How To Prevent Termites

You’re spending a quiet evening with your family when you notice something unusual—perhaps a corner of the floor feels oddly soft, or the creaks in your walls seem louder than usual. While it’s easy to dismiss these as harmless quirks of a settling home, they could be early warnings of a much bigger issue. 

Termites are notorious for their ability to cause extensive damage to homes without leaving obvious signs until it’s too late. But with a little bit of help from Accel Pest and Termite Control, you can stay one step ahead of them to keep your home healthy and protected from termite damage. 

Different Types of Termites

A termite colony is a highly organized society where every member has a specific role:

1. The workers. Soft-bodied and pale, and responsible for foraging and building tunnels
2. Soldiers. Identified by their larger heads and mandibles, will defend the colony from predators
3. The queen. The heart of the colony, lays eggs to drive its growth
4. Swarmers. Have wings, responsible for reproduction and starting new colonies

There are also different varieties of termites. Drywood termites thrive in dry wood and are often found in attics or wooden furniture. In contrast, dampwood termites require a moist environment and often inhabit rotting logs or areas with high humidity.

Identifying the Early Signs of Termite Activity

Detecting termites early can save your home from extensive damage. Unfortunately, termites are often called silent destroyers because their presence can go unnoticed until significant structural issues arise, such as sagging floors or creaking walls.

What Termite Droppings Look Like

One of the earliest signs of termites is frass—or termite droppings. These resemble tiny, wood-colored pellets and are often mistaken for sawdust. If you spot frass near wooden structures like your home’s walls, it strongly indicates termite activity.

Discarded Termite Wings

Swarmers, or flying termites, shed their wings after finding a suitable location to start a new colony. Discarded wings near windowsills, doors, or light fixtures are a clear sign that swarming season is underway, and termites may be settling on your property.

Mud Tubes Around Your Home

Mud tubes are another telltale sign of termite activity. These pencil-width tunnels, made from soil and saliva, allow termites to travel between their colony and food sources while staying protected. You’re most likely to find mud tubes on foundation walls, crawl spaces, baseboards, and drywall.

Termite Prevention Tips

Termites can cause extensive damage long before you notice the signs, so let’s go over some of our top ways to keep them far from your home:

• Remove excess moisture. Damp environments attract termites, especially dampwood termites. Fix leaky pipes, ensure proper drainage in your kitchen and garage, and use dehumidifiers in basements and crawl spaces to reduce moisture levels in and around your home.
• Clear rotting wood and vegetation. Termites are drawn to decaying organic matter. Remove dead trees, stumps, and piles of firewood near your home to eliminate potential food sources for termites.

Advantages of Professional Termite Control

While DIY methods can help reduce the risk of termites, our professional treatments are far more effective for long-term protection. At Accel Pest and Termite Control, we use advanced solutions in our termite prevention treatments, like the Sentricon® System, a baiting technique that eliminates entire colonies by targeting their workers and the queen.

Another powerful option is our Termidor® termite treatments, which create a protective barrier around your home. This method is highly effective at eliminating termites and offers long-lasting protection against future infestations, and it is just part of our comprehensive and customized approach to termite control in your home. 

Get a Termite Treatment From Accel

Regular inspections by our certified pest control specialists can identify risk areas and signs of activity before significant damage occurs. Once termites are detected, our targeted treatments eliminate the entire colony to protect your home from any termites present and any that try to come inside in the future. 
Let us help you keep your home in its best shape. Contact Accel Pest and Termite Control online or give us a call today for your free termite control estimate.