Termites and Your Houston Home
Termite Prevention:
When termites attack your Houston home, you will have a huge problem on your hands. There is an old saying around the Houston area, "It is not if you
will have a termite infestation, but when. They are not easy to deal with and most times expert professional pest exterminators help needs to be employed
in order to get rid of them. But there are certain details that one can take note of in order to prevent an occurrence.
If you can find out what termites tend to learn towards then you reduce the possibility of them breeding in your Houston home. It will not be easy but the
time and money saved in the long run will be more than worth the trouble.
Termites thrive where there is a lot of moisture. Such places might be those with high humidity, welcome to Houston. It is a source of food for them so
make sure you keep this beyond their reach in your area.
Keep an eye out for areas that might collect rain water. If there are such surroundings in your home, keep them dry periodically. Also look out for leaking
pipes, dripping faucets or similar problems.
Wood is the food of choice for termites. They need large amounts of cellulose in order to breed. So if you happen to live in a house made from wood, which
most homes in Houston have wooden framing, take the necessary precautions to protect yourself from these insects. Lots of the Texas coastal homes near
the water and older homes are built on wooden piers and have wooden beam constructed flooring.
You can also employ pest control to use termite sprays regularly in your wooden home. The first level of control will also come from using pre-treated wood
in the building of your home. Such material contains substances that discourage termites from festering in them.
Houston houses that are solely built on soil will also be at risk. This is quite common so there are many safeguards that can be put in place. Soil is an ideal
place for termites since it keeps water well. It is best to consult termite exterminators on the treatment you can use on soil to keep them free from termite
nests.
By knowing the three conditions above that termites are attracted to, it would help you build a better home with less risk of experiencing termite attacks. The
measures will not be totally sufficient. Make sure you constantly check for their presence and act early if they do appear.
If you have termites attacking your home, or have been trying to prevent a termite problem, then you have definitely wondered about the amount of money
you have to spend on that. For convenience and professional help, it is always best to hire a pest control company for solving your termite problems.
However, if you are facing a tight budget or monetary constraint, there are some things which you can do yourself to ensure a lower occurrence of termites
and sometimes, total elimination.
Here are some suggestions as to what you can do to prevent or get rid of termites in your home. They have been proven to get results for most people if
done right and consistently.
- Keep Your Home And Surroundings Free of Unwanted Items
- Especially that of items made from wood or other wood based material such as paper or cardboard. Termites love areas which have wood and
moisture. It is even better if these combine to give you decomposing wood. So get rid of any such items or keep them stored securely and tightly in
metal containers or such, to prevent termites from detecting them. - Protect Wooden Components In Your House
- Again, keep any wooden parts of your house from attack of termites. If possible, ensure that your wooden furniture are made from treated or processed
wood that contains chemicals to turn away the bugs.
Regular Maintenance Of Your Houston Home
- Prevent or reduce the incidence of cracks in your house. This includes cracks in brick walls or metal parts, as termites are quick to burrow through
such openings to look for any wood. Fill up these cracks periodically.
Reduce Moisture
- Lower the risk of moisture creeping into your home and leading to wood decomposition. That will attract termites to your home. Buy de-humidifiers or
appliances that can help to control the level of moisture in your home. Such prevention will go a long way in eradicating the problem of termites in your
house. Moisture and humidity levels are higher in the Houston area which seems to compound the pest control and infestation problems.
The above are some great methods for the budget conscious in termite prevention and elimination. The best option would always be to get pest control
assistance, but if you wish to save some money, use some effort and employ the tips mentioned here.
Termite Elimination:
If termites are now giving you no end of problems and a massive headache, then you must be like me and own either a home or multiple houses with lots of
wooden components used. Or maybe you might have a home surrounded by lush greenery and trees, which would provide the ideal habitat for a termite
nest.
Whether you are encountering dry wood or damp wood termites, both of which are quite common in the Houston and south Texas area, the chances are
you probably have a battle on your hands with subterranean termites. Now this class of little bugs are the most common and can be found in almost all
states in the United States except one. And that is almost because the cold prevents them from building their colonies and nesting their termite eggs.
Now how do you know what a termite looks like? Are you able to differentiate it from ants?
So now that you know for sure that termites are eating away the house, what can and should you do to destroy them? Repairing termite damage can be
quite a chore and expensive one at that, but there are many ways in which you can stop that from happening and at the same time do a good job of self
pest control. In fact, you might be able to get away with not hiring a company to do that, although spending some money can make it more convenient and
you do not need to get your hands dirty.
