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Common Warm Weather Pests and How to Get Rid of Them

While summer has its benefits, it also has a few downsides. One of the most common is the emergence of various pests. These not only are annoying to deal with but can sometimes cause serious structural damage. Below you’ll discover some to watch out for and how you can prevent them from getting near your home.

3 Regular Summer Pests

Ticks: Ticks might be small but they can cause serious problems, including Lyme disease. While they don’t necessarily cause structural damage, they can populate quickly. Because of this, if they enter your home you’ll notice they’ll spread swiftly through it.

Termites: Termites are yet another problem to watch out for. Known for their voracious appetite, these insects will slowly eat away at your home’s structure. This can cause it to shift and eventually crumble.

Ants: As with termites, ants can wear down your residence’s foundation. They enjoy wood and will build their nests in it. They’ll also send out brigades in search of water and food. Because of this, you might notice a large presence in your bathroom or kitchen.

How to Prevent Them

If you want to make sure to avoid having to deal with these pesky creatures keep these tips in mind.

Remove Standing Water: Many insects thrive with water puddles. These give them space to lay eggs. It also keeps them hydrated during the hot weather. By sweeping away the standing water or filling holes with gravel, you can naturally decrease their population.

Seal Cracks: Some pests will sneak into cracks to enter your home. This gives them the ability to walk through your walls and find an adequate area to make a nest. If you don’t catch them in time, they’ll quickly spread throughout your living space.

To avoid this, inspect your crawl space and foundation for cracks. You might also want to examine your windows and doors for any crevices. If you notice some, spread some caulking over them.

Clear Garbage and Waste: You’ll also want to be diligent at getting rid of loose garbage and other debris around your home. These can serve as both a food source and hiding spot for these pests.

If you must keep these items outside, make sure to place debris in thick trash bags. You’ll also want to do a thorough cleaning of the containers and area every so often.

Warm weather can unfortunately result in many unsightly and sometimes dangerous creatures. If you suspect your home might have some, contact RCS in Sonoma County. We’ll send a team out to inspect your residence and get to work eliminating any traces of them.

dry rot termite damage

Can Termite Damage Be Reversed?

Many homeowners around Sonoma County don’t realize that they have termite damage until it’s too late. While termite destruction can usually be fixed, this sometimes isn’t the case. Below you’ll find more information about their destructive habits and how you can prevent them.

What are Termites?

Termites are small insects that are often mistaken for ants. Unlike ants, termites are white and enjoy munching on wood while hiding in dark environments.

How Destructive are Termites?

Despite their small size, termites can be very harmful. Once they begin eating wooden structures, they won’t stop. This will cause small holes to form and could create a structural imbalance.

At first, you might only have a handful of termites. Over time though, they will create nests which will significantly boost their population.

Can You Reverse Termite Damage?

In many cases, termite damage can be reversed, but it depends on how badly the structure is affected.

The first thing to do is call a professional who will quickly remove the termites. Once these insects are gone, they will inspect the area and see what they have destroyed. This will give them a better idea of the problem and how they can fix it.

Keep in mind that this can be expensive. To prevent a pricey problem, it’s important to contact a termite professional as soon as you notice issues.

3 Ways to Prevent Termites

Remove Wood Piles Around Your Home: Termites love wood. If you have wood piles resting near your home, this can become a haven for them. Once they eat this, they will spread into your home’s foundation to find its wooden structure. This is why it’s important to keep wood piles well away from your living space.

Prevent Moisture: Moisture helps termites chew through wood easier. Without it, they will have a tougher time doing so. Because of this, remove as much moisture as you can around your home. Make sure there aren’t leaks and that your sprinklers are pointed away from your foundation.

Inspect Your Home and Seal Gaps: It’s also a good idea to do an inspection of your home and seal any cracks, especially in your crawl space. This won’t only block termites but prevent moisture.

Termites are pesky insects that can cause incredible damage if not stopped. If you suspect you might have a termite problem, contact RCS. We can help reger you to a qualified termite specialist and offer tips as to how to prevent these creatures from returning.

termite damage santa rosa

5 Signs of Termite Damage

Your home will unfortunately come into contact with many pests that could cause destruction if not removed. One of the most common is termites. While they might not be obvious, they can cause significant damage. Below you’ll discover more behind these menacing insects and some signs that they might be causing damage around your living space.

What are Termites?

Termites are tiny insects that look similar to ants. However, unlike ants, they have a white body and are only about ¼-inch long.

Are Termites Dangerous?

This invisible creature isn’t necessarily dangerous to human health like rats or cockroaches, but their damage can be. When termites strike, they will wear down certain home parts which could cause structural damage. This could also result in irritating dust and mold spores that could spread throughout your home.

5 Signs of Termite Damage

Mud Tubes on Walls and Ceilings: One of the most obvious signs that you have termite damage is if you see mud tubes on your home’s walls or ceilings. These are tunnels for the termites to travel through to get to different parts of their colony. Termites will make these tubes out of dirt and mud and pack them tightly on the wall to ensure they stay protected from predators.

