How Jacksonville Homeowners Can Prepare For The Termite Season

How Jacksonville-Area Homeowners Can Prepare for the 2019 Termites Season

Chances are if you live here in Florida you have heard of termites, but have you heard of termite season? Once winter comes to a close and we move into the warmer months, termites begin getting ready to do something called swarming. The first wave of swarmers comes in the spring usually after a rain event and consists of subterranean termite swarmers, winged termites embarking out from their colonies in search of new areas to call home. A little later in the year, drywood termites will be doing the exact same thing. The question is, is your home at risk?

Here in Florida, we don’t just have termites, we have the most destructive kind of termites, Formosan subterranean termites. On top of that, they thrive in hot and humid weather, meaning, even when winter comes and our temperatures drop slightly, they are still more than comfortable enough to invade our homes. Now give them wings and the ability to access all areas of your home, and you have yourself a very formidable foe. All your home needs are the right kinds of wood. For damp wood termites, this is any wood that has been affected by moisture and is dead or decaying. Then there are those drywood termites that tend to be more interested in the dry structural timbers of your home. Most commonly these termites will infest floors, hardwood, and furniture. Long story short, if your home has wood, dry or wet, it is attractive to one species of termite or another.

Prevention Steps To Prepare

• Reduce Points Of Entry: Check your foundation for any gaps or cracks termites could use to gain access to the wood inside of your home. Seal these areas using a caulking gun. In the same way, make sure areas around your gas and water lines are properly sealed.
• Reduce Food Sources: Search around your home for anything that may be attracting termites onto your property. This includes lumber, or anything made primarily of wood. Also if you use mulch around your home, consider replacing it with a cellulose-free alternative.
• Reduce Moisture Buildup: Look in and around your home for any areas of water build up, and make sure no water is pooling around the foundation of your home. Address any leaky plumbing and make sure all of your gutters and drains are working as intended. Finally, consider using a dehumidifier in areas of your home that are commonly high in humidity.

Why Professional Treatment Is Always The Solution

Keeping termites out of your home is hard enough, but dealing with an infestation is another story altogether. This is why Lindsey offers top-of-the-line termite control. We want to make termite prevention easy for homeowners like you. So if you want to be prepared for the coming termite season, choose the option that is best for your home, and contact Lindsey today!