Seven Termite-Protection Tips For Nassau County Property Owners

1. Learn To Recognize Termite Swarmers

While not the best way to find out you have a termite infestation, swarmers are one of the most obvious signs of an infestation. Swarmers don't appear in large numbers before an infestation. If you find lots of swarmers on your Nassau County property, it is a warning sign of a current infestation. It is also a sign that termites have actively damaged your property for several years. It takes more than three years for a termite nest to mature and begin producing swarmers. But, when they do, you must recognize the warning signs. Termite swarmers are only about ⅜ of an inch long. They are dark-colored and usually black. They have four wings that are rounded at the tips and stack on top of each other. Swarms usually occur in the spring.

2. Learn To Recognize Shelter Tubes

When termites attack the wood of your property, they create shelter tubes to do it—this is assuming you don't have any wood-to-soil contact. Termite workers create these tubes to keep themselves from drying out. You'll find shelter tubes going from the soil to the wood of a structure. You're most likely to find these tubes in dark, damp locations. They can be as thin as a pencil, and they typically have an upside-down chain lightning shape. If you see a shelter tube, break a portion off and see if it "grows" back in a few days. This will let you know if you have an active infestation.

3. Do Routine Inspections Of Your Exterior

Take the time to walk around the outside of your property and inspect the wood, particularly door and window frames. Look for any changes, gaps, cracks, etc. These can be warning signs of termite activity within. But, most importantly, look for any damage or deterioration of wood members.