Tag Archives: Termites Cincinnati

Understanding Termites in Cincinnati: How to Protect Your Home

Termites are one of the most destructive pests in the United States, causing billions of dollars in damage to homes each year. If you live in Cincinnati, it’s important to understand the risks associated with termites and how to protect your property. In this blog post, we’ll explore why Cincinnati homes are vulnerable to termites, the signs of infestation, and how you can prevent and deal with these silent destroyers.

Why Are Termites a Problem in Cincinnati?

Cincinnati’s humid climate and abundant rainfall create an ideal environment for termites, particularly the Eastern subterranean termite species. These pests thrive in moist conditions and feed on cellulose, which is found in wood, making homes, businesses, and other wooden structures prime targets for infestation.

The warm temperatures during spring and summer months, combined with the area’s ample vegetation, provide termites with both food and shelter. As a result, homeowners in Cincinnati are at risk of significant structural damage if termites go undetected and untreated.

Types of Termites Found in Cincinnati

There are two main types of termites that homeowners in Cincinnati should be aware of:

  1. Eastern Subterranean Termites
    These are the most common termite species found in Cincinnati. They live in underground colonies and build mud tubes to travel from their nest to food sources like wooden structures. They are notorious for their ability to silently and rapidly cause damage to the wooden framework of homes.
  2. Drywood Termites
    While less common in Cincinnati, drywood termites can still pose a risk to homes, particularly in areas with warmer climates. Unlike subterranean termites, drywood termites do not require contact with the ground. They infest dry, sound wood and are often found in attics, rafters, and wooden furniture.

Signs of a Termite Infestation

Termites are often referred to as “silent destroyers” because they can cause extensive damage without any obvious signs. However, there are a few clues that can indicate an infestation:

  • Mud Tubes: Subterranean termites build mud tubes along foundation walls or wooden surfaces to travel between their nest and food source. If you notice small, dirt-like tubes, this is a strong sign of a termite presence.
  • Swarmers (Alates): During certain times of the year (usually spring), termite colonies will send out swarmers, or winged termites, to reproduce and start new colonies. Seeing winged termites around your home or on windowsills is a major red flag.
  • Hollowed or Damaged Wood: If you tap on wooden surfaces and hear a hollow sound or notice crumbling wood, termites could be the cause. Termite feeding can hollow out wood, leaving it weak and fragile.
  • Discarded Wings: After swarmers mate, they shed their wings. Finding piles of discarded wings near windowsills or doors is often a sign of an active infestation.
  • Bubbling or Peeling Paint: Termite activity can cause moisture buildup behind the paint, resulting in bubbling or peeling. This could indicate an infestation behind the walls.

The Dangers of Termite Damage

Termites are notorious for causing significant structural damage, often before homeowners realize they have an issue. Left untreated, termites can undermine the integrity of your home, leading to costly repairs. In extreme cases, severe termite infestations can weaken support beams and even cause buildings to collapse.

The financial cost of termite damage is staggering. According to the National Pest Management Association, the average cost to repair termite damage is $3,000, but this figure can vary widely depending on the extent of the damage and the type of treatment required.

Preventing Termite Infestations in Cincinnati

The good news is that you can take several steps to reduce the risk of termite infestations in your Cincinnati home:

  1. Regular Inspections: Having your home inspected by a professional pest control company at least once a year can help identify any termite activity early. Early detection is key to minimizing damage and avoiding expensive repairs.
  2. Maintain a Dry Environment: Termites are attracted to moisture. Fix any leaking pipes, gutters, or faucets around your home. Make sure that your crawl spaces and basement are well-ventilated and dry.
  3. Seal Entry Points: Termites can enter your home through small cracks in the foundation or gaps around windows and doors. Seal these areas to prevent termites from getting inside.
  4. Eliminate Wood-to-Ground Contact: Termites need a direct pathway to wood to feed on it. Make sure that wood piles, firewood, and mulch are kept away from the foundation of your home. Avoid storing wooden materials directly on the ground.
  5. Consider a Termite Barrier: In areas with high termite activity, homeowners may want to consider installing a termite barrier around their property. These barriers, such as liquid treatments or bait stations, can help prevent termites from entering your home.

