The Homeowner’s Complete Guide to Termite Prevention and Control

Termites are the hidden pest that every Charlotte homeowner dreads. These tiny insects can cause severe structural damage, costing homeowners thousands of dollars in repairs. Termite infestations increase in size rapidly, and because of this, taking early action is vital. Calling in the termite control experts at Noosa Pest Management can save you time, money, and stress.

Understanding Termites

Termite Behavior—and the Problems They Can Cause

Subterranean termites live underground, whereas drywood termites live in homes, inside beams, flooring, and furniture. Termites have a caste system with kings and queens, workers, and soldiers. Their colonies often contain millions of members, and they reproduce exponentially.

Termites live on a diet of cellulose, which is found in wood and paper products. Termites eat through structural beams, drywall, wooden furniture, cardboard, and mulch. They also eat bamboo, plywood, books, firewood, fence posts, and tree branches. Additionally, they can chew through plastic and certain fabrics.

These insects can create thousands of dollars’ worth of damage to your home. You’ll likely need to replace damaged beams, repair flooring and drywall, and more. Homeowners’ insurance doesn’t typically cover this type of damage. Termites can also reduce property value and cause potential home buyers to change their minds.

Which Times of Year Are Termites Most Active?

In Charlotte, North Carolina, termites are most active in Spring and Summer, since they prefer warm weather, rainstorms, and a lot of humidity. Your home can experience heightened termite activity as early as February, all the way through late October. March, April, and June are typically considered the peak termite swarming season.

During Fall and Winter, termites burrow down deeper into the soil to avoid the colder weather. During this time, the queen is still laying eggs to grow the colony, and termites are still eating the wood in your home. Because of this, regular professional pest control inspections and treatments are key.

Termite Swarmers

What Are Termite Swarmers?

Termite swarmers are small, winged termites that fly away from the termite colony to find a spot for a new colony. After finding this spot—always near a food source—they reproduce and shed their wings.

Swarming usually happens in Spring, often after it rains, and it can last days or weeks. Since termites tend to hide, swarmers may be the only termites a homeowner sees when they have an infestation.

How to Identify Flying Ants vs. Termite Swarmers

It can be hard to tell the difference between flying ants and termite swarmers, since they both basically look like tiny, winged insects. However, if you look for certain key identifying features, you’ll be able to determine whether you’re dealing with a termite infestation or not. This can make a world of difference when it comes to effective pest control.

• The antennae of termite swarmers are straight and appear as though they’re made of little spheres. In contrast, the antennae of flying ants are bent.

• Termite swarmers may be tan, pale yellow, brown, or red. Flying ants are always reddish, black, or brown.
• The bodies of termite swarmers look completely uniform and straight, whereas the bodies of flying ants are much more segmented and pinched.

• Termite swarmers have translucent, fragile wings, and the front and back wings are equal in terms of length. The wings of flying ants have more of a yellow or brown tint, and veins can be seen on them. Additionally, the wings in the front are longer than those in the back.

Identifying a Termite Infestation

Termite Signs to Look Out For

The sooner you discover a termite infestation, the less damage your home will experience. If you see any of these infestation signs, it’s time to call in the experts.

Mud Tubes: Termites in underground colonies create these thin, tube-like tunnels to provide moisture and cover when traveling to food sources. You might find them on your home’s stone or concrete foundation or on wooden structures. They’re composed of saliva, wood, and dirt particles.

Discarded Wings: When termite swarmers have chosen a spot to build a colony, they mate and discard their wings. If you notice pairs of wings near your window sills or doors, watch out for an infestation.

Hollow Wood: Brittle or hollow wood is a common sign of a termite infestation, especially window sills and door jambs. Chewed wood, drywall damage, blistered trim, and tiny holes can also be indicators.

Droppings: Termite droppings, or frass, are very small, dry, and pellet-shaped. They look like piles of coffee grounds or sand, are odorless, and are light or dark brown or black. Frass can often be seen along baseboards and doorframes, under window sills, or near wooden furniture.

Termite Infestation Myths and Misconceptions

There are a lot of myths out there when it comes to termites. For example, some people assume that only older houses are susceptible to termite infestations. Unfortunately, termites love fresh lumber, and any home with moisture and wood can experience an infestation.

Sometimes people assume that homes built with concrete or brick can’t have termite problems. The truth is that termites can easily find cracks in concrete, brick, and metal, giving them access to the wood inside your home.

Additionally, people think that if they don’t live in wooded regions, they’re safe from termites. However, even homes that aren’t near trees can experience termite infestations. Even desert homes aren’t safe from these pests.

