You’ve probably heard stories about termites before; the destruction they can cause and the anxiety they bring, but now you have them for yourself, and the fear is setting in. But stay calm, termites are problematic, but there are steps you can take to handle them. Here’s what to do if you believe they are termites making a meal out of your house.

What are the first steps?

Confirm it is Termites

Before you do anything else, check to make sure you actually have termites. A lot of times, wood damage can be caused by other things like water, rodents, or exposure to the elements, so it’s essential you find out for certain where exactly the damage is coming from. You can do this by trying to find individual termites or at least the mud tubes they leave behind. Mud tubes are basically the tunnels they make throughout wooden beams. Otherwise, you can call an inspector and have them take a look around to let you know for sure.

What is Inviting Termites in

After you’ve investigated and found out that you do, in fact, have termites, make sure there isn’t anything about your house that may have increased your chances of getting them in the first place. For example, if you have piles of firewood in your yard, don’t stack them right next to your house, as this can lead termites inside. Instead, stack your wood at least twenty feet away from your house. Also, if you have trees or shrubs, make sure you trim them back enough so that no branches or leaves touch your home. You don’t want to inadvertently create a bridge they can use to get indoors.

Call a Professional for Help

The most important thing you should do when you’ve found termites in your home is to call termite professionals. Termites are a challenging type of pest to exterminate, and most homeowners just don’t have the time, resources, or training to figure it out on their own. And since termites can cause devastation to your house in a very brief period of time, you don’t want to wait and try to get rid of them on your own before hiring professionals or the damage will just get worse and worse. If they are not taken care of quickly, you may need to have serious and expensive repairs done, so save yourself the trouble and get help as soon as possible.

Termites are determined, tenacious and brutal, but so are we. At Bill’s Home Service Company, we don’t quit until the job is done. If you have termites or problems with any other pests, don’t wait, contact Bill’s Home Service and get quality pest control now.