Termite Infestation Defense: Early Warning Signs And Solutions For Del Rio Homeowners

Are you hearing clicking sounds inside your walls? Are you dealing with tight-fitting doors and windows? There may be a serious termite infestation raging inside your home.

But what about situations where you don't see obvious signs? Both of these occur in late-stage infestations – they're not going to clue you in before the situation spirals out of control. How can you identify a termite infestation early, and what can you do today to stop an infestation tomorrow?

We get questions like this all the time at Gold Star Exterminators – Del Rio. They're so common, in fact, that we decided to write this guide! We're going to walk through everything you ever needed (or wanted) to know about termite infestations, including the growing threat, the early warning signs, and the best way to treat infestations once they get established.

Thinking about starting with DIY termite control? We compare it to professional termite control in Del Rio so you can make an informed decision.

Now, let's dive into all the nitty-gritty details, starting with the threat of termite infestations around Del Rio homes.

Termite infestations have always been a problem in Del Rio. Between our mild winters and warm summers, there's plenty of time for these pests to thrive. Unfortunately for us, however, the situation is getting worse. Their geographic range has expanded considerably since the early 1990s. 

The truth is that termitescause more than five billion dollars in damages every year. They can also remain undetected for months or even years, allowing them to wreak havoc on your home.

Termites don't need to sleep or rest like other pests, which means they can burrow through your home all day, every day. Mature colonies eat through a foot of wood per year, which can lead to significant structural damage and weakened supports over time.

Unfortunately, the vast majority of homeowner insurance policies don't cover termites or their damages. You likely need to pay for both treatments and repair out of pocket, which may be expensive depending on the severity of the infestation.

Once termites gain access to your home, they may become difficult, if not impossible, to remove. The longer an infestation goes untreated, the harder it is to expel them completely. 

Keep in mind that termite infestations also make it difficult to sell your home. Even if a buyer is interested in your property, you may have to contend with thousands of dollars in lost equity. The buyer may demand you repair the damage before closing, which can lead to a great deal of stress, anxiety, and expense on your part.

The best and most effective way to prevent this from happening is to stop termite problems before they become too serious. Identifying the warning signs of termites as early as possible is a great way to protect yourself and your bottom line.

Let's take a look at a few of these warning signs below.

Understanding Early Warning Signs

Termites are often known as 'silent invaders' because of their uncanny ability to get inside without being detected. While the behavior of an infestation may differ depending on the species, many of the early warning signs remain the same.

We're going to discuss two common species in our area: subterranean termitesand drywood termites. 

The early warning signs of termites can include the following:

• 1/4-inch holes around baseboards, subflooring, and furniture around the house. You may also spot fine sawdust shavings known as frass, which generally indicate active termites.

• Subterranean termites often leave tiny mud tunnels running along the walls and foundation of your home. These are especially common in basements during the earliest stages of infestation.

• Hollow-sounding wood when knocked. Most drywood termites forage within a set area, meaning you can spot an infestation early (and hopefully long before the situation gets worse).

• The presence of termite wings or exoskeletons. If you see what looks like fish scales around the cracks and crevices of your home or dried husks around doors and windows, you may have an early termite infestation.

• Termite swarmers around windows and doors. These are sexually-mature adults typically appearing after rain in the spring, and once they find a mate and a habitat, they will gladly settle down to start a new infestation.

What you're not likely to see is the termites themselves marching around your house. If you do manage to spot one of these insects, you'll notice it looks like a whitish ant with a fat, segmented body. Soldier termites have larger mandibles and darker heads, and reproductive termites are larger and brown to black in color. 

If you spot any of the signs or symptoms listed above, you should immediately get in touch with Gold Star Exterminators – Del Rio. We can quickly help you verify the pests inside your home and provide a complimentary estimate for treatment and removal.

Would you rather try DIY termite control instead? To be perfectly candid, this may allow the infestation to get worse.

Below, we're taking a deep dive into the differences between DIY and professional pest control – including why professional pest control is the more effective method.

DIY vs. Professional Termite Control

Many people try to remove an early termite infestation with home remedies, cultural controls, or over-the-counter pest control products. This may seem like a good idea in theory, but in practice, it can be significantly less effective.

Let's start with the ever-present DIY home remedy. There are thousands of online articles and guides explaining how to mix various combinations of household products. Some of these are meant to kill termites on contact, while others are designed to send entire colonies packing.

Unfortunately, both of these things are too good to be true. Even if you do kill some termites on contact, you're certainly not going to get rid of the entire infestation. DIY 'discouraging' products have a similar effect. While they may be useful for preventing infestations, they're not going to get rid of established colonies.

Plus, cultural controls (like prevention steps) are typically used incorrectly. Sealing cracks and gaps around the house can be a great way to stop infestations, but they cannot and do not remove early-stage infestations. 

Over-the-counter termite control products may seem like a more effective solution. However, you must consider the dangers posed by high concentrations, as well as the time-consuming application process and potentially expensive price tags.

Far more effective is professional termite control – the best and most efficient solution for early-stage infestations. The team at Gold Star Exterminators – Del Rio would be happy to help with a multistep process designed to remove both subterranean and drywood species.

We always start with a termite inspectionto identify the pests and look for conducive conditions. From here, we can provide you with a free estimate of our services and explain the treatment process so there aren't any surprises.

We rely on two specific methods to get rid of termites: trench-and-treat with Premise 75, and wall void encasement with Premise Foam. Both of these techniques allow us to remove entire infestations, offering the speed, skill, and discretion needed to restore your peace of mind.

All termite treatments from Gold Star Exterminators – Del Rio come with a full one-year warranty. For qualified homes, however, we would be happy to extend our warranty by up to five years.

If you're interested in learning more about this process, please contact Gold Star Exterminators – Del Rio today. We look forward to serving you and your loved ones with the most effective termite defenses in Del Rio.

Simple Tips To Prevent Future Termite Infestations In Your Home

Now that you've removed your termite infestation, you can follow some rules of thumb to keep them from returning in the future. We recommend a holistic approach to stop both subterranean and drywood termites from sneaking back into your home.

We recommend the following steps:

• Seal cracks and gaps around your home with waterproof caulking and expanding foam. Not only can they stand up to extreme temperatures and weather, but they also prevent termites from making their way inside.

• Replace or repair any damaged window screens. If you can't patch the tears or holes, consider purchasing new mesh.

• Remove as much excess moisture as possible from your home. Dehumidifiers and desiccant bags are cost-effective solutions.

• Stack firewood at least 25 feet away from the sides of your home. Any moisture-damaged wood should be removed from the stack to discourage subterranean termites from getting too close.

• Get rid of any blockages around household vents (including plants and other vegetation). These could lead termites directly to your home, especially if there's exposed household wood.

• Do your best to remove soil-to-wood contact outside. Replace landscape mulch with gravel, stone, or river rock for the best possible results. 

• Regularly inspect your home for the signs and symptoms of termites. The earlier you catch an infestation, the sooner you can remove it from your home.

Remember: if you already have termite activity in your home, none of the above steps will eliminate the problem. The best and most effective solution is to contact Gold Star Exterminators – Del Rio for effective termite removal services.

Please call our Del Rio office today for more information.

Gold Star has been spraying our house for a few years now and I can't express how much it has helped.  I was spraying Demon WD myself and barely made an impact on the scorpions and spiders.  after they started doing it, we have very few sightings now.  Great company.

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