What Termite Season Means For Elizabeth City Residents

There's a saying that "big things come in small packages." That is certainly the case with termites. While they are tiny and look like white ants, they create significant problems because they chew through wood. Furthermore, termite infestations are difficult to detect until the problem is out of control. This could mean destruction to your home, business, furniture, and other items.

There are four main types of termites: dampwood, drywood, Formosan, and subterranean. The subterranean is the most common species found in Elizabeth City, and their peak season is during the spring and summer. Though they can be active all year long, they thrive in warmer temperatures and moisture from rainfall. Our pest control experts in Elizabeth City can help you identify, prevent, and stop these pests from wrecking your property.

How Do You Know When You Have Termites?

Termites are sometimes called "the silent threat." They often go undetected because of their size and the fact that they have to stay within walls, inside wood, or underground to survive. In a colony, termites live in a caste system with each member having a specific job to perform to maintain the overall health of the colony.

Most are workers. They're the smallest of the bunch, being only 1/8 of an inch. They're usually white or grayish-white. They chew through wood and are responsible for feeding other members of the colony.  

Soldiers are larger and have yellowish-brown, rectangular heads. Their pronounced jaws help them defend the colony. 

Swarmers or alates are the biggest, at half of an inch long. They're the only ones that have wings and travel outside walls. Their wings are noticeably longer than their bodies. Their color varies from black to yellow and brown. They are responsible for reproduction. In springtime, they leave the termite nest to build fresh colonies and mate. You're likely to find them exiting through wall cracks. They're attracted to light, so you might catch them around windows and lamps. Since they only fly from nests if they're full, seeing them is the greatest sign of infestation.

Other key indications of termites include:

• Discolored or sagging drywall
• Pin-size wall holes
• Caving-in or loose floor tiles and boards
• Peeling and bubbled paint similar to water damaged paint
• Pellet piles that look like salt and pepper spills
• Damaged or hollow-sounding wood
• Mud tubes and maze patterns in walls, specifically near your foundation
• Shed warmer wings that look like fish scales

What Can You Do to Prevent Termites?

Living without wood is not really a viable option, so how can termites be prevented? Believe it or not, you can reduce the chances of these pests making your property their next meal by following these precautionary measures:

• Remove or repair rotting or ruined wood, especially any softened by water damage.
• Fix leaks or any sources making wood wet (ex. dripping pipes, faucets and air conditioning units).
• Make sure fire wood is a decent distance from your property.
• Seal crevices and cracks in walls, foundations and utility lines.
• Keep plants, bushes and flowers groomed and away from your home.
• See that your gutters and vents are free of debris. 
• Ensure that gutters drain water away from the foundation of your home.

What Can Albemarle Termite & Pest Control Do About Termites In Your Elizabeth City Home?

As implied by our company name, we know termites. Albemarle Termite & Pest Control can both bolster your prevention efforts and solve your infestation problems if you already have them. These insects aren't the kind you want to sleep on or wait to deal with once they show up. Each year, they create around 5 billion dollars in damages for homeowners across the United States. Most insurance plans don't cover this because it's considered an avoidable issue. You can call Albemarle today and get ahead of it all with a free inspection.

Our specially trained professionals can detect small infestation signs that the average person would miss. We'll explore areas indoors, outdoors, and in hard to reach places. No baseboard, crawlspace, or slab will go unchecked. A graph detailing trouble spots on your property will be provided to you, along with a quote for services. From there, we'll schedule a convenient time to return for treatment.

Our termite treatment methods include liquids and baits. For instance, we may spray pesticides or drill into a foundation void to inject a product. This will form a protective barrier around your property that will kill termites. Our liquid treatments come with a renewable warranty for one year. When used, it will allow our team to do inspections annually to make sure that your termite problem does not return. If we see any activity, we'll perform another treatment at no additional cost.

Customers who live near wells and bodies of water can take advantage of our Advance Trelona Baiting system. We'll install the system around property perimeters and do check-ups every four months. Bait units will be replaced if we notice termites are present. The idea of termites can be distressing, but peace of mind can come with Albemarle Termite & Pest Control.