Termite control in Vancouver
Are you worried about termites infiltrating your home and causing costly damage? Don’t let these silent invaders threaten the safety and integrity of your property. At 1st Pest Control, we offer expert termite control services to detect, eliminate, and prevent termite infestations before they can wreak havoc on your home. Our team of skilled technicians is equipped with the knowledge and tools needed to safeguard your property against these destructive pests.
By conducting thorough inspections and applying targeted treatments, we can protect your home from the devastating effects of termites and provide you with peace of mind. Don’t wait until it’s too late – contact 1st Pest Control today to schedule a consultation and take proactive steps to protect your home from termites.
How can 1st Pest Control help
Our comprehensive termite control services are designed to protect your home from the destructive damage caused by these silent invaders. In the event that termites are detected in your house, our recommended treatment is a thorough inspection followed by the application of targeted treatments such as liquid termiticides or baiting systems.
This method effectively eliminates termites at the source, preventing further damage to your home and giving you peace of mind. Additionally, we offer preventative measures to safeguard your property against future infestations, such as regular inspections and treatments to maintain a termite-free environment. With 1st Pest Control’s termite control services, you can trust that your home is in good hands and protected from the damaging effects of these destructive pests.
Do you think you have termites? What to watch out for...
The Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley regions of British Columbia are lucky to only have to deal with one breed of termites; the Pacific Dampwood Termite. These termites rely on moist wood to survive. They help break down the dead wood and return nutrients and other components of this wood to the soil and atmosphere. While this is helpful for the eco-system, it quickly becomes a pest situation when your home is involved.
Situations that could welcome a Pacific Dampwood Termite infestation include but are not limited to rain-soaked fire wood, a rotting tree stump in your yard, leaky pipes, poor gutters, etc. Once established, they can move their activities into sounds wood and even relatively dry wood.
FAQs - Termites (AKA The silent invaders)
What do termites look like?
The Pacific Dampwood Termite is the largest of the common northwest termite species, falling into 2 social castes: reproductive (winged), and soldiers. The reproductive may exceed one inch in length, including its wings, and is creamed coloured to dark brown. The soldiers are about ¾ of an inch in length with their head and jaws taking up about 1/3 of an inch of their length.
The soldiers head is reddish in colour while the rest of their body is a cream colour. The nymphs which are immature soldiers, perform the function of a worker. They are cream in colour and are about ½ of an inch in length.
Where to find termites
As previously mentioned, you will be finding these termites in moist wood, but they are hard to spot. They like to hide themselves to prevent any moisture loss. There are some indicators of termite activity you can look for, the most obvious being swarms coming from your home. These swarms are usually going to happen on warm evenings in the summer and fall months, especially after rain.
Take a look around outside your home for any damp or damaged wood with holes or tunnels, and wood that sounds hollow or soft when tapped. Also be on the look out for piles of frass (chewed wood and organic material that looks similar to sawdust), dead insects, shed wings, or feces.
Impact to your home, and how to prevent any damage
Other termites can pose serious risks to the structure of your home. The Pacific Dampwood Termite is not going to cause any immediate damage to your home unless the home already has structural rot or you let an infestation go untreated for a substantial amount of time.
To prevent Pacific Dampwood Termites from having anything to inhabit, you must control the moisture levels in and around your home. This means fixing any leaking pipes, getting rid of vegetation around your home that may be blocking ventilation through foundation vents, making sure gutter downspouts lead away from your home, any wood stored outside is done so away from the structure of your home, if it is stored next to your home, make sure it is not touching any soil, removing old tree stumps, making sure any planter boxes are at least 4 inches away from your home, replacing old and damaged wood as soon as possible, etc.
Fixing these issues as they arise will greatly help in preventing any Pacific Dampwood Termites from establishing themselves in your home. Please contact 1st Pest Control for more prevention tips. Furthermore, termites pose a low health risk as they are not known to transmit any diseases to humans, but have been associated with allergies.
What is the approximate cost of termite damage to Canadian properties?
According to the Canadian Wood Council, termites are estimated to cause millions of dollars in damage to Canadian homes and structures each year. The exact dollar amount of damage caused by termites in Canada can vary depending on factors such as the severity of the infestation, the size of the property, and the type of construction materials involved.
It is recommended that homeowners take proactive measures to prevent and control termite infestations to avoid costly repairs and damage to their properties. If you suspect a termite infestation or are concerned about potential damage, it is advisable to consult with a professional pest control company like 1st Pest Control for an assessment and treatment plan to protect your home and property.
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