Small Holes in the Wall: Termites will eat holes into the wall where they can later leave fecal matter. These holes are very small and will look like black specks.

Wing Piles: If you notice piles of wings on the floor, you probably have a termite problem. Young termites need wings to fly to their new habitat. Once they arrive, they will discard their wings. While the wings can be found indoors, they are usually located around your home’s foundation.

Buckling Floors: Buckling floors might look like water damage, but they could be a sign of termites. Termites will form small tunnels beneath the floor which can weaken it. This will result in it warping and making creaking sounds as you walk across it.

Clicking Sounds Behind Your Walls: Another sign you might have a termite infestation is if you hear clicking sounds behind your walls. Termites will hit their heads against wood to make this sound as a way to warn other colony members of potential danger.

Termites can be very harmful to both your home and health if not eradicated. RCS offers reconstruction contract work to quickly fix any destruction these pesky insects might have caused.

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Termite Damage?

Termites are pesky creatures that often go unnoticed until it’s too late. Despite their small size, they leave behind some huge problems. Below you’ll discover what causes termites and a few signs that they might be living in your home.

What Causes Termites?

Many different conditions invite termites to infest your home.

  • Moist soil around wood
  • Humidity
  • Leaking pipes
  • Poor drainage
  • Stuffy air

Types of Termites Found in California

Three types of termites can be found throughout California. These include drywood termites, dampwood termites, and subterranean termites.

5 Signs Your Home Has Termite Damage

  1. Small Holes in the Walls: Pinpoint holes in the walls are one of the most obvious signs that your home has termites. These holes are dug into your wall as a place for the termites to discard their fecal matter. The holes can usually be found in materials like wood and drywall. Even if you’re unable to see the holes, you’ll find wood shavings and strange dust mounds located near the edges of your walls.
  2. Buckling Floors: Some homeowners might think that buckling floors are a sign of water damage. While this is true, it can also be due to termites. This insect will create small tunnels beneath flooring boards that can loosen them and cause them to buckle and swell.
  3. Clicking Sounds Coming From the Wall: Termites do what is called “head banging” when warning others about danger which results in quiet clicking sounds. If you hear these strange sounds coming from the wall, they’re probably because you have termites.
  4. Mud Tubes: Mud tubes are usually created by subterranean termites as a way to help them safely move from the soil to a food source. The tubes are packed with moisture which creates a comfortable environment for this insect to thrive. Mud tubes tend to be located near a home’s foundation.
  5. You See Flying Insects in Your Home: If you see flying insects in your home they could be termites. Flying termites, also known as swarmers, will leave their nest and try to find a mate. If there’s a large colony of them hidden within your home, you might find them floating through the air to get to a different area.

Termites can cause substantial damage if not removed. If you’re concerned that your home might be infested with them, call RCS. Our team will investigate your living space for any signs of termite damage and advise you as to how you can fix it and prevent them from ever coming back.

Termite Infestation: How to Control These Destructive Pests

Termite Infestation: How to Control These Destructive Pests

 

Every spring between the months of March and May, winged termites, called swarmers, begin to emerge in large numbers from their various winter shelters. Some nest in old tree stumps and trees, while others form large colonies in homes and buildings, eating away at walls and structural supports. Feeding primarily on living and seasoned wood, these destructive pests cause billions in property damage each year, and infestation is often a major obstacle for homeowners looking to put their property on the market. Here are some helpful tips to determine if your home is infested with termites, and what you can do about it if you do have an infestation on your hands.

 

How Can I Tell if my Home is Infested?

Termites are small black six-legged insects resembling ants except in their thorax shape and straight antennae. Most termites also emerge with wings capable of taking them to distant destinations in order to form colonies. Seeing winged termites outside does not necessarily your home is infested, but if you are seeing winged termites indoors, chances are your home is infested and in need of immediate treatment. Sometimes you will also spot mud tubes extending up from floors along walls and in corners of basements or other low traffic areas of the house. These tubes are termite colonies, and are proof-positive that your home is infested. If you spot winged termites indoors or mud tubes anywhere in your home, you should immediately contact an exterminator or pest control specialist to come out and do an inspection. Left unchecked, termite colonies in a home can cause severe structural damage that is costly and time consuming to repair.

 

What Can I do About a Termite Infestation?

Getting rid of a termite infestation effectively requires specialized skills and training, as well as a lot of specialized, purpose-specific equipment. Experts are best acquainted with how and where termites are likely to invade, and many of these ingress points are hidden and difficult to access. Vast quantities of a liquid pesticide called termiticide must be used to rid a home of infestation. Professional infestation treatment is highly recommended in all cases of home infestation to make sure that the termite threat is eradicated.

 

How do I Know What Pest Control Company to Choose?

This can be a somewhat complex process, but the ground rules for selection are extremely simple. Your termite control agency should be licensed by the US Department of Agriculture for regulation and control of termite infestations, and they should be a firm recognized for the extensive experience and knowledge of termite control. Research pest control in your area with these factors in mind.

 

If you suspect your home is infested, don’t wait to call a pest control service immediately. The sooner your termite problem is under control, the less likely it is that your home will suffer severe long term damage.