As a homeowner, you should know that not every disastrous thing that can happen to your home is preventable; but having a yearly termite inspection in McKinney, TX will allow you to prevent or spot termite activity that may result in the destruction of some, if not all, of the wooden structure of your home. In addition to a yearly inspection, learning more about termites and how they operate is your best defense against them. ?Unfortunately, many of the termite facts that people think they know can leave their homes vulnerable. Here is the truth behind some of the termite myths you may have heard:
Myth 1: Termites won’t attack if a home is brick all around.
Termites are pretty determined eaters and will build mud tubes to bypass the brick surround on a house to get to the wooden structure underneath.
Myth 2: Termites only eat wood.
Termites eat wood but they also eat other forms of cellulose like plants and fungi. To break the cellulose down in their stomachs, they also eat each other’s droppings.
Myth 3: Termites can completely consume an average-sized house in two weeks.
Even the most aggressive termites would take several months under ideal conditions to completely destroy a home.
Myth 4: Homes only need to be treated for termites once every 20 years.
No termite treatment lasts 20 years. Depending on environmental conditions and the quality of the work that was done, you will need a termite inspection in McKinney, TX every year and re-treatment from once a year to once every 3 to 5 years.
Myth 5: Termites won’t attack a home if there are other food sources nearby like decaying wood or mulch.
While decaying wood is easier to chew, termites are continually seeking new sources of food to sustain the colony and they will find and consume the wood in a house.
Myth 6: Pouring used motor oil into holes in the ground around a home will keep termites away.
This is a very old and ineffective treatment akin to feeding a dog gunpowder to get rid of worms. Not only does used motor oil in the ground not keep termites away, but it is also hazardous to soil and groundwater and could net the person who uses it a hefty fine.
Myth 7: Termites are only found in the southern United States.
Termites are found in 49 states. Only Alaska is exempt from termite infestations.
Myth 8: There is a termite season during which termites are active.
Sadly, termites are active all year round. In fact, not only are termites active all year, but they’re also active 24 hours a day because termites don’t sleep.
Don’t guess when it comes to termites. Call us at Stampede Pest Control at (713) 714-6970 or visit us at stampedepestcontrol.com to schedule an appointment for a termite inspection in McKinney, TX. We’ll tell you how to prevent a termite infestation and how to spot an infestation and we’ll take care of any termites we find.