How to Keep Termites Out of Your Home

To avoid termite infestations, reduce moisture sources. This can mean

• Addressing standing water, fixing leaky faucets and pipes, and cleaning around pets’ water bowls.
• Homeowners are encouraged to make sure their gutters and downspouts are sending water away from their home’s foundation. They can also use a dehumidifier to reduce moisture.
• All wood debris and mulch should be at least 12 inches from the exterior walls of your home. Firewood piles should be at least 20 feet from the exterior.
• Make sure all wooden structures in your yard aren’t in contact with the soil. These include fences and decks.
• Tree branches and bushes shouldn’t be in contact with your home’s exterior walls.
• If you have any roots or dead tree stumps, have these professionally cleared away.

Your Termite Treatment Options

Is It Better to Choose DIY or Professional Termite Control?

Homeowners frequently find themselves wondering whether it’s better to try DIY termite control or call in the professionals. Each option offers benefits and drawbacks, but in the end, calling in a pest control expert to handle termite treatments tends to be the ideal choice.

Identifying an Infestation: DIY termite inspection kits are generally less reliable compared to a professional termite inspection from an experienced technician. Experts are most likely to correctly identify signs of an infestation, especially subtler ones. They’re trained in the use of sounding devices, moisture meters, and other tools. The experts can identify specific termite species and can offer a more sophisticated evaluation of the infestation’s severity.

Choosing the Right Treatment: While less expensive in terms of upfront costs, DIY termite treatments are typically less effective than professional options, leading to more expenses down the road. DIY treatments can also be more dangerous if not applied safely, especially when it comes to children and pets. Professional termite exterminators have more access to stronger professional-grade treatments, which are more effective. They’ve also been properly trained in their use, ensuring safety.

Ongoing Treatments: Professional termite control companies can provide guarantees and warranties for treatment. They also offer regular monitoring and treatments to address future infestations, along with prevention methods to avoid new infestations.

The Cost of Termite Control Treatments

The price of termite control in Charlotte varies depending on factors like the types of treatments utilized and the size of the property being treated. Frequency of treatment can also affect the overall cost.

Thorough treatment can be expensive, but it’s more than worth the cost to get the job done right and avoid extensive property damage.

Premium treatment methods like termiticides and monitoring stations can affect the cost. These applications take a fair amount of time, since they can involve calculating the dilution rate and mixing the treatment.

Application can also involve digging large trenches, going into crawlspaces, drilling holes, and patching those holes. Fuel, insurance, taxes, and other expenses can also add to the overall price of termite treatment.

Eco-Friendly Termite Treatments

Noosa is proud to offer eco-friendly green termite control treatments as part of our IPM (Integrated Pest Management) approach in Charlotte. This approach avoids harsh synthetic chemicals and often features a combination of biological options, monitoring, and other safe, effective green treatments.

Bait Systems: EPA-approved termite bait systems use baits treated with growth-distrupting substances. Termites bring the bait back to the colony, where these substances spread. Bait systems are often placed around the perimeter of the home.

Long-Term Protection Against Termites

Why a Termite Treatment Plan Is Vital

We encourage Charlotte homeowners to get a termite service agreement (or warranty) to protect against termite activity and damage. A treatment plan that provides ongoing protection is important for several reasons.

First, in North and South Carolina, Eastern Subterranean Termites are very common. Even a single acre of land can contain several colonies, each populated with 50,000 to 2,000,000 termites.

Second, while annual inspections allow pest control experts to find visible evidence of termites, termites often hide in drywall, behind masonry, and in other spots that the experts can’t see. With an ongoing service agreement, pest control experts will come back to deal with infestations that they didn’t catch during annual inspections.

Picking a Termite Treatment Plan and Finding the Right Pest Control Company

Choosing the best pest control company can feel intimidating, especially with so many options out there. Luckily, there are several ways to narrow down your choices and find the right company for your termite problem.

Compare pest control companies’ online reviews and testimonials in spots like Google Reviews, Angie’s List, and the Better Business Bureau. If any of your friends, co-workers, neighbors, or family members have gotten local pest control, ask them for recommendations.

When companies offer free inspections, it’s worth getting inspections from multiple companies to learn about the treatment plans they recommend. Ask the technicians questions about the details of their proposed treatment plans, look over their contracts, and always ask about guarantees.

What Makes Noosa Pest Management Your Perfect Choice for Termite Treatments?

When it comes to top termite control companies in North Carolina, there’s nobody else like Noosa. We’ve been treating Charlotte’s termite problems since 2006, building up our expertise and developing a deep understanding of local termite species. Our technicians understand just what makes termites tick and how to best treat infestations in residences and businesses.

Noosa Pest Management’s pest control experts utilize an eco-friendly approach whenever possible, and we always make sure to keep families and pets safe.

We prioritize customer service, and to us, that means treating our clients like family and always being transparent and honest. Noosa provides high-quality service that gets customers real results, and our 2,000-plus five-star reviews speak for themselves.

Take the first step today—arrange a thorough termite inspection by calling Noosa at (704) 499-9922 or emailing us at [email protected]. We’re ready to help you tackle any infestation, no matter how severe.