Pests Don’t Go Away in the Winter

Unlike an infestation of bedbugs or a fire ant problem in your yard, a termite infestation is insidious in that it can start causing damage to the structure of your home right from the start. If you don't catch the infestation and put a stop to it early on, you could be left with thousands of dollars of damage to your home. Fortunately, you don't have to stay in the dark. If you educate yourself, keep your eyes open, and check frequently, you may be able to spot a termite infestation before it's gotten off the ground. Try these steps to help you be aware of whether termites are setting up shop within your walls so you can get exterminators pronto and save yourself time, money, and trouble.

1. Know the risk

There are several types of termites in America that might infest your house, and each type has its own geographical range. Subterranean termites come from underneath and love damp wood, while drywood termites prefer drier fare. Make sure you're clear on which types of termites may live in your geographical region so that you know which ones to guard against.

2. Know the signs

You'll want to be particularly alert during the seasons of the year when termites are most active, such as when they're in their winged phase and looking for places to colonize. Some fairly obvious signs you can make a habit of keeping an eye out for include:

• Winged termites or discarded wings lying around the house
• "Frass," a residue termites leave in corners that looks a bit like sawdust
• Mud tunnels, which indicate termites are looking for a way into your house

3. Consider having professional inspections

If you're thinking of buying a new home, you should definitely have it checked out for termites before moving in. And if you're a homeowner now, you should at least consider having your home checked professionally, especially if you live in an area with a lot of termites or if you suspect you may have termites.

These three tips will help you minimize any termite damage to your home by making it less likely for an infestation to take hold and cause significant structural problems before you can get it taken care of. Of course, the best cure is prevention, so while keeping termites away from your house isn't technically the same as catching an infestation early, it should definitely be a part of your overall strategy as well. You can take steps such as:

• Covering any gaps such as attic vents with very fine wire mesh so termites can't get in
• Keeping all exposed untreated wood (including wood chip mulch and firewood or brush piles) far away from the house
• Keeping any exposed ground at least a few inches away from the wood siding of your home 
• Burying termite poison around your house (or having this professionally done)
• Making sure there's no exposed ground in your crawlspace (or cover any such ground tightly with heavy plastic)

Adding this prevention strategy to your early-warning plan will help you protect your house from termite damage in a multi-pronged way.

For pest removal services, contact a company such as JD Termite & Pest Control Company.