Unfortunately, termites are just a fact of life. They live on every continent except Antarctica, and they’re hungry. They eat cellulose, which is a plant fiber that’s found in large quantities in wood. Some prefer fallen trees or logs in damp environments, while others like untreated lumber and some want easy access to water-damaged wood. Whichever variety you have eating you out of house and home, you need Salem pest control from Kanga Pest Control to eradicate them.

How To Identify Signs Of Termites

There are three different kinds of termites: dampwood termites, drywood termites, and subterranean termites. You’re not likely to find dampwood termites in your home. They prefer the forest, where the wood is plentiful and moist. Drywood termites swarm in the spring, with reproductive termites, or alates, going out in search of untreated dry wood to build a new colony in.

Subterranean termites have their main colony underground in damp soil. They dehydrate incredibly fast, so when they need to go above ground in search of wood, they build tubes the size of an ink pen out of mud and saliva to make sure they’re protected. They’re the most commonly-found termites in Salem homes.

Whichever type of termite you have on your property, the signs will be the same, including:

• Windows and doors that either stick or move too freely
• Small piles of sawdust below pinpoint holes in walls
• Buckling floors
• Bubbling paint or wallpaper
• Hollow-sounding structural wood
• Sagging drywall
• Newly squeaky floors
• Intricate patterns in your walls, floors, or furniture that look like a maze
• Mud tubes anywhere on your foundation

Termite treatments may vary depending what kind of termites are infesting your home and the scope of the infestation. With an average of 14 termite colonies per acre of land, we take the prevention approach; however, we can also treat active termites in your house.

How A Termite Infestation Starts

Termites eat wood, and they don’t care where it comes from. Termite workers can forage 150 feet or more to find plentiful sources of food. With all the colonies per acre of land, it’s a safe bet that there may be a colony within 150 feet of your home.

Termites may find the wood mulch in your flower beds first. They might locate the supporting structure of your deck or porch steps. They could locate water-damaged wood beneath a leaky gutter or faucet. However they find the wood in your home, once they do, they start eating the structure of the house.

You may not be aware of a termite infestation for months, or even years. While you’re going about your life, termites are going about theirs. They’re responsible for more than five billion dollars’ worth of damage to U.S. homes, the vast majority of which is not covered by your homeowners insurance. That’s why it’s imperative that you protect your home with prophylactic subterranean termite treatment in Salem. Kanga Pest Control can provide that treatment.

How To Identify And Remove Factors That Attract Termites

Unfortunately, you may have had a termite problem for a long while. That doesn’t mean you can’t take steps to identify and remove factors that attract them. Here are some tips to do that:

• Use synthetic mulch instead of wood.
• Keep wood mulch 15 inches away from your foundation.
• Store firewood at least 30 feet away from your home.
• Ensure that your yard is draining properly.
• Avoid overwatering your lawn, flower beds, and garden.
• Clean out gutters so they don’t overflow.
• Fix leaky faucets.
• Extend or divert water away from your house with downspout extenders and splash stones.
• Partner with Kanga Pest Control. We know what attracts and deters termites, and we can put treatments in place to prevent them from coming near your property.

Total Termite Control For Salem Homeowners

The best termite company near you is Kanga Pest Control. We’ve been interested in home pest control since we were kids growing up in Australia. Even after an attack from bull ants, we were hooked. Our roots are in Oregon now, and we’re excited to provide outstanding customer service for you and your family. Contact us today for your free estimate.