Termites
Fun fact: Termites produce more carbon dioxide than all other living things combined.
Our Methods
At Empire Pest Control, we pride ourselves in the fact that we use the most up-to-date and environmentally safe methods to protect you and your home. By placing termite bait stations in areas vulnerable to termites, we can monitor them periodically and, when termites are detected, the active ingredient is placed inside the bait station and the bait station is locked so children and pets are safe.
How can I tell if my house has termites?
The termite that is most commonly found in Massachusetts is the subterranean variety. They are attracted to heat and moisture, so periodically (every few months), check around the exterior of your home for a fine powder that looks like sawdust. This is the residue left behind by hungry termites. Check the woodwork inside your home as well for small pinholes that can also be a sign of an infestation. Have you noticed the floorboards in the house creaking more? The good news is that it’s not from you gaining weight. The bad news is that it could be a side effect of termites chewing up your floorboards from underneath.
If you think you may have a nest of termites in your home, don’t hesitate. Having a licensed professional exterminator inspect your home now is far more cost effective than having to make expensive and extensive repairs to your house due to termite damage.
What attracts termites?
If you want to know if your home is a potential termite sanctuary, ask yourself these questions:
Is your home in a heavily wooded area?
Have your neighbors had termite issues?
Was your home built before World War Two? Does it have a stone or rubble foundation?
Is there a lot of cedar mulch or landscaping done with railroad ties around your home?
Do you have a wooden deck or outbuilding?
Is your home a log cabin?
How can I prevent termites?
Moisture and wood are your watchwords here. Termites love both. Here are some guidelines to making your home less attractive to termites:
Avoid letting the wooden part of your home’s structure to make contact with the ground. Also, pressure-treated wood is NOT immune. Termites can burrow into the cracks and splits at the end.
Divert moisture away from your home. Landscape so that the ground slopes away from the dwelling. Do regular maintenance of gutters, drainpipes and splash blocks. Keep an eye on plumbing and AC units.
Keep any crawl spaces well vented.
Never store cellulose materials such as firewood, lumber, cardboard or newspapers against the foundation of your home or in a crawl space.
Outside, use mulching sparingly and rake it regularly to keep it from molding. Also, keep mulch away from wooden doors and frames. It’s like tossing a little kid a crumb and hoping they won’t notice the birthday cake next to it!
Schedule regular pest control inspections so you can head off potential pests before they cause any harm to your home.
Please use the form below to schedule an initial consultation or call us at: 508-481-9993
