Termites are tiny insects that survive by consuming various decaying plant materials like wood. They are the world's most destructive insect pests. Many infrastructures and buildings suffer substantial financial losses annually due to the damage brought by termites.
As a homeowner or caretaker, there will be a chance to encounter termite infestations. Most of the time, they are attracted to wet woods, which are particularly soft and easier to digest. They can easily eat through any structure, which often results in irreparable damage.
These tiny creatures wouldn't just stop eating the walls. They tend to proceed to cabinets, closets, ceilings, doors, and other fixtures made from wood. With that information, what can be the potential impact of termites inside a home or a structure?
Structural and Physical Damage
Termites are known as silent destroyers. A building, a home, or a facility can break down without noticing termites infest them. Although they usually consume wooden materials, a hungry colony of termites can eat away plasters, insulation, and metal siding.
In the environment, the purpose of termites is to be decomposers. Their job is to take care of the old and dying trees to break down for new vegetation and plants to grow. They serve as the demolition crew for a new building in the human environment.
Furthermore, these tiny creatures are typically located in wet areas once noticed. The usual place where termites lurk in a home is the bathroom. The area that has prominent moisture attracts the termites. The bathroom tiles become loose, the ceiling starts to sag, and visible puncture holes in the drywall result from termites eating their way up from the ground up.
Sometimes, the subterranean termites are responsible for eating their way up from the ground. They usually come from the foundation of a building, structure, or house. Large cracks in the foundation are visible if a colony is present.
Squeaky floors, paints peeling, and walls becoming hollow and weakened are just a few examples of a termite's effect on a structure. That is why many homeowners use homemade remedies to get rid of termites.
Financial and Time Damage
Aside from the impact of termites on the physical damage, many owners also suffer financial damage. An owner will do everything possible to prevent more extensive damage caused by termites. They hire exterminators, use chemicals, and call a pest control expert. However, since these creatures are silent destroyers, sometimes it's too late to prevent a financial loss.
Other exterminators and pest control professionals are sometimes too expensive to hire. Some owners do DIYs and attempt to get rid of the termites. This solution could be more effective, leading them to spend even lots of their money.
Termites have been alive for over a million years. The annual report on how much money was lost caused by the damage of termites is over $5 billion in property damage. This expense cost does not include in the owner's insurance policy.
Owners dealing with termites face two financial costs: labor and structural expenses. As mentioned earlier, owners will do everything to control termites on their property. The pest control specialist they hire use professional technology, which is quite expensive. Plus, the repairs of the damaged area will still need repairing.
The structure's damaged areas are walls, support beams, floorings, water damage in walls, repainting, and foundation repairs. The repairs can cost a lot of money, especially the foundation repairs.
Financial loss can be prevented by not leaving termites unattended on the property. Regular maintenance is always the solution.
High-risk for your health
The termite's impact doesn't end with financial damage and physical damage. Long-term exposure to these creatures often risks your health and safety. These creatures do not engage humans directly. Some termite colonies may sting you, which is quite painful, but it isn't toxic.
They don't directly threaten humans; they don't carry or transmit diseases. However, owners exposed for a long time to termites can result in allergic reactions and respiratory problems like asthma and bronchitis. Termites consume wood materials in the house, and the particles will be transferred to the air, triggering allergic reactions and respiratory concerns.
And when risk in health becomes too severe, owners have left again with other financial expenses. Exterminators, repair, and healthcare costs can be the new challenges an owner may face.
Prevent termites from eating your home
"Prevention is better than cure" is a quote that is always heard in the news or on television. It is accurate as it saves you more expenses and you won't have to deal with more problems. '
Areas in your home with moisture exposure, wood materials exposed to the soil, and avoiding putting lumber and wood inside the house can lower the risk of termite infestations.
If there's a water leak inside your house, get it fixed immediately. Termites love to lurk in these damp areas. Maintaining a clean and clear storm drain prevents the soil from being overly moist. Having a regular schedule with a termite exterminator in Pennsylvania is an excellent way to prevent termites problem. They are trained and professional and know where the potential infestation may start. By that, an owner can already begin battling termites from even spreading out to their property.
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