Complete Termite Prevention: Why You Can't Do It Alone
All termites are not created equal. The amount of damage subterranean termite do each year in the U.S. is in the billions. All other damage caused by every other kind of termites is in the hundreds of millions. And in this subterranean classification, there are some species that are distinctly worse than others. The Formosan subterranean termite is said to be more voracious, aggressive, and devious than over 2,000 other species of termite. Guess which species of termite we have here in the Houston area. Yup. Formosan subterranean termites. That is one of the reasons subterranean termites are a serious threat for property owners in Greater Houston and why it is important that Houston property owners understand what works and what doesn't work to avoid termite damage. There are two ways to deal with the threat of termites. You can roll up your selves and do it yourself or you can hire a professional. Here are a few reasons you shouldn't try to take on termites alone.
1. Termite control is hard work.
If you choose to apply liquid termiticide around your home, it's going to require a lot of work. It isn't as simple as spraying the ground. Rainy weather can water termiticides away and leave your home defenseless. You're going to have to trench and drill. A trench needs to be dug all the way around your home. In areas where you can't dig a trench, it is necessary to drill holes through concrete, brick, and other materials to inject the termiticide into the ground. If you do everything right, you might create a complete seal that will prevent termites from getting through. But it is a lot of hard work. If you fail to make a complete seal, you probably won't know your termite control failed until it is too late.
2. DIY termite control products have varying results.
There are many products on the market that simply don't work. Some products work but only work when they are properly applied. When these products fail, you won't know they failed and the result can be irreparable termite damage.
3. Some termite control products can harm you.
The worst case scenario is when the wrong products are used in the wrong amounts and chemical exposure leads to serious medical consequences. It is best to leave the selection of termite control products and the application of treatments to licensed and educated professionals if you choose liquid termiticide for your termite control needs.
4. Termites are sneaky.
This ties into our first two points. If you take care of your own termite control, you may not get a warning that your treatments fail until it is too late to prevent the damage. Subterranean termites are extraordinarily sneaky. They live under the ground. They feed inside wood. And they rarely expose themselves to the light. The only termites you're likely to ever see are termite swarmers. But swarms don't last for more than 30 minutes once or twice a year. That means a swarm can gather and dissipate in the time it takes you to run to the convenience store for a bag of chips.
What Complete Termite Protection Looks Like
At Modern Pest Control, we know how to deal with sneaky termites. We employ the Sentricon® System with Always Active™. This award-winning and highly researched product has decades of real-world success at eliminating subterranean termite colonies. The reason Sentricon® works so well is its patented bait which has been shown to be more attractive to termites than wood, their primary food source. And the bait in the Sentricon® System gets better with age. That is not something that can be said of liquid termiticides. The best part about the Sentricon® System is that it will let you know when it worked to stop termites from damaging your property. Your technician will find the bait taken and the presence of dead workers and soldiers inside compromised stations. When they do, they'll let you know and you'll have a powerful reminder that your termite control was worth it. You won't get that with a liquid treatment.
If you'd like to know more about the Sentricon® System with Always Active™ technology, reach out to us. We'd be happy to tell you how it works and what you can expect when you have a Certified Sentricon® Installer from Modern Pest Control employ this termite control product on your property.
Termites are a serious threat in Greater Houston but investing in a pest control program can save you money in the long term. Don't take a risk with your equity. Get complete termite protection today.