What to Do in the Event of a Termite Infestation

An unmanaged termite infestation can cause serious damage to your home. The longer termites dwell within your walls, the more risk they have of ruining your home’s structural integrity. Until they begin causing damage, they can be difficult to detect. In the event that you believe you might have a termite infestation, here’s what you need to do. 

Make Sure it’s Termites

While termites quietly eat away at your home, they do have some telltale signs you can look out for. Here are some of the most common signs of a termite infestation: 

  • Pinholes in walls
  • Mud tubes
  • Bubbling or flaking paint
  • Wall sounds hollow
  • Dust near bottom of wall
  • Damaged wood trim

Call a Termite Control Company

Once you’ve determined that you do, in fact, have a termite infestation, it’s time to call the pros. Dealing with termites on your own can be costly and is often ineffective. Remember, termites gather in huge colonies, or swarms, and they’re better at hiding than you may realize. 

A professional termite control company will inspect your home to find all the termites. They’ll use their expertise in eliminating termites, along with the professional equipment and pesticides needed for an effective treatment. A reputable company will even help you put in preventative measures so the termites won’t return. 

Prepare for Fumigation

When termites take over, the most common form of treatment is fumigation. This is the best way to eliminate all the termites residing in your home. Before having your home fumigated, these are the steps you need to take: 

  • Trim plants, and leave a gap between plants and your home.
  • Remove any indoor plants from inside of your home.
  • Open doors, cabinets, cupboards, drawers and drapes. 
  • Pack away clothing, bedding and other items that could absorb gas.
  • Unplug appliances, calling the gas company if you have gas appliances.
  • Remove pets from your home until treatment is over.
  • Put food and toiletries in special bags that offer protection from fumigation.

Clean Your Home

After the termites have been eliminated, you’ll want to clean food preparation surfaces and laundry that hasn’t been sealed away. Beyond that, what you clean is up to you. The fumigation chemicals will dissipate over time, and by the time you are allowed back in your home, they shouldn’t pose a risk to you or your pets. You may want to consider repairing any damage the termites caused in order to not attract termites in the future. 

Having a visible termite infestation means it’s well past time to call the pros. The Ankeny termite control at Pro-Staff is here to help. Call us at 515-279-7378 or contact us online.