Purchasing a home is a significant financial investment that, hopefully, will increase in value over time. Ensuring our house increases in value requires maintenance, improvements, and vigilance. One area of attentiveness involves watching for termites. While we are enjoying our hard-earned investment, these tiny pests can be slowly eating away at the structures in our house. Over time, they can cause significant structural damage resulting in unplanned financial expenses.
Guarding your house against termites is a wise decision and a worthwhile investment of your time and resources. A termite inspection by the Louisville pest control company Action Pest Control is one of the best decisions you can make to protect your investment.
Methods Of Termite Control In Louisville
Annually termites cause over $5 billion in property damage in the United States — damages not covered by insurance policies. The termite species common in the Louisville area is the eastern subterranean termite. The following are techniques for termite control in Louisville:
- Use downspouts to divert water from the foundation
- Reduce humidity in the crawlspace with proper ventilation
- Remove wood scraps and lumber from the yard
- Create a one-inch barrier between any wood and the soil
- Seal foundational cracks and crevices
- Move firewood at least 20 feet away from the foundation
These termite control methods will help reduce or prevent termites; however, you need a termite control specialist from Action Pest Control to ensure the best outcome.
How Often Should You Treat A House For Termites
If the house has a history of infestation, treatment is necessary— even if the last signs of termites inside your house were ten or more years ago. After the initial treatment, the frequency of future applications depends upon the termite species and the product. For example, if the treatment method was fumigation, frequent applications are necessary since this method does not stop future termite infestations. If the treatment involves bait stations, replacement of the stations should be annual; inspections should be every six weeks.
Our home pest control professionals at Action Pest Control use the best termite killer for Louisville homes: Termidor®. Per the manufacturer, the United States Department of Agriculture-Forest Service reported no signs of termite damage after 15 years of treatment using this product. Of course, we do not take anything for granted; we re-inspect homes after 90 days of the initial treatment to ensure the elimination of the termites.
What Is Considered During A Termite Damage Inspection?
When we inspect your home, we look for the following signs of termite infestation:
- Feces from termites
- Mud tubes on the foundation walls
- Wood that sounds hollow
- Warped doors and windows
- Blistering paint or indentions in drywall
- Signs of swarmers
- Termite wings
- Live termites
Other than the trained eyes and flashlight, the inspections do not require specialized tools. The inspector will review the foundation investigating all cracks and crevices, the attic, crawlspace, any wood structures, and woodpiles on the property. You should expect the inspection to last thirty minutes to an hour or more.
Termite Control In Louisville Made Simple
The eastern subterranean termite is in the Louisville area. Colonies of these termites range from 60,000 to over a million termites! Annually, a small colony can consume over two linear feet of a 2x4 pine board. Because these termites can cause havoc to the wood in your Louisville home in a short time, immediate action is required.
Action Pest Control is the termite specialist near you; we have experience and a proven track record treating Louisville homes for the eastern subterranean termite. Contact us today, and let us solve your termite problem.