What methods are effective in termite pest control and preventing damage to your Houston home from such insects? One way of course you know is to hire
pest control companies to do that. But like I said, you need to spend, and sometimes they try to push maintenance contracts to you. This might mean they
have not given you the complete termite treatment, and there might be the nest or eggs left somewhere which opens you to further subsequent African
termite mounds, dry wood termites, signs of termites, subterranean termites, termite, termite control, termite damage, termite eggs, termite identification,
termite life cycle, termite nest, Termite Pest Control, Termites, what do termites look like attacks. So can you trust such termite control companies? You
never know for sure, however I recommend using one of the Houston area WDI inspectors I have worked with and trusted for years. You can find their
company information on my link partner page at the following web address:
WDI Inspectors Recommended By ATEX Inspects
Other options include doing it yourself. But unless you enjoy looking for cracks and crevices, or digging up tree stumps and dirty earth to look for termite
nests, it might be quite a challenge. Do you enjoy getting in contact with chemical sprays which will kill termites? If you did not bother to build your home
with treated wood to combat subterranean termites, for example, then you have to cure a problem instead of preventing it. Fire ants are one thing, but
termites are another, I recommend leaving this task to the Houston WDI professionals.
Look for sure signs of termites, such as wooden doors breaking down or cracks where you can see white insects looking like ants burrowing in and out.
Again if you are not sure, try to get pictures of a termite to make sure you identify them correctly. Once confirmed, it would be the right time to treat and
attack these pests.
Dealing With Mice and Rats In Your Houston Home!
How to Eliminate Rats in Your Houston Home
To determine whether there are rats in your Houston house, you can look for the telltale signs. Rats love to gnaw on wood, so you may discover gnaw
marks on baseboards or door frames. They will also chew through food packaging - people and pet food alike. Droppings are a surefire sign that your
house is inhabited by rodents; small and dark, they tend to show up in drawers and cabinets. If you have a keen ear, you may also hear them rustling in
food sacks or scurrying back and forth behind walls. Due to the habitats and new construction around the greater Houston area, mice and rats may be
forced from their natural environments into your existing or newly constructed Houston area home. Contrary to what Houston home builders may tell you,
mice will infest newly constructed and vacant homes. While performing hundreds of new home and new commercial property inspections, I have seen
numerous with mild to severe mouse and rat infestations, these homes and properties have never been used or occupied.
You’re probably wondering why rats chose your home as their new domain to begin with. Rats are attracted to easily accessible garbage cans and compost
bins, open bags of dog or cat food, animal droppings, uneaten birdseed, and berries or other fruit that have dropped off their vines or trees. Once they have
found a consistent source of food, the rats will make themselves cozy inside the house to see what other treats they can scavenge. When they’re inside,
they’re drawn to spilled food on counter tops or appliances, boxes and bags of cereal and other grains, boxes and bags of pet food or treats, sacks of
potatoes, and open garbage cans. While they’re not eating, they’re taking up residence (and, most likely, breeding) in their favorite areas: attics,
basements, and crawl spaces; behind cabinets, shower stalls, hot water heaters, or furnaces; and in the insulation.
There are many ways to bid good riddance to rats, and the method you choose depends mostly on how humane you’d like to be. The safest choice,
especially if you have children or animals, is to set a trap as opposed to using poison. Pets may eat poison, or the poisoned dead rat. Poison also leaves
the potential for the rat to die in an inaccessible location - such as behind a cupboard - and stink up the place as it decomposes.
The types of available mice and rat traps include:
- Conventional Snap Traps: Known for their ability to instantly kill a mouse, these traditional traps have been around for years. Best when baited with
sticky food, the conventional mouse trap uses a heavy gauge steel spring bar to quickly kill the mouse when the trap is sprung. It is considered very
humane and is much easier to cleanup than other options. These traps are also very inexpensive, which makes them an attractive option for those of
us on a budget. Keep in mind, that with this type of trap, it is important to use a lot of them, more than you think you need. Be careful with these traps,
however. The springs are very powerful and can easily hurt an unsuspecting child or family pet.
- Glue Traps: Considered the least humane of all traps, glue traps use a sticky substance either in a tray or on a board to catch the unsuspecting
rodent as it hunts for food. They are safe to use around small children and pets and can easily be disposed of. A considerable draw back to this type
of trap is that it does not kill the mouse immediately. It can take a mouse days or even weeks to die from hunger and thirst, and if the mouse is found
alive, it becomes the responsibility of the trapper to end the little life of the mouse. These traps should only be used with the most careful
consideration.
