How serious is termite infestation?

Termites are known to cause severe damage to homes, sometimes costing thousands of dollars in repairs that are not typically covered in standard insurance policies. Discovering damage at your home is an unsettling experience, but a trusted pest control professional can help.

How long before termites do serious damage?

Experts estimate that over a period of about five months, a group of around 60,000 termites can eat the equivalent of one foot of a 2x4 beam. No matter how fast they eat, the pests can do serious damage to homes before residents are even aware of it.

Can termites completely destroy a house?

In rare cases termite damage can be so extensive that the home is completely demolished. In addition to the structural repairs that have to be made, cosmetic repairs also have to be made. Termites can cause discoloration and other damage to sheetrock, flooring and paint which will also need repair or replacement.

How long does it take for termites to destroy a house?

With about 2 million termites working in the right condition they can cause significant damage within the first few months. A home can be totally destroyed in a year or two.

What do you do if your house is infested with termites?

Some of the best ways to get rid of termites is to apply termite-killing products to your home's exterior, use direct chemicals on the inside of your home, set up termite baits, and spray boric acid in your floors and walls.

Millions of termites found in walls of couple's new home | A Current Affair

Do termites come back after treatment?

Will termites come back after treatment? Termites may return after treatments. Luckily, companies like Orkin and Terminix promise to re-treat at no extra cost if you have a termite plan with them.

What happens if you disturb termites?

By disturbing the Termites you can cause the problem to intensify as Termites will probably retreat from the disturbed area and re–appear to attack elsewhere in your home.

How long can I ignore termites?

The problem is that a termite infestation may not create instant or noticeable problems in the beginning, but the long-term effects can be completely devastating. Just one colony can devour a foot long two by four in less than four months unnoticed, just imagine what multiple colonies can do to your home.

How do I know if I have termite infestation?

How long do termites live in a house?

But generally speaking, termites can live around one to two years roughly. Okay, that's longer than most people expect. Let us study the lifespan of these great survivors.

How do you know if termites are in your walls?

How do you know if termites cause structural damage?

Swollen Floors And Ceilings

Like buckling wood, swelling floors and ceilings are an indicator of water damage or a termite colony. Termites burrowing into the wood causes it to swell and bulge. This swelling is more than an eyesore. It's a sign of dangerous structural damage.

How long does it take for termites to go away after treatment?

On average, termites will start dying off within a day or two, if you are using chemical treatment. In the event of serious infestations, you may have to wait longer for the treatment to kill the entire colony, since it has to reach the queen.

How fast does termite spread?

Termites take a very short time to spread. Within a few days, they can multiply to what's considered an infestation. Homeowners need to take every percaussion possible, and be sure to act quickly in order to protect their homes.

How long does it take termites to cause structural damage?

When a termite colony infests a home, it can take around three years for the damage to be noticeable. As mentioned above, the rate of damage depends on the size of the colony. If the colony is big enough, all the wood components in your house can be destroyed within eight years.

What damage can termites do to a home?

Advanced termite damage can greatly affect the structural integrity of your home, even causing ceilings or floors to collapse. However, if damage does not affect your home's structure, your family's experience at home can still be impacted by ruined carpeting, walls, furniture or flooring.

How do I permanently get rid of termites?

While you cannot get rid of termites permanently from the environment, you can help prevent them from taking root in your home and control any active colonies nearby. Although it may be tempting to try termite control yourself, prevention and treatment is best left to the professionals.

What attracts termites to a house?

In addition to wood inside the home, termites are drawn inside by moisture, wood in contact with house foundations, and cracks in building exteriors. Different combinations of these factors attract different species. Additionally, geographic location plays a role in how likely homeowners are to deal with infestations.

What happens if you leave termites untreated?

Since many species of termites build colonies in the ground, reach the foundation and floor joists of your home isn't a very long journey. Termites that are left untreated can cause such extensive damage to your foundation and the supports of your subfloor that your floors could literally fall apart.

Should you leave termites alone?

Unfortunately, house termites invade and damage up to 600,000+ homes in the US each year. Homes that have hardwood in them, such as spruce and pine, appear to be the preferred meal of these insects. So, as beneficial as they are, termites should stay out in nature and not in your home.

When should I worry about termites?

During the winter months when termites are less active the most common signs of an infestation include: Mud tubes on the floors or walls. Paint that is bubbling and/or cracked – usually with frass coming out of the cracks. Wood surfaces that seem to be sunken in or cratered.

What should you not do with termites?

Should I worry about termites in my yard?

While termites are more abundant in some locations, chances are good that your yard has termites. Finding termites in a fence or woodpile, or in landscape timbers, does not necessarily mean that your home needs to be treated, but it should alert you to the presence of termites around your home.

What is the most effective treatment for termites?

Borate wood treatments are the most effective and are administered by pest control professionals. Borate is a long-lasting termite killer and repellent, which is soaked deep into the wood grain. It kills any existing termites on contact and prevents the colonies recurrence.