When you are looking to buy a new home in Florida (especially the coastal and southern areas of the state), it is important that you get a thorough inspection of the entire structure for signs of serious problems. One of these severe issues that an inspection should spot is the presence of drywood termites. Because they are unlike other subterranean termites, an assessment for drywood termites would look quite different, so you must choose an insect inspection team that is highly qualified and knows what to look for.
Homes with an infestation of drywood termites have a serious problem on their hands and will take the equipment, products, and expertise of an experienced pest control company to completely eliminate a drywood termite infestation.
What Are Drywood Termites?
One of the most important and basic points to understand is what a drywood termite is and how it is different from other termites such as subterranean termites. Drywood termites infest dry wood of a structure (hence the name) and do not require contact with the soil like their counterparts do. A drywood termite as part of a small colony will infest a wood piece and remain there as long as possible. It is very likely that one house can have many different drywood termite colonies.
Because drywood termites are excellent at hiding within the wood, they have infested, so it is very difficult to see a dry wood termite. However, you may find fecal pellets that have been ejected from swarmers as they fly from colonized wood. Other signs of a drywood termite infestation include winged insects flying around in the evening, discarded wings, wooden pellets discarded from the wooden items the drywood termites inhabit, and even surface blisters if the infestation is particularly bad.
The Florida Building Code does not require preventative treatment for drywood termites for new home construction, but it does require soil treatment for the underground variety. When buying or building a new home, you must have an inspection done that specifically looks for signs of drywood termites and take any preventative action that you can.
Do All Homes Have Termites?
Thankfully, all homes do not have termites, but every home has the potential to get termites of any variety. In Florida, we have the opportunity to get both subterranean and drywood termites, so we have twice the risk compared to some other states. The only state which is historically free from a termite infestation is Alaska.
Drywood termites are especially difficult to prevent because they are not ground-dependent. Because they do not have to live in the soil, they can fly up into other levels of your home and infest areas beyond the ground floor or below. Home and business owners must take preventative measures and have regular inspections to ensure that they do not have any drywood termite issues.
How Does a Home Get Drywood Termites?
Unlike a subterranean termite, a drywood termite does not need to connect with the soil to infest a home. Subterranean varieties build mud tubes that provide them passageways from one location to another. The worker termites will get into a home following the exploratory lines into the foundation or underneath the house slab.
For drywood termites, the “swarmers” fly directly into the wood that they will infest. Their usual routes to enter the home include attics or foundation vents that are not screened, cracks around window frames and door frames, and already infested furniture and wood items that have been brought into the home.
Should I Still Buy a Home that Has Drywood Termites?
The first question that any homeowner or potential home buyer should ask is whether or not the termite infestation is still ongoing. If the problem has been treated by a professional pest control company specializing in drywood termites, you may be ok to invest in the home. If there is still visible damage from the termites, you may be able to negotiate on the price of the house since you will have to complete repairs and replacements.
If you decide to invest in a termite-damaged home, it is critical that you know the signs of an infestation and keeps an eye out for those signs, especially the fecal pellets that are very common. Termite control will be ongoing, especially for drywood termite infestations, so a home buyer must remain steadfast in looking for signs of termite galleries or a drywood termite colony throughout the home. Also, always check any new or used furniture to ensure it is not infested wood you will bring into your home.
What Happens to Neglected Termite Damage?
For the most part, it takes up to 10 years of infestation of subterranean termite colonies or drywood termite galleries to truly cause damage that will be completely irreparable. That does not mean that completing necessary repairs to your wood will be inexpensive, though. It is important to weigh these factors before investing in a drywood termite-infested home.
Contact Our Drywood Termite Infestation Detection and Elimination Experts
If you suspect that your home may have drywood termites or you have seen signs of an infestation, contact the termite detection and elimination experts at Biotherm Green Solutions. Our team has extensive experience and knowledge of termite infestations and can help you rid your home of these nasty pests.
At Biotherm Green Solutions, we use non-chemical, non-toxic heating treatments to introduce clean, dry heat to your home to eliminate dry wood termites from the structure. Our team will be there for the entire process to ensure that everything goes as planned and that all of your infested wood is taken care of. The wood core of your items will reach at least 120F to ensure the pests are dead.
Contact us today to learn more about our dry wood termite heat treatment and schedule an appointment with our termite control team in Florida.