The pinnacle of the American dream was always been owning your own home. The home is a sign that you have reached financial independence.
It's a place that you can feel truly safe and relaxed. Home ownership is a dream for most people. For others, home ownership becomes a nightmare. There's two common ways home ownership can backfire. There are many different pests which can damage a home or the people inside. Otherwise, the structure of a home can collapse or be damaged. There's one case where both of these occur simultaneously: Termites! A termite infestation is one of the worst pest issues that can pop up. They eat into wood and damage homes from the inside out.
Termite help. While there are many types of termites in the world, there's really only three classifications which will matter to homeowners. The first is dampwood termites. These termites seek out damp wood to eat. They live in damp areas and can be pretty common in basements or areas with excess water and humidity. The next type of termite is drywood termites. These termites aim for the remainder of the wood in a home. They often choose porches, attics or locations with soft wood. Finally subterranean termites live underground rather than inside wood. They make a trek to their food source every time they want to eat.
Causes of termite infestation. Since there are different types of termites, it's not surprising that they are attracted to different kinds of wood. Most termites are looking for types of wood to eat and turn into their home. The main cause of termites is really neglect. When you neglect your home, you can allow it to become a haven for them. Areas with sitting water or constant dampness are going to attract dampwood termites. Damp puddling areas outside will often cause subterranean termites to find a home. Another common cause is foundation cracks or other openings in a home's roof or walls.
Termite habitat. Habitats for termites will depend on the type of termite. As mentioned earlier, different termites like different places. Dampwood termites hunt for wet areas like basements or near water pipe leaks. They burrow into the wood in these areas and turn them into a buffet. Subterranean termites live underground and use mud tubes to get out. They construct those tubes to the surface, or preferably straight to wooden areas underground. Drywood termites are probably the most well known and often feared. They tend to be more common in warm and dry climates, though they can still be located anywhere.
DIY termite removal. So there's two ways that you can handle termites to try to remove termites on your own. Typically these are used for smaller infestations and for prevention measures. The first is termite baits. These baits draw the termites in and then end things. The second and more common is liquid termite insecticide. This can be placed in damp areas, but is often commonly used in the ground surrounding a home. It's especially effective at keeping underground termites from reaching a home and burrowing inside in some fashion.
Professional termite pest control. When there's a heavy infestation, or when there's the potential for severe damages, a professional is always the right choice when it comes to pest control. Professional pest control experts are capable of completely wiping out an infestation with minimal fuss. However, this may mean vacating your home for a while as the chemicals work to get rid of the termites. Pest control isn't free. Termites can be especially tenacious, and therefore can be more expensive than some easier pest removal options.