- Live Traps: These traps are the most humane option to choose because they safely trap the mouse while it hunts for food. Traps must be checked
every day to ensure that the animal does not suffer from lack of food and water. Also, if you choose to use live traps, make sure to relocate the mouse
several miles from your home, otherwise, he will return to again partake of your generous hospitality. A mouse can have a territory of 200 yards or
more in width, so simply releasing the little guy in the woods behind your house will not guarantee that he will not return to your home.
- Rodent Poison: Also called rodenticide, rodent poisons affect the body’s ability to clot the blood, causing internal bleeding and eventual death. If a
mouse consumes a lethal dose, it can take him up to five excruciating days to die. Expect to find dead, poison contaminated mice throughout your
home within that time period, including within your walls. If a poisoned mouse dies within your walls, you can be sure that you will smell it for months to
come. Take heed that poisons should not be used if there are small children or pets in the home. They will be put in considerable danger, not just
because of the presence of the poison, but also because of the poisoned rodents themselves. If a pet inadvertently consumes a poisoned mouse,
they run the risk of being poisoned themselves, offering you the potential devastation of losing a precious pet unnecessarily.
- Electronic Mouse Traps: The premise behind this modern day wonder is that it will eliminate mice from your home by delivering an electric shock that
kills them within seconds. When the mouse steps on the internal plate, he completes the circuit within the trap and receives a shock that stops his
heart. This trap operates off of 4 AA batteries and is relatively easy to use. Electronic mouse traps can be rather expensive, so use them only if cost
is not an issue.
- Sonic Pest Control: Known as pest chasers, sonic pest controllers use high frequency sound waves to deter rodents from entering your home. They
are safe for people and non-rodent pets, but should not be used if guinea pigs, hamsters, or gerbils are present. Although the claims seem fantastic,
use these devices sparingly. They are expensive to purchase and studies have shown that they are not as effective as the manufacturers claim them
to be. Sonic controllers may annoy your furry invaders, but they do not ensure that the invaders will leave.
Whatever sort of trap you choose, be sure that it’s anchored firmly in place so that the rat can’t drag it away. Bait the trap with small bits of fruit, raw bacon,
or a saltine cracker and place it near any evidence of rats (droppings or gnaw marks, for example). It is important to warn other family members of the
presence of traps - otherwise you may catch a finger instead of a rat!
Pets can also help out with pest control, cats especially. They love to hunt rodents. It’s not always so pleasant, though, when your cat lays its latest catch
across your slippers as a gift.
When it comes to handling a dead rat, always wear protective gloves. Wrap the rat in newspaper or seal it into a sturdy plastic bag before putting it in a
tightly sealed trash receptacle. Use extreme caution when letting a live rat go; put on your gloves and keep as much distance between you and the rat as
possible. Whenever you’ve handled a rat, whether dead or alive, it’s crucial to wash your hands afterward - even if you were wearing gloves.
Preventing Mice or Rat Re-infestation:
To prevent a re-occurrence of my previous infestation, I worked to mouse-proof my Pearland home, both inside and out. I started on the inside of my house
by putting all of my dried foods like cereal, grains, flour, and sugar into mouse-proof containers. I sealed up any small holes or crevices I found with
caulking. I used plywood to cover any holes that were too big to caulk. Next, I moved my efforts to the garage. Because of my love for the birds, I had a
number of bags of bird seed lying around, offering an unending supply of food for a hungry mouse. I dumped these easy to access bags into less inviting 5
gallon paint buckets, with tight fitting lids. I then sealed up any gaps or holes I found leading into the house. Finally, I evaluated the areas around the
house, cutting down sections of brush and dense undergrowth which might offer a mouse safe harbor.
To keep rats away from house, make your home less “rat-friendly” by removing their food sources so they won’t be tempted to come near. Purchase a
metal or heavy duty plastic canister for your pet’s food and keep the lid firmly in place. If your pet doesn't’t finish its food, don’t leave it out; replace it in the
canister or otherwise dispose of it. Keep bird seed high up in trays or bird feeders that rats can’t reach. Remove fallen fruit or berries from your yard. Make
sure that garbage cans and compost bins are well sealed and that the lids can’t be easily knocked off, and don’t compost any animal products such as
meat, cheese, eggs or dairy. In your home, promptly wipe up spilled food, and consider plastic canisters for your cereals and other grains. By taking a few
simple precautions, you can keep your home pest-free!
Contact ATEX Inspects to schedule your Houston home inspection services and ask about adding a WDI (Termite & Pest) inspection to
provide you with a total package inspection.
Contact us today at: 281-216-1171 or by email at robert@atexinspects.com
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