Seeing mud tunnels running on the ground towards your home before your lawn is covered with snow. These tunnels are about the width of a pencil and are what the termites use to travel from their nest to their food source.
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Noticing that the wood inside your home is starting to appear blistered, splintered or weakened, or the paint on your walls may start to bubble.
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If you have had termites for a long period of time, your ceilings and doorways may start to appear warped or begin sagging.
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Your structural wood may sound hollow when you tap on the outside of it, or you may notice dirt on the outside of where the termites have tried to repair the holes that they have made in the wood.
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Seeing termite swarmers or flying termites in or around your property. This is usually a spring pest occurrence however, they could still swarm inside of your home during the colder months of the year. A termite swarm means that there is a mature termite colony in or on your property.
If you notice signs of termites on your property or would like a termite inspection for your own peace of mind, contact your local pest control company today. Professionals will be able to provide you with a detailed inspection of your home and property and will be able to identify and determine the presence of termites. If termites are found, treatment can begin sooner than later as to avoid costly property damages. One of the most effective ways to eliminate a termite infestation is with the use of the Sentricon® Termite Colony Elimination System. The Sentricon® System works by placing bait stations around your home without the need to trench or drill. The termites will be attracted to the bait and enter into the bait stations, ingest the bait and bring it back the rest of the colony, eliminating all of its members. The stations are then continuously monitored by the pest control experts, allowing them to identify and prevent future termite infestations before they can cause damage to your home.
If you need help identifying whether you have termites of flying ants in your New York home, contact your local New York pest control company. Parkway Pest Services has years of experience in termite control and would be happy to help implement a safe and effective termite or pest control program in your Westchester County or surrounding New York home. Call today!