A crack in the foundation can let termites into the basement of your home. A termite only needs about the width of a business card to gain access and the damage begins.
We only have one termite species in CT, the eastern subterranean termite.
A crack in the foundation can let termites in
At times in the pest control industry we forget how amazing insects can be. We see strange things all the time, but sometimes we need to be reminded.
The fact is that termites can do a lot of damage if left unchecked. It’s the reason why insurance companies don’t cover termites under homeowners insurance policies. If they did they’d go broke, it’s that common. Even in a place like CT.
Termites are an unwelcome guest and a real estate deal killer too
In Southington, CT today I visited a home for the first time that was for sale. A deal for the purchase had fallen through and the owner wanted a termite inspection to cover all his bases before starting over.
What I found reminded me of why termites have survived for million years. They had managed to find a hairline crack in the foundation where the waste water pipe exited to the road. Once inside they built tubes made of mud (aka shelter tubes or mud tubes) leading up the wall to the sill plate. The damage done was extensive. The home will not only need to be treated for termites, but a major repair of the front rim joist and sill plate is also on the menu.
How to prevent termites
As a homeowner the first question you should be asking yourself is how can I prevent this from happening to me? Most won’t and will likely ignore this post. The reason is that most people don’t associate Connecticut with termites. As we’re all painfully aware we have frigid cold winters, but I can assure you termites are alive and well 8 months out of the year in Connecticut. This is especially true if a neighbor has had an issue. This is the reason termites are often called a neighborhood problem.
So, in order to prevent termites you should do one of the following:
- Get a termite inspection every year. Envirocare Pest Control can put you on an automatic schedule
- Have the home treated now BEFORE you have termites
While it may seem that it should be more complicated than that it’s not. One of the above should prevent you from becoming like the home with termites in Southington, CT.
If you have termites or need a termite inspection, call Envirocare Pest Control at 1-888-879-6481. We can help.