Treatment Options for Termite Infestations

If you suspect you have a termite infestation, it’s crucial to act quickly. There are several treatment options available:

  1. Chemical Treatments: Liquid termiticides are applied around the foundation of your home to create a barrier that repels or kills termites. This can be an effective long-term solution for preventing infestations.
  2. Baiting Systems: Bait stations are placed around your property and contain slow-acting poison that termites carry back to their colony, ultimately killing the entire colony over time.

Conclusion

Termites are a persistent and costly problem for homeowners in Cincinnati. However, with the right preventive measures from Sure Thing Pest Control and early detection, you can protect your property from their damaging effects. Regular inspections, moisture control, and proper maintenance can significantly reduce the risk of infestation. If you suspect termites, it’s essential to consult with a professional pest control service to ensure that your home remains safe and structurally sound.

By staying informed and proactive, you can help protect your Cincinnati home from these destructive pests.

Spring Time is Termite Swarming Time in Cincinnati

Springtime doesn’t only bring April Showers and May flowers but it also brings out termite swarmers in Cincinnati. Termite swarmers are one of the most visible signs of a termite infestation. Swarmers are flying termites and typically come out in hundreds to thousands. These winged termites emerge in the spring in search of a mate to begin a new colony.

Most termites in a colony are workers termites. They are soft-bodied, creamy-white in color and spend nearly all of their time in the soil looking for a food source. Worker termites don’t have a hard exoskeleton so when exposed to sunlight or air they can dry out easily. This is why these workers create shelter tubes. Swarmers, on the other hand, are designed to leave the soil and strike out in search of mates in the hope of starting a new colony. They are dark in color with four wings of equal size and shape.

When termite colonies swarm indoors, the insects are attracted to light sources, this is why home and business owners may find piles of swarmers on windowsills or around other light sources. Soon after emerging, termite swarmers shed their wings, so it’s not uncommon to see piles of wings on windowsills or countertops.

Nearly all termite swarmers in Cincinnati will die off if they emerge inside of a structure. Just because these termite swarmers die off doesn’t mean there is no longer an infestation. Termite swarming inside indicate an underlying infestation that may not be visible.  If you’re seeing swarmers inside your home or business or suspect you may have termites in or around your structure contact us so we can come out and perform an inspection to let you know what’s happening.

7 Reasons You Need Pest Control in Winter

Pest Control in the Winter?

With the winter- time cold temperatures that bring snow and ice to the Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky area pest control may be the last thing on your mind. But don’t be fooled by thinking all the pests have frozen and died! You might think winter is a time when nature takes a rest, but things are not always as they seem. In the world of pest control, there is still a lot of work to do. Pests such as Black Widows and other spiders, ants, cockroaches, termites, bedbugs, fleas, rats, mice and the like, may slow down a bit, but they don’t go away. In fact, they continue feeding, growing and multiplying, often in the warmth and comfort of our homes.

Warmer days also get pest moving again, when outside temperatures are on a warming trend, outdoor pests, such as Carpenter Ants, House Ants, Wasps, bees, and occasional invaders like millipedes, and stink bugs, continue their activities. It is a wise practice to maintain your protective barrier guarantee on a quarterly basis. Cutting your pest control service during the winter season as a cost-saving measure gives pests a head start for the spring, and may void warranted services.

7 reasons to continue your pest control service through the winter

  1. Autumn invading pests living inside the walls are not affected by the cold temperatures outdoors.
  2. Termites, carpenter ants, cockroaches, silverfish, and many other insects can thrive indoors as the weather is always pleasant inside!
  3. Attics provide shelter to other insects such as wasps and spiders, as they try to escape the cold.
  4. Rodents can find their way into your home if all entry points are not sealed off.
  5. When we perform a meticulous inspection of your home, inside and out, we ensure that no pest related issues are present and identify any conditions that might increase the risk of future pest problems.
  6. Inspecting and/or treating entry points like doors, windows, and weep holes provide lasting protection and ready your home for the emergence of pests in spring.
  7. When we remove spider webs, egg cases, wasp nests, and mud dauber nests, we prevent them from reemerging when the weather warms.

Remember, invasive pests want to be indoors during the winter for the same reasons you do! It is important to perform a comprehensive winter pest control treatment to insure that your home is protected year-round.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our knowledgeable office staff at 513.247.0300.

Thank You for your continued patronage,
The friendly staff,
Sure Thing Pest Control