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There are 3 main types of termites: drywood, dampwood and subterranean. Every kind of termite colony includes workers (who consume your house), soldiers (who defend others from predators such as ants) and swarmers (flyers that locate new places to colonize). Although you dont generally see termites unless theyre swarming (flying), its great to know how to identify them, Wilson states.

Drywood termites commonly have a brown body with a red head. Swarmers have sheer, tan wings but there are colour variations. Workers are light, tan and look like maggots, with no wings.

Dampwood termites are similar to drywood termites, often with a tan or brown body and absolute wings. These employees also resemble maggots.

Subterranean termites are somewhat smaller than their above-ground brethren with black bodies and utter wings to the flyers. The employees are smaller, white and maggot-like.

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Drywood termites are partial to dry, nondecayed timber and often end up in attics, flooring boards and window frames.

Dampwood termites like decaying wood or wood that is rich with moisture. They often attack wood that's making contact with the ground and are found in regions with high rainfall or humidity.

Subterranean termites will eat soft (moisture-rich) timber and drywood, however they initially make contact with your home through the ground.

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Drywood and dampwood termites enter your home through small cracks, often around window frames throughout cracks in the home. Be sure to check around windows regularly and reapply caulk when it begins to show signs of age and cracking. Swarmers lose their wings and float into the timber. Cracks in paint are another easy access point for termites.

Be mindful of maintaining your exterior paint. As an instance, when you hammer up Christmas lights then take the nails out, you leave behind small holes and produce an open door for a termite colony. .

Subterranean termites often seep into cracks in the homes foundation. In regions like the San Francisco Bay Area, a lot homes have raised foundations, Wilson says. Termites build mud tubes around the floor, often along posts. But even in the absence of articles, Wilson states , mud tubes can stretch from the ground up through thin air to connect with the base of the home. .

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So what do you do if you find a termite in your home when you see one shed wing or one termite flying , it doesnt mean you've got an infestation. But if you see a group of wings or any of the other warning signs noted above, its best to get a professional inspection.

Termites are in fact easy to kill, Wilson states, but you need a termiticide to perform it. Unfortunately, superior pesticides are not available to the public. Most home shops promote termite spray, but these are watered down to meet public safety specifications, so theyre not as successful.

If you've got an infestation that's isolated to one part of your house, say the door trim, you can replace the trim, Wilson states. But if you have a full-on termite infestation, you need a larger scale treatment.

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Subterranean termites must be cut off from the home at the soil. Pacific Coast Termites makes a chemical barrier between any regions of grime and the home, in addition to around the entire house. It functions as a shield that the termites cant break through.

Drywood and dampwood termites can be killed with weblink a wood treatment product such as XT2000 Orange Oil, which is injected under pressure into the wood through ink-pen-sized holes. This product saturates the wood and will prevent future infestations. Treating a moderate infestation this manner takes about four to six hours.

Homes that are exceptionally infested (you can see termites everywhere) can require fumigation. Either a massive tent is put over your home, or all the doors and windows are sealed, and the home is gassed with pesticide that can kill each of the termites. This procedure can take anywhere from six hours to one week, depending on the type of infestation.

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Employ a good, quality coat of paint on your property, since termites wont eat through paint. Ensure that all windows, doorframes and foundation gaps are caulked and sealed. Dont staple or nail up Christmas lights then pull them down. The tiny holes make termite homes. Instead, either abandon the nails in the pockets year-round or fill the holes when you remove the nails. .

Instantly resolve any plumbing leaks, standing water on your roof or other difficulties involving decaying wood. Provide appropriate ventilation under your raised home to maintain that region dry. Subterranean termites adore wetness.