Sadly, the summer is finally here. Sadly? Why sadly? Well, despite the nice weather, all the fun things to do, and a general happiness that people show, the summer means bugs. A lot more bugs.
It’s not just bugs being annoying and icky that is the problem, either. Certain bugs like termites can actually cause a significant amount of damage to a person’s home — and termite season is officially underway. A homeowner who finds a swarm of termites infesting their home can expect to spend at least $3,000 on repair costs. And that’s not even including termite prevention methods that can be extremely pricey on their own.
On a national scale, termite infestations cause more than $5 billion in property damage in the U.S. every year.
According to the Los Angeles Daily News, given the right temperature and conditions, a swarm of termites can essential tear an otherwise structurally sound house to shreds.
“The thing about termites that’s so frustrating is the damage they do is so in your face,” said Michael Bentley, an entomologist and director of training and education for the National Pest Management Association (NPMA). “You think, ‘I’ll know it when I see it, right,’ And next thing you know, you’ve suddenly got a major issue on your hands.”
Unfortunately, termite and other pest-related damages are rarely covered by home insurance policies, which is exactly why property owners should act quickly when it comes to termite prevention.
It’s recommended that homeowners should immediately address any water issues inside the home because termites (and other pests) thrive in moisture-stricken areas.
“If you’ve ot water damage in your house, [termites are] going to find it and start feeding on that wood,” Bentley added. “And if they hit a gap in that wood, rather than allowing themselves to be exposed they’re going to build a tiny tunnel made of mud and other things to trap in moisture while they travel to a food source. So what you end up with are these tiny little mud tubes that you can see going from a baseboard to a windowsill.”
Additionally, homeowners are encouraged to inspect their properties for cartons. Termites create nesting combinations made up of excrement, chewed wood, and soil. These cartons act as nests and are commonly found underneath sinks and in between walls.
So in order to actually enjoy the summer and this nice weather, make sure your home is completely termite-free at all times.
