You might recognize their presence by spotting iconic mud tubes around your property. These serve as protection to termites from predators and the elements. White to light brown in color, these reclusive pests can often go undetected because of the nature of their work and where they go about doing it, leaving Oklahoma City homeowners with more damage than they can imagine in just a short period of time. Their ravenous nature and tenacity for destruction can leave your home completely destabilized.
The Extent Of Termite Damage
Due to the furtive nature of a termite’s work, oftentimes Oklahoma City homeowners are unaware of the damage that’s been done to their homes. Many people are often truly surprised to find that they have internal damage due to termites, but upon further reflection, it’s not that shocking. The types of damage that subterranean termites can cause are:
- Wall damage: Since subterranean termites love wood, they are delighted to chew through your walls, door frames, skylights, anywhere that wood is in abundance and already weakened makes it more enticing. A termite's work may seem more internal, however, it can also ruin any exterior work on walls, like wallpaper or art hangings.
- Damage to personal items: Termites love anything that is associated with wood, so they will gladly chew through your books and paperwork just like they would feast on your walls.
- Exacerbated allergies: Termites spread a lot of wood particles while they’re working as well as leave behind discarded wings and fecal matter, all of which can increase allergies in people who already have them.
Termite Prevention Tips
Preventing termites is no easy feat, but homeowners should still aim to mitigate any potential of their presence with a handful of dedicated tips. Here are a few pointers for keeping subterranean termites from your home:
- Addressing any areas of excess moisture. Subterranean termites can thrive in any wet pockets that may be lingering around your property, so addressing any areas of water accumulation in or around your home is an important first step. Rotting wood is highly appealing to termites because it offers them the two things they desire most: wood and water. If your home has been compromised due to water damage, it is worth addressing because it may end up leading to attracting termites. Also, be sure to check your house on a regular basis for any areas of leaking water (i.e. shower heads, faucets, roof), clear your gutters of any debris as that can be a great hiding spot for termites, and turn over any areas of standing water in or around the house as well.
- Storing wood away from the home. Subterranean termites love wood, so it is all the more important to store and firewood at a distance from your home. Experts say any wood piles should be kept at least 20 feet from the home in order to prevent the attraction of termites and a host of other pests. Furthermore, be sure to remove any wood piles from torn-down structures and store any construction wood safely, as these can also attract termites.
Termites are overachievers when it comes to being destructive super chewers and removing them yourself is not an option. Termites are nearly impossible to see with the naked eye and because the damage they cause is often mistaken for other issues, these infestations can go wild. The best, most effective way to protect your property from subterranean termites is with professional assistance from Guaranteed Pest Service of Oklahoma. For quality pest control, get in touch with us today!
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