What You Should Know About Termites
Termites are small, wood-boring pests that form tunnels below ground. They chew through wooden materials, typically first starting with outdoor food sources and then growing toward structures. It's because our homes and businesses provide them with a treasure trove of food and territory that termites are such common pests for Phoenix property owners to have to contend with.
Once they move into a yard, they can quickly cause the following problems:
Damage
Of course, most people already know that termites can cause serious damage. Most don't realize just how hidden the signs of this damage can be, however, which is why professional inspections offer you the best chance of catching an infestation early.
Plant Health
A termite infestation usually starts outside, meaning they will target trees, bushes, and other plants. This attack not only harms the plants themselves, but their tunnels can lead to soil collapses that create other landscaping nightmares for property owners.
Proliferation
Termites behave a lot like ants, dividing their tasks between workers, soldiers, and reproductive members. That means they have truly massive numbers, and a fast-growing colony only intensifies the other serious problems they pose.
Do-It-Yourself Doesn't Work
Because of these serious problems, people often try to clamp down on a termite problem by themselves right away. While this is understandable, it's not a very good way to fully eliminate the problem or avoid the serious damage that termites cause.
From essential oils to store-bought treatments, even effective measures likely won't address the subterranean termites that are the real source of the problem. That means at-home or DIY methods are really just band-aids that cover up the problem and leave you with a false sense of security. By the time you realize you didn't eliminate the problem, it probably means that termite damage is already extensive.