Termites are bothersome insects that can inflict significant damage on your house. These nuisances inhabit wood, consuming it until nothing remains.
In most cases, termites travel from tree to tree and find their way into the ground near homes. Once they get inside, they do all sorts of damage before you know it!
Termites can be difficult to detect because infestations usually aren’t obvious until long after the problem has started.
With these tips from our pest control specialist from Petaling Jaya for what to do when your neighbor gets termites, you’ll be prepared if this ever happens in your neighborhood!
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Call In a Professional Termite Control
The moment you pass by your neighbor and hear the news that they’re having a termite problem, the first thing you must do is schedule a professional to conduct a termite inspection.
What not many homeowners know is that termites can be difficult to detect because infestations usually aren’t obvious until long after the problem has started.
The professional will check for signs of termites by inspecting any wood in your home and yard, so it’s important not to move anything before they come.
Termites are pretty brilliant creatures and if they notice their home is being invaded, they’re going to seek refuge elsewhere and that can be anywhere in your yard or home.
So as soon as you know your neighbor is dealing with an infestation, call a certified professional to ensure any underlying problem is taken care of before it gets worse!
Don’t Leave Deadwood In Your Property
Another thing you must do after discovering your neighbor is dealing with a severe infestation is making sure your property doesn’t attract termites.
Termites all love any type of wood, and deadwood is not an exception. If you’ve got deadwood lying around, remove it!
Deadwood still contains a lot of nutrients that termites love and it’s also a great place for these creatures to find shelter. These things may be twigs, logs, bark from a tree, old lumber, or wood scraps.
Therefore, if you don’t want your house to be the next target of termites, then be sure to remove any deadwood from your property.
Stop Termites By Trimming Tree Branches
If you’ve got trees surrounding your home, especially ones that are from your neighbor’s backyard which is touching your roof, you may want to trim the tree branches, so termites can’t cross to your home.
It’s recommended that you trim any low-hanging or touching branches because termites are attracted to these thick, woody materials and it may cause them to crawl onto a lower branch and then enter into your home through vents for air conditioning units.
When this happens, you can expect a swarm of termite activity to be in your attic and walls.
Remove Standing Water to Avoid Termites
Not many people are aware of this, but just like other creatures, termites require water to survive.
Termites cannot retain water due to their external respiratory system, which is why they need to find it in the soil.
One way that termites get their water is from standing sources such as puddles and gutters with leaves where rainwater collects.
This means you should always remove any standing water, so your home doesn’t become the next target for these pests!
Also, be wary of pet bowls with water that you leave outside since this can also attract termites.
Be Vigilant For Signs of Termites
To ensure you don’t ever experience the unforgiving wrath termites bring is to be vigilant for their tell-tale signs.
Termites are a hard insect to catch since they work at night and eat cellulose materials that we can’t see, which means you have been lucky if you haven’t seen them in your home yet!
However, there are signs you need to look out for to ensure you can catch these creatures if ever there are some lurking on your property.
Among the signs of termites are :
- Brownish droppings near the foundation of your home, in woodpiles, and around trees or shrubs.
- Sawdust piles after an infestation have been active for a while. Termites create these to build their homes with when they eat off pieces of the structure away from its original spot.
- Mud tubes that connect the ground and the home’s foundation.
- Holes in termite damaged wood that are about an inch wide, often filled with sawdust or mud. These holes will also have a distinctive sweet smell to them
If you see any of these signs on your property, don’t hesitate to call pest control services immediately!
Conclusion
If you see signs of termites in your neighbor’s home, it is important to take action right away. Be sure to keep our given tips in mind so you can guarantee a safe and termite-free property!