Termites Be Gone: Proven Techniques for Successful Termite Control In Ventura County

From Bad To Worse: How Termite Damage Can Escalate Quickly

The primary issue with termites in Ventura County is that they don't go away. Termites grow a colony, send out winged termites, mate, and create more colonies. The sign that a problem is about to go from bad to worse is the appearance of termite swarmers around your property. Just two of the termites in a swarm represent a new nest on or near your yard. Fortunately, not every swarmer is viable. Many of them die off during the mating process. But it only takes a few couples to increase your termite woes.

Finding termite swarmers in your home is even worse. There are a few things those swarmers are telling you. First, their nest is very close to your home or inside the wood of your home. If they're in the wood, they are likely drywood termites. If they are in the soil next to your home, they are subterranean termites. The second thing those termite swarmers are telling you is that you've had a nest on your property for years. It takes three or more years for a nest to begin producing winged reproductives. That leads us to the last thing those swarmers are telling you. Your home has more than three years of termite damage. It is best to catch subtle, early warning signs of termite infestation first. You don't want to wait until you're seeing the obvious sign of termite swarmers in your home.

Protecting Your Property: Effective Termite Prevention Methods

Long before you see warning signs of termites, you can take steps to make your property a little less appetizing for these wood-eating pests. The secret is to counteract the natural behavior patterns termites follow and to block access to your home.

Here are our best termite prevention tips.

• Use the tips provided above to routinely inspect your home and property for termite activity. Early detection is key to preventing extensive damage.
• Consider any wood debris on the ground and alter conditions that allow for wood-to-soil contact. For example, pick up dead branches and store them in a rubber bin, stack campfire wood on a platform, and remove stumps.
• Consider vulnerable building materials. If you have a wood skirt on your home and it touches the soil, trim it. If you have a wooden fence, consider replacing it with vinyl. If you have a deck with wooden posts that go down into the ground, consider removing the wood from the ground and placing the support posts on concrete foundations.
• Pick up any junk piles. Termites don't just eat wood. They'll also feed on paper, cardboard, clothing, and other materials that contain cellulose.
• Inspect your exterior and patch any tiny gaps you find. Drywood termites commonly enter homes around window and door frames. Start applying your seals around these. The tools for this job are a caulking gun, high-quality silicone caulk, and expanding foam.
• Deter moisture with sunlight and ventilation, and clean out your gutters. Moisture is at the heart of most termite problems. If you keep your wood dry, you'll prevent the conditions that attract termites to your yard – namely wood rot.   

You have many options to help you prevent a termite problem. We highly recommend taking whatever steps you're able to deter termites and watch for warning signs. What we don't recommend is the application of mass-produced termite control products. Many of these products don't work. We also don't recommend applying commercial termite products if you're able to find a place to purchase them. The manufacturers of these products certify educated pest professionals to install them, and they do so for a good reason. There are many ways these products can fail if the procedure is not followed to the letter or when appropriate inspections are not performed to evaluate the specific needs of the property. When your DIY termite control fails, you won't know it. That can leave your property at risk of extensive damage. For proactive termite prevention, such as an application of termiticide all the way around your property, contact a certified termite product installer.