Are There Termites In Your Firewood?

With temperatures this cold, many people are really starting to utilize their fireplaces to help keep their homes warm and cozy. While having a fire in the fireplace can help save you money, you need to be aware of the firewood you are bringing into your home. A B Pest Control & Insulation knows that your firewood might be home to many different insects including termites. When firewood is outside, it offers insects shelter, food, and water, essentially everything they need to brave the cold winter. If there are termites in that firewood, you are carrying those termites right into your home when you bring the firewood in. Your Lake of the Ozark’s pest control company has all the information you need to protect yourself from termites in your firewood.

Signs There Are Termites In Your Firewood

Subterranean termites live in soil and they construct mud tunnels to their food sources. These tunnels they create may be visible on the outside of the firewood, or they may be visible within the logs themselves. The main termite colony – the colony where the queen lives – will remain in the soil, but her workers will find their way into the firewood for a food source. If those termites are brought into your home through the firewood, they are not likely to start an infestation. But if your firewood is stacked against the house or in close to the foundation, it gives termites an invitation into your home.

The best way to help keep termites from entering your home is to properly store your firewood. A great way to store firewood is to keep it off the ground. You can do this by using a rack that is specially designed for holding firewood, or you can use a do-it-yourself approach and stack bricks or concrete pads to form a platform to store the wood. Another important thing to note is that you shouldn’t store firewood near your house. You should store it far enough away from your home and its foundation, so termites and other bugs don’t have access to your house.

Finding A Solution

If you find termites in your firewood, you may be tempted to try to figure out how to kill them, but you should never attempt to kill them by using chemicals. You should never chemically treat firewood you intend to bring into your home and burn. The best way to deal with termite infested wood is to simply dispose of it.

A B Pest Control & Insulation Can Help 

If you find any evidence of termites in your firewood or even in or around your house, give A B Pest Control & Insulation a call. While using the fireplace during the winter months is a great option for many people, your Lake of the Ozarks pest control company wants to remind you that it’s important to properly store your firewood and check it before you bring it into your house. To keep your home pest free this winter, and all year long, give us a call! 

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Pest Control Company

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The Truth About Termites

Termites are a problem for many homeowners across the United States. According to the MU Extension, more than $4.5 billion is spent annually to control termite infestations and to repair the damage they have caused. There are lots of myths that surround termite control, so A B Pest Control & Insulation wants to share the truth about termite infestations and treatments. 

Myth: It's easy to detect a termite infestation.

Truth: Termites are the silent destroyers. If you see termites swarming, it's because their colony has gotten too big and they are looking for a new place to start a new colony. It takes a while before termites are visible and able to be found. Termites like to hide in spots that are small and hard to reach on your own, like small cracks and crevices. Due to their breeding habits, it's very difficult to be aware of where they're hiding before they have settled in. 

Myth: Termites won't go to my home if there's lots of mulch or wood nearby.

Truth: While termites may spend some time chewing through the mulch and wood lying around your house, they're always on the hunt for a new food source. Your home has enough wood that's concentrated in one area to help a colony grow and thrive. It may seem safe if your home is surrounded by woods, however, termites are always looking for a new place to grow and protect their colony.

Myth: My house is safe because it's brick and on a concrete slab. 

Truth: Luckily, termites don't eat brick or concrete. However, they do eat anything that contains cellulose. Termites can eat through drywall, wallpaper and wooden furniture. Also, a lot of brick homes still have wooden frames that are susceptible to damage. Termites are capable of finding cracks in brick and concrete and still can get into your home. 

Myth: DIY treatment is the best solution for a termite infestation.

Truth: Solving a termite infestation is hard work and doing it on your own will not produce the results you desire. While it may seem like the most affordable and simple way to deal with the problem, you may ultimately make it worse because you are not treating it and allowing the colony to grow. It would be difficult to target the right areas without the help of a professional. 

Myth: Termite protection and treatment are costly.

Truth: While you may think that protection and treatment are costly, the cost of repairing a termite infestation could be worse. Termites can do lots of damage that can be costly. You can avoid these costly repairs and make sure your home is protected by having an annual termite inspection done by a trusted pest control company at the Lake of the Ozarks. If termites are found in your home during an inspection, A B Pest Control & Insulation will see what the best service plan for you would be.  We offer a 10-year guarantee on our termite control services.

Protect Your Home From Termites

Annual termite inspections are recommended to help you protect your home because a Lake of the Ozarks pest control company can look for the early warning signs of termites. If you are needing protection before the next swarm comes in, call A B Pest Control & Insulation at 573-964-1100 today. 

Lake of the Ozarks
Pest Control Company

Visit Our Website:

www.abpest.net

Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
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Follow us on Google+