Dealing with termites is no simple matter, especially since there are so many species of termites in the world. There are 3 main types of termites: subterranean, drywood, and dampwood, and each requires different strategies to deter and eliminate.

If your home is prone to drywood termites, you should pick up some information about them before it’s too late. Unlike subterranean termites, drywood termites do not live in the soil, and obtain their moisture from water vapour in the air. Thus, they are happy to feed on various kinds of woods – not just moist wood.

Although they do not cause damages as rapidly as subterranean termites do, drywood termites are often harder to detect, and can wreak extensive damages before they are discovered. For this reason, every homeowner needs to be vigilant in defending their property from these infestations.

Preventing a termite infestation

Some steps you can take to make your home less attractive to drywood termites are as follows:

• Seal your home

Unlike subterranean termites that enter your home through the ground and mud tunnels they build, drywood termites tend to enter homes through above-ground means when they swarm. They can fly in through windows, so high-rise apartments and rooms above ground floor are not immune to them as well. The best way to prevent them from entering your home is to seal all openings (e.g. windows and vents) with mesh.

• Choose wood carefully

Certain woods are less attractive to termites, such as cedar, cypress, eucalyptus, and redwood. You might have a better fighting chance against termites if you choose these woods for your furniture or home structures. Pressure-treated wood is also a good solution – these woods are treated with chemicals that prevent decay, and is unappealing to termites.

• Protect your woods

Wherever possible, make your wooden furniture and structure less accessible to drywood termites by painting or staining them. You can also apply anti-termite treatment solutions before sealing the wood with varnish. Ensuring that any cracked paint, nail holes, and the like are treated and sealed up will also reduce the number of entry points for termites to gnaw into your wooden belongings.

Addressing a termite infestation

But what happens if you’ve already detected signs of termites in your home? For small, localised infestations, you may attempt to address the problem with do-it-yourself methods. However, if the problem is extensive, calling up a pest control company is your best solution in addressing the problem right away. Some treatment methods include:

• Disposing of the affected items

If the termites are contained in one or two wooden items, you can easily eradicate the termites by disposing of these items. After all, the interior of the wood would already be damaged, and could pose a danger to you and your family if you continue to use it.

• Termite extermination

When you engage the help of a pest control specialist, they will carry out extermination of the termites for you. Different pest control companies may have different techniques, some of which include flushing chemicals through the wood to eliminate the termites. Gaseous fumigation may also be used to completely eradicate termites in the area.

The best termite control method will depend on the type of termites found and the physical situation of the home. That is why it is important to consult a pest control professional to have them assess the infestation. And you won’t have to worry about causing more damages to your home – these treatment methods are designed to be minimally invasive, yet effective. Thus, you will be able to save your home from a full-blown infestation if you contact your pest control company at the very first sign of a termite infestation.