Chances are, when you think about threats to your home, you conjure up images of houses that have been devastated by natural disasters like tornadoes. After all, Oklahoma is known for its bad spring storms. While preparing for damage caused by natural disasters is something you need to keep in mind, you need to think about damage caused by living things—especially termites.
Termites are found in almost every state, and cause more than $5 billion in damage each year across the country. Unfortunately, there’s practically nothing you can do to prevent or get rid of them without the help of a termite control service in Bartlesville, OK.
Termite basics
Termites are like ants; they live in colonies. These colonies can grow to be hundreds of thousands strong. There are two common types of termites in the U.S. Subterranean termites live underground and attack your home from the bottom up. Drywall termites, meanwhile, build colonies inside your home, within your walls or furniture.
Signs of an infestation
Typically, neither type of termite infestation displays outward signs for a long time. Once you eventually notice it, a subterranean termite infestation will look like water damage. Buckling wood as well as swollen floors and ceilings are usually the first signs that you have a problem. Interestingly enough, these infestations can also smell like mold or mildew—a common sign that you have water damage.
Unfortunately, drywall termite infestations aren’t as noticeable as subterranean infestations. A drywall termite infestation usually isn’t apparent until the wall or piece of furniture begins to crack and you can actually see their maze-like tunnels.
Controlling an infestation
Getting rid of termites has to be left to the professionals for a few reasons. First, as mentioned above, infestations are typically so severe that an inexperienced homeowner wouldn’t even know where to begin in terms of getting rid of them. Second, the highly effective (yet safe) chemicals the pros use to get rid of termites can’t be purchased at a local hardware store or Walmart. Third, we’re trained in effective control procedures. You can’t learn what we know by watching a YouTube video. On the off chance that you catch an infestation early, you still can’t control the problem by yourself. Be sure to give the pros a call as soon as possible to get rid of termites once and for all.
Preventing an infestation
Early detection and fast treatment are the keys to preventing a termite infestation from ruining your home. It’s not a bad idea to make a habit of calling a termite control service in Bartlesville, OK to inspect your home once a year. In addition to checking for termites, our professionals can also help prevent infestation from other insects and rodents.
Don’t just think about movies like “Twister” when thinking about damage to your home. Give our termite control service in Bartlesville, OK a call to make sure your home is safe from dangerous pests, including termites. Excellence Pest Control provides free estimates to all of our customers, and we even offer emergency service!