Termite prevention is a must-have in any effective pest control strategy — especially in cities like Kansas City, where termites are a major threat. These destructive pests don’t just cause costly damage; they can also weaken your home’s structure, making it more vulnerable to other infestations.
Proactive termite control isn’t just a good idea — it’s essential for every Heartland homeowner looking to protect their investment and peace of mind.
By the Numbers: Termites in Kansas City
Termites cause over $5 billion in home damage annually, which doesn’t even account for the damage they cause in forestry and other industries. To make matters worse, insurance seldom covers this damage, leaving homeowners to eat the costs of termites eating their homes.
This is an even bigger problem in some areas of the country, including Kansas City. The Kansas City metro area ranked yet again in the top 50 worst cities for termite problems last year, with an estimated 7-8 subterranean termite colonies per acre of land.
How Termites Indicate Other Infestation Risks
If a termite infestation isn’t bad enough to deal with, it can indicate and even increase the risk of other pest infestations. Termites aren’t the only pests attracted to exposed or damaged wood; other wood-destroying insects, such as carpenter ants and wood-boring beetles, may also find your home appealing. These pests may move in during or after a termite infestation, further exacerbating the costly damage to your home.
Wood-destroyers aren’t the only pests who benefit from a termite infestation. The damage created by termites can create handy entry points for rodents to burrow their way through and make themselves comfortable in your attic or crawl space.
Even if they don’t add to the appeal of your home for other pests, termites are a major indicator of moisture issues in your home since they prefer damp, exposed wood. Moisture damage is a significant attractant for most pest infestations, including ants, cockroaches, silverfish, and, of course, termites. If you have a termite problem on your hands, you may want to check your home for moisture damage.
Signs of a Termite Infestation
When it comes to termites, early detection is key. The sooner you catch the infestation and put a stop to it, the less damage it can cause.
Signs of a termite infestation may include:
- Mud tubes in the soil around the exterior of your home
- Piles of shed termite wings
- Bubbling or peeling paint or wallpaper
- Sticking windows or doors
- Buckling or damaged wood
- Sagging floors or ceilings
- Maze-like tunnels in walls or furniture
- Termite droppings
- Live termites
- Mold or mildew-like scent
If you see one or more of these possible infestation indicators in or around your home, don’t hesitate to contact termite control professionals immediately to take care of the problem before it becomes a damaging disaster.
How to Prevent a Termite Infestation
Prevention is key to protecting your home from termites. Once an infestation has set in, it can move very quickly and cause extensive damage in a relatively short period of time. Here are five things you can do to reduce your chances of attracting and retaining termites:
1. Fix Leaks and Reduce Moisture
Leaky pipes and high-moisture areas in and around your home can attract many different pests, including termites! Inspect your pipes and plumbing for possible leaks and repair them immediately. Consider installing a dehumidifier in high-moisture areas of your home, such as bathrooms, basements, and crawl spaces.
2. Refresh Your Drainage
To further reduce moisture around your home, ensure a reliable drainage system. Keep your gutters clean and clear of debris, and check for leaks or areas where water is pooling. The goal is to move water out and away from your home, so if any water is collecting around the foundation of your home, then your gutters may need some attention.
3. Keep Wood and Debris Away from Home
Firewood piles, scrap wood, and other debris piles can be appealing for both protection and a food source for termites. Keep these piles away from the exterior of your home, ideally covered and raised off the ground on a concrete slab, to keep termites from finding their way in.
4. Inspect for Exposure
Exposed wood is a surefire way to attract wood-destroying pests like termites, and if that wood is moist or rotting, then it’s even more appealing to them. Inspecting your home for these damaged or exposed areas will help you keep it in good repair and catch potential termite attractants before it’s too late. Be sure to pay special attention to door frames, window frames, and utility or plumbing entry points where water damage may be more likely to occur.
5. Hire Professionals for Regular Termite Inspections
While the rest of these tips are about reducing the risk of a termite infestation on your own, they can also give you a false sense of security if you don’t have experts checking your home regularly for hard-to-detect signs of termite infestation. Our team at Advantage Termite and Pest Control is professionally trained to detect the earliest signs of termite activity and stop an infestation in its tracks. If an infestation is already present, our highly effective treatment methods will start taking care of the issue from day one.
Don’t wait to prioritize protecting your home from termites. If you are worried about an infestation now or in the future, contact Advantage Termite and Pest Control today! Call us at first sight – we do it right!
