Residents of Greenville, SC are often faced with termite problems at some point. The ultimate guide to termites can help homeowners identify the type of termite they have in their home, recognize signs and damage termites cause, and understand how to prevent outbreaks. Understanding all of these points is key in controlling termites in the area. A termite inspection should be conducted at least once a year to spot any potential issues, as termites can hide within crevices or behind walls. Knowing the types of termites common to Greenville is also important; subterranean termites are most common but drywood and dampwood termites are also found in this region. Signs to watch for include mud tubes on the outside of your home, clicking noises coming from walls, frass (termite droppings), and post-hollowing timber beams or door frames. Prevention techniques involve reducing moisture around foundations by keeping gutters clean, maintaining plants away from close contact from your home’s exterior surfaces, sealing cracks in walkways and foundations, regularly treating soil with bait systems or other chemicals, storing firewood off the ground and away from your home’s perimeter walls. With this knowledge homeowners will learn how to protect their homes from termites.
In this guide, we’ll go over the following:
- Types of Termites in Greenville
- Signs & Damage of Termites
- How to Prevent Termites
- Termite Inspections in Greenville
- How to Get Rid of Termites
Greenville Termite Types
The most common types of termites in Greenville are Eastern Subterranean termites – but there are some cases of Drywood termites as well.
Subterranean vs Drywood Termites
Subterranean termites make mud tubes to tunnel through the ground and invade your home from below while Drywood nest directly in the wood via attics and other entryways from above. Drywood termites live in the wood they feed on and are mainly problematic in coastal areas, but some do tend to find their way to Greenville.
Eastern Subterranean
Found in the warm, moist soil of South Carolina and near damp or rotting wood (their favorites!), Eastern subterranean termites are the most common species in the Greenville area. These pests live in the soil and build extensive mud tubes to get to the wood they eat.
Drywood
Drywood termite colonies are much smaller than subterranean colonies and it takes them a long time to do significant amounts of damage. Since they don’t come from the soil, there will be no dirt or mud tubes associated with their damage. Drywood termites require a specialized treatment whenever they become an issue.
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It’s absolutely critical to be on the lookout for signs of termites to prevent them from establishing a colony and taking a bite out of your home.
Mud Tubes
Swarming and Shed Wings
Blistered or Hollow Wood and Sagging Floors
Cracked Paint
Maze-Like Tunnels
- Fecal Droppings
How to Prevent Termites
In addition to looking for signs of termites, there are a few other best practices you can use to discourage termites from choosing your home to infest.
- Discard any rotting wood or old tree stumps from your property.
- Keep water pipes in your home maintained and regularly repair leaky faucets.
- Seal off all cracks from your home to the outside.
- Keep your drainage systems unblocked at all times and route them away from your home.
- Place piles of wood, like firewood or mulch, far from your home’s foundation.
- Minimize wood to soil contact near your home.
- Put bushes and landscaping at least two feet from the edge of your home.
- Regularly look for signs of termites and arrange for a yearly inspection.
Termite Inspection in Greenville, SC
It is important to have a termite inspection done regularly in Greenville to identify and treat any termite problems early.
What to expect with termite inspection:
- 1-2 hours for inspection
- The inspector will review: attic, garage, baseboards, walls, windows, crawl spaces, door frames and the inside of cabinets to name a few, foundation, walls, roof & surrounding property
- Check interior and exterior of home for termite signs
- Please make sure technician as access to any of these areas for proper inspection
How to Get Rid of Termites in Greenville, SC
If you’ve discovered signs of termites in your home Greenville there’s no need to panic, but you should act quickly. If you want to eradicate an infestation completely, the best way to do so is to call a Terminix expert who will be able to quickly identify the source of the problem and apply the right solution.