Termite infestations can cause extensive damage to properties that can end up costing the owner huge sums of money. Additionally, the property may become difficult to sell following an infestation even after repairs and treatment have been carried out. This is why it is important to conduct regular checks of all buildings for any signs of termite activity. When this issue is dealt with in the early stages, then damage can be reduced and the property value stays stable.
Here are some signs to look for when identifying termite activity in any property:
Clicking noise coming from the walls: This sound is made by termites when they bang their heads against inner walls as they sense danger. This sound also results from termites chewing through wood. Placing one's ear close to the wall and listening to this sound can be a solid way to confirm termite activity.
A hollow sound coming from walls: This is another sound to look for. As termites chew through wood, they leave the hollow structure behind. Simple knocking on the wall and listening for a hollow sound can also reveal termite activity.
Brown material lining wooden structures in the property: This substance is actually a mixture of termite faeces and chewed-up wood. Termites leave this behind as they chew their way through the wood.
Swarms of termites visible on the outside of the property: These swarms are in fact male and female termites looking to start a new colony.
Termites in small numbers spotted inside the property: These can be immediately dealt with using a household vacuum cleaner until professional pest control services arrive.
How is treatment carried out?
Treatment depends on the severity of the infestation. Initially, the pest control operator will come and assess the building and then decide whether preventative measures or treatment measures are best for the current situation. Preventative measures may include eliminating moisture around wooden structures to reduce termite activity. Such measures are undertaken when the infestation is still in its early stages. Treatment measures include bait boxes placed strategically around the structure of the building. Each box consists of a toxic bait substance that is consumed by a visiting termite. This substance is then carried to the termite's colony, and in doing so, the whole colony can be destroyed over a period of time. Termiticides are only used in extreme circumstances where the infestation has gotten out of control.
It is important to call termite pest control operators who can offer you termite treatment options for your property.
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