How Often Should You Treat Your Property for Termites?

Written by Linda Carter Posted On Monday, 14 September 2020 09:32

Termites are microscopic, yet powerful creatures that feed 24-7 on your wooden fixtures. If left untreated, these household pests cause severe damage to your property without leaving many early infestation signs in their wake.

Due to their ability to inflict damage that translates to thousands of dollars in repairs, exterminators have crowned termites with the title of the most destructive and invasive insects known to invade your home. They reproduce within a short period, allowing them to multiply at an alarmingly rapid rate. A termite queen lays eggs every three seconds and can do so ten million times within one year. Experts estimate that termites cause economic damage of about 300 billion dollars globally, earning them the title as the most destructive pests worldwide.

Unfortunately, there’s a cost to treating termites. However, if pest control experts don’t treat these pests, you risk exposing your home or apartment to more extensive destruction.

All apartment owners and homeowners should conduct termite inspections often and invest in expert-led treatments regularly. Termite treatments last for more than ten years, depending on your treatment team’s expertise and the extermination tactics.

Professional companies can outline and execute a treatment plan and recommend how often your apartment should receive treatment. For example, Greenhow, a pest control company in Massachusetts, gives its customers cost-efficient solutions for termite infestations. This pest control company prides itself on its experts and technicians who will suggest a non-invasive approach for eradicating a termite infestation.

When should I treat termites?

Every year

Most pest control companies believe you should only conduct termite inspections every year. These annual treatments can safeguard your property from colonies of hungry termites. However, some homeowners opt to wait for up to five years to treat their homes for termites after the initial treatment application.

Unbeknownst to most, five years is more than enough time for the termites to settle into your property and multiply in large numbers. Therefore, it’s essential to carry out regular inspections to ensure that your property termite-free.

Before buying a new home

Termite infestations in your new home can be a rude awakening into the world of homeowning. Purchasing a property suffering from an infestation can lead to an influx of expenses for property buyers. Property buyers invest their capital in buying and selling property and may find additional costs financially debilitating. Because mitigating the damage of pesky termites can rack up expenses before your very eyes, property buyers should inspect the property thoroughly before purchase. By doing so, their new house or apartment will remain free from termites

Before selling your home

To score the highest offer possible, you’ll need to receive glowing reviews from your inspector. For the best results on your home inspection, you’ll need to ensure the property is free from termites. It’s in your best interest to request an official document that certifies your home is pest-free before putting it on the market, as this precaution can increase the overall value of your property.

Why worry about termites?

Globally, termites inflict property damage amounting to 300 billion dollars every year. Termites feed on wood and will munch on books, loose papers, insulation, and filtration systems. Termites are known to inflict harm on living trees and flock to woody plants. These termite infestations can be as emotionally-taxing as they are financially-taxing.

How will I know if I’m experiencing a termite infestation?

It isn’t always easy to locate lingering termites, especially if these pests haven’t left behind visible wood damage. Winged termites gather around light sources, meaning you can usually spot them around doors and windows.

When diagnosing an infestation, it’s essential to differentiate between termites and ants, as many homeowners confuse the two. Unlike ants, termites have a thicker middle, straight antennae, and wings of identical size, while ants have narrow waistlines and forewings that are longer than the back wings.

Once you’ve distinguished between these two household pests, you’ll need to look for other termite infestation signs. For example, termites may emerge from tree stumps near the house. So, if trees surround your property, you may be at risk for infestation. Other termite infestation signs include visible mud tubes, which extend over the foundation walls, sill plates, and support piers.

Can I carry out property treatment myself?

Exterminating termites without the expertise of trained pest control professionals could result in exacerbated infestations. The treatment of termites requires a unique skill set. With this in mind, hiring a pest control company becomes the best option for completely eradicating termites.

While some homeowners prefer to avoid unnecessary extermination costs, building/construction knowledge is necessary to identify some of the critical entry points these termites use to gain access to your property.

Unfortunately, treating termites yourself is not an effective way to eradicate them. Many of the potential entry points may be out-of-sight and, therefore, out-of-mind. If you find these entry points tucked in cracks and crevices in your home’s foundation, it wouldn’t be easy to access and seal up these entry points without proper equipment.

Although contacting a pest control company can be expensive, it’s a surefire way to guarantee the treatment process is effective and doesn't consume an unnecessary amount of your precious time. Termite control companies utilize large capacity spray tanks, masonry drills, and large metal rods to inject the soil with anti-pest solutions. Remember, termite treatment is a job for professionals and not untrained individuals.

In summary

Every year, thousands of property owners incur losses due to termite infestation. If you want to get rid of termites completely and effectively, contact a reputable pest control company to ensure that your property is free from termites. Sadly, a single colony of termites can cost you thousands of dollars in repairs. Take action today, and your home or apartment will stay termite-free.

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