A silent threat is spreading across the United States. Termites: They are found in every state except Alaska and cost consumers billions of dollars in repairs and treatments each year, according to national pest control experts.
In most regions, warm, windless nights awaken swarms of newly hatched termites that take wing to found new colonies. One dreaded variety, the subterranean Formosan termite, will eat through lead, asphalt, rubber and plastic to find food. A queen can lay 2,000 eggs a day and live 15 to 30 years. Formosan termites alone cost consumers
$1 billion or more in damages annually, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Don't be vulnerable to termites. In addition to giving your home a checkup by a licensed pest control operator, take these simple steps to protect your home.
1. Arm yourself with high-tech weapons against termites. When renovating your home, consider the new generation of super-resistant wood, such as Jeld-Wen's windows and doors built with AuraLast wood, with a 20-year warranty against termite infestation and decay and virtually 100 percent penetration of active ingredients to the core of the wood. By contrast, conventional dip-treated wood only has a thin protective coating, with little penetration into the wood itself.
2. Separate wood and soil. Ultra-destructive subterranean termite swarms look for sources of food, then enter the soil to build their nests. Firewood and rail ties lying on the ground are free lunches for termites.
3. Don't offer termites free drinks. Keep your gutters clear and avoid standing water on the roof, near air conditioners, dryer vents and sprinklers.
4. Avoid crowding and cracks. Don't plant shrubs within a foot of your house's foundation, and make sure pipes that enter your home from the ground outside are properly sealed.
5. Recognize the signs of infestation. Termite wings on your windowsill could mean you have unwelcome guests. Be on the lookout for stains or holes indoors. Outdoors, look for the mud tubes termites use to tunnel to wood.
If you discover that you must replace wood damaged by infestation, it makes sense to choose products designed to resist termites in the future. For more information on how super-resistant wood windows and doors can provide reliable protection against termites, visit www.jeld-wen.com/auralast or call (800) 877-9482. - NU |
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