Why Termite Protection Is Important

March 19th marks the beginning of spring, the season when termites start to become active across the country—if they took a break at all. That's why we're using this week to bring attention to termites. And it's not just us! Termite Awareness Week was established by the National Pest Management Association back in 2011 due to data received from licensed pest control service providers across the country. The goals of Termite Awareness Week are to inform property owners of the potential danger to their properties and to share simple tips to prevent termite damage. As a part of this important week of awareness, your Harris Pest Control service team would like to share with you a few important reasons why termite protection is important.

Many termite mouths to feed

One tiny termite isn't going to do much damage on its own. But you won't have a single termite damaging your property. As the South Carolina Pest Control Association notes on its website, the average number of termite workers (the members of the colony that are responsible for all the damage) in a mature native subterranean colony is likely around 80,000 to 100,000.

Termites don't take breaks

A worker termite is a simple organism that does not require sleep. It is active twenty-four hours a day if conditions are ideal. What are the ideal conditions for a termite? Temperature is high on the list. If it gets too cold, termites slow down and may go into a low-energy state called diapause. During diapause, termites look like they're dead, but they're not. They're just waiting for the temperature to go up again.

Termites often stay under the radar

There are many ways termites are sneaky. They're so sneaky that a colony of subterranean termites was able to feed on the White House for years without being detected. That is impressive, considering the level of surveillance. Here are a few reasons why termites are so sneaky.

• The perfect environment for termites is a dark, warm, and moist one. When exposed to direct sunlight, termites can dry out and die. That is why their colonies are located underground.
• Termite workers leave their nests and travel to potential food sources (i.e., your house) through mud tubes or tunnels. Those tubes may extend out of the ground and across foundations and wood.
• Termites damage boards and other wood from the inside out, leaving only a thin layer of wood on the surface and the damage hidden from property owners’ eyes.

What can you do about termites?

Here in South Carolina, eastern subterranean termite pressure is very heavy, which means it’s probably only a matter of when, not if, your property is visited by these pests. There are a few things homeowners can do to guard against termites and reduce the risk of termite damage. Here are a few termite prevention tips to keep in mind:

• Remove sources of wood
  Get rid of logs, stumps, dead branches, scrap wood, and other sources of wood debris. Replace wood flowerpots with materials termites don't eat.
• Avoid wood-to-soil contact
  For easy access to your home or structure, termites can benefit from earth-to-wood contact. Therefore, wood siding, wood latticework, etc., should be at least six inches above ground level.
• Eliminate moisture
  Repair gutters and clean out any blockages, divert water away from your foundation and maintain an open landscape that is dry above the soil as much as possible. Address poor drainage by adding fill or installing a French drain.
• Address moisture problems inside
  Reduce moisture and humidity in crawl spaces by installing a moisture barrier or some other moisture control solution designed for that space. You should also replace water-damaged wood and fix leaky appliances, faucets, and other plumbing issues.

Professional termite control is the best solution

If you're looking for professional termite control services in Florence, Myrtle Beach, or elsewhere in the Pee Dee or Grand Strand regions, simply get in touch with Harris Pest Control today! We use the most reliable and effective products for termite control and offer both termite baiting and liquid termite treatments. You can rest assured that our team of experts will not only eliminate active termite infestations but also prevent new termite activity from developing.

For protection from termites and more than 21 other house-infesting pests, we highly recommend signing up for our Intelligent Choice Pest & Termite Program, a year-round home pest control plan. Check out the plan benefits below or give us a call to learn more or to schedule service. Our highly trained and friendly pest control specialists look forward to helping you.