How to Identify a Termite Infestation in New York City

Let's go over how to spot a termite infestation in New York City before we discuss how to get rid of termites from your property. Sadly, it's not as simple as spotting a termite scurrying across your wood grain. Start by inspecting the fuse boxes in your home, the attic, and all of the joints and gaps in it. 


How to Identify a Termite Infestation in New York City







How to Identify a Termite Infestation in New York City


Here are some types of evidence that your home’s foundation is under attack.



Hollow wood: If you knock or tap on your wood and hear a soft thud or hollow sound, it’s pretty clear you have termites. You can use a screwdriver to further test your wood. If you press the screwdriver into your wood and it gives easily, that’s not a good sign.



Mud tubes: Subterranean termites create their own “highways” out of tubes of mud to connect the wood they eat to soil. These mud tubes, made up of wood and soil, are about as wide as a pencil. Spotting them means you have termites, but their absence doesn’t mean you’re home-free. The subterranean termites may not have made them yet, and drywood termites don’t make mud tubes, so those might be on your hands.



Head banging: You may hear a strange clicking sound coming from inside of your walls. That’s because when soldier termites detect a threat, they signal danger to other termites by banging their heads against the wood and shaking their bodies.



Swarm evidence: When subterranean termites set off to create a new colony, they shed their wings, often in piles. If you see a bunch of scattered wings, they could be from termites.



Peeling paint: When termites damage drywall, they let moisture enter the space between the surface and the paint, causing paint to bubble or peel. There are other reasons your paint may buckle, but if you note this in tandem with other signs, you may have a termite infestation.



Frass: If you see small, granular, oval pellets on your door frames, baseboards, and windowsills, they may be frass, or termite droppings.



Seeing live termites: It is possible that you may come across some live termites. It’s important to distinguish them from flying ants so that you know what you’re dealing with. Termites’ rear wings are even in size, their abdomens are thick, and their antennae are straight. On the flip side, flying ants have wings of different size, are thinner through the middle, and have bent antennae.





How to Prevent Termites in My New York City Building


There are several ways you can make your home less appealing—or unavailable—to termites. Here are the top methods.


Check for leaks: Subterranean termites can’t live without moisture. Keep your home dry to keep them at bay, especially your roof and air conditioner.



Clean gutters and pipes:
Termites love to hide in warm, dark, moist places. Clean out gutters and pipes often to prevent termites from settling in.



Fill in cracks and crevices: Caulk and seal any unnecessary openings in your foundation where pipes meet the wall, and be sure to seal off windows and doors.


Watch out for wood: Termites are attracted to the cellulose in wood, so it’s vital that you don’t stack firewood against your house or leave tree stumps in your yard. When building your house, always make sure to leave at least 6 inches between your porch, deck, or patio, and the ground, and use termite-resistant wood whenever possible.


Be careful with mulch: Subterranean termites need soil, and certain types of mulch contain wood. Opt for mulch made up of materials like rubber or gravel instead.


Get regular inspections: Of course, the best prevention method is regular termite inspections by a professional pest control company.





What is the fastest way to get rid of termites in New York City?


The fastest way to get rid of termites is to call a professional pest control company like Orkin, Terminix, or Rentokil. These companies have access to high-quality products that can eradicate termites more quickly than conventional DIY methods.




What are the signs of termites in your New York home?


There are many different signs of termites. Telltale signs include subterranean termites’ mud tubes, hollow-sounding wood, and all termite frass and discarded wings. If you spot peeling paint, that could be a sign of termites—or something else entirely. A clicking noise might mean there are termites head banging within your walls.




What chemical eradicates termites in New York City?


There are two main chemicals used to eradicate termites—fipronil and hexaflumuron. Fipronil is the specially designed chemical used as an active ingredient in many different liquid termiticides. In high enough concentrations, it can eradicate termites on contact. Pest control specialists apply it around the perimeter of homes.



Hexaflumuron is the termiticide specifically designed to work in termite bait, like the popular Sentricon baiting system. Termites find the bait station, pick up the poison, and leave a trail indicating the food source’s location to the other termites. The termites then carry the chemical back to the colony, where all of the pests are slowly infected and eradicated.



How much does it cost to get rid of termites in New York City?

A pest control company cannot give you a quote without performing an inspection, so that they can see the type of termite, the degree of infestation, and what kind of treatment you’ll need.



Professional Pest Control Services

If you suspect you have termites of either variety, call a professional pest control company to investigate. These tenacious pests can destroy the foundation of your home quickly. The DIY methods may help slightly in the short term, but they’re no match for professional equipment, products, and expertise.



A skilled, reliable pest control company will have the knowledge necessary to locate entry points, recognize colonies, and develop a treatment strategy. Depending on the unique requirements of your property, the majority of pest control businesses employ a multi-pronged strategy. These details describe how the top pest control businesses approach termites.



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