You work hard to keep your home or commercial space looking its best, but a few termites can quickly damage a building. Avoid spending thousands of dollars on repairs and being faced with the extreme inconvenience that comes with a termite infestation by calling a professional for termite control. At Hometown Pest Control, we have years of experience dealing with termites and can help get rid of any termite problem.

All About Termites

The type of termite that you are most likely to encounter in Florida is the subterranean termite. Subterranean termites’ appearances vary: workers are typically between one-eighth and three-eighths of an inch long and pale in color. At the same time, kings and queens (reproductives) may measure up to an inch long and have darker-colored bodies. Subterranean termites may resemble “flying ants.”

Subterranean termites live underground and travel from their nests to your home or commercial property by forming mud tubes out of soil, wood, and their saliva. If you notice a brownish line resembling a straw along your walls, make sure to call a pest control professional with experience in termite control since this is a telltale sign of an infestation.

Drywood termites are another common species. While subterranean termites can be found throughout the United States, drywood termites are primarily found in southern areas (including parts of California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and all of Florida). Unlike subterranean termites, drywood termites do not travel back and forth from an underground nest. Instead, they spend their whole lives inside the wood that they feed on, making them more challenging to spot. 

Some signs of a drywood termite infestation are hollowed-out wood, droppings, and shed wings. If you notice any of these signs, call Hometown Pest Control or another professional who specializes in drywood termite control. Our “no tent” termite control method allows us to get rid of an infestation without fumigating, sparing you the inconvenience of leaving your home for multiple days.

How to Prevent and Get Rid of Termites

To avoid dealing with a termite infestation, you should do everything possible to make your property inhospitable to these pests. When it comes to termites, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure: there are some simple, free, or low-cost steps you can take today that will save you a great deal of time and money in the future.

Deter termites from your home or business by storing wood, like firewood and lumber, far from the building (at least twenty feet away). Avoid allowing mulch to touch your home or commercial property. Make sure that you can see at least four inches of the foundation, and fix any leaks quickly so that moisture cannot accumulate.

If you do see any signs of an infestation, such as damaged wood, discarded wings, droppings, or mud tubes, do not hesitate to schedule an inspection. A subterranean and drywood termite control expert will examine your property’s indoor and outdoor areas, and then provide you with  an estimate and treatment plan. While there are some things that you can do on your own, such as removing any sources of moisture and sealing holes in your home’s foundation, it is always best to call a professional.

Hometown Pest Control Can Help You Get Rid of Termites

Fortunately, termites cannot transmit disease and do not pose a health risk to you, your family, or your customers. Nonetheless, a colony is bad news for any property owner. When it comes to an infestation, trying to get rid of it on your own is not a good idea. Hometown Pest Control’s experienced technicians can solve the problem efficiently, at minimal inconvenience to you, and we will do our best to provide flexible scheduling . If you suspect that you may have termites, call us for a free estimate and achieve peace of mind.