You probably don't spend a whole lot of time thinking about termites. Most Western Massachusetts residents don't. We live in a state that has cold winters and lots of snow. It doesn't make sense that we should have to worry about termites. Aren't termites something they worry about in Flordia? Yes, it is true that Floridians have to worry more about termites than we do. But Western Massachusetts is not termite-free. The termites we have in our state live under the ground, below the frost line. In their subterranean environments, the temperatures rarely get cold enough to exterminate them. They emerge year after year and damage properties in our state. If you want to avoid termite damage, you need to understand what you can expect from termites in our region. Join us as we look at essential facts every Western Massachusetts resident should know about termites. If you'd like to get started with professional termite control, we can help you with that. Hop over to our contact page or give us a call to schedule a service visit. American Pest Solutions offers industry-leading termite pest control in Western Massachusetts. We can guide you toward an effective and long-lasting solution. With that said, let's dig in and talk about termites in our area.

Can I Treat My House For Termites Myself?

You can take care of your own termite treatments, but we wouldn't recommend that you do. There are many ways DIY termite treatments can fall short. Here are some things you should think about.

• Home remedies just don't work. It might not be on your radar, but it is for some people. It is a nice thought to think that someone from the past came up with some clever way to use simple items found in nature to stop termites in their tracks. The reality is that no such remedy exists. In fact, some home remedies make termite problems worse. One we find particularly disturbing is placing a pile of wood or cardboard in the yard. The idea is that, when termites get into the wood or cardboard, you can just throw it into a fire and destroy the termites. Does this kill termites? Yes. But it won't stop the colony, it will have the opposite effect. Offering a food source in your yard will inspire the queen to produce more workers. Keep in mind that while termites continue to feed on the food source you've put out, they can feed on your home at the same time. 
• Essential oils. There is a growing interest in using essential oils for pest control. In some circumstances, they work great. Unfortunately, they don't work with termites. These products wear out far too quickly to provide any long-lasting protection.
• Sprays. If you treat termites directly, you'll only attack the symptom of the problem. If you don't address the source (the termite nest in the ground) you won't stop termites. You also won't have success if you are treating surfaces. Not only do termites not crawl around on surfaces, they avoid treatments if they detect them. The best way to get rid of termites is to apply materials termites can't detect. When they can't detect them, they can't avoid them.

Many termite control solutions aren't solutions at all. But you probably know this. We're probably preaching to the choir. So, what about trusted products, such as termiticides and termite bait systems? Can you apply these with success? There are a few things you should know.

• Over-the-counter termite products vary in their effectiveness and it is difficult to determine which ones will work and which ones won't. There aren't enough studies to evaluate termite control products. 
• The products used by professionals are professional-grade and not generally available to the public. The reason manufacturers do this is that they only want trained individuals applying their products so that termites don't avoid the treatments.
• Even products that are known to work can fail when misapplied. There are conditions that can cause products to become inert. Professionals are trained to avoid these.
• When termiticides are installed, drilling and trenching is required. Technicians are trained to do this work and will guard your property against damage. In the rare case where damage does occur, professionals have insurance. It's on them, not you.  

The main issue with termites is that they're sneaky. When termite control fails, you may not know it. The worst part is that termite control often fails when not applied correctly. Termite control professionals, like those employed here at American Pest Solutions, use professional-grade products and receive manufacturer training to install and maintain these products for the effective and long-lasting control of termites. If you have questions about how termite control works, we'd be happy to answer them. Connect with us through out contact page.

Is It Possible To Fully Get Rid Of Termites?

Yes. It is possible to fully get rid of termites inside your home. But it isn't possible to keep your property termite-free. Once termites start encroaching on your property, they will likely keep encroaching. When you eliminate a colony, you don't address the colony that made that colony. Termites spread. As they spread, they create colony after colony. No termite control solution will eliminate the colony that created the colonies on or near your property. They're going to keep sending out alates and new colonies are going to continue to appear near or on your property. All you can hope to do is maintain your protection and deal with colonies that are close enough to feed on your home.

Did that make sense? If not, allow us to break it down step by step to give you a better idea of what is occurring.

1. A colony is established by winged termites called alates or swarmers.
2. The two swarmers shed their wings and become the king and queen of a new colony.
3. Slowly, the king and queen will grow the colony.
4. After a few years, the colony will begin to produce swarmers.
5. Swarmers leave the colony with one job—to create new colonies.
6. When these swarmers create a colony close enough to your home, where workers can feed on your home, your termite control will work to
7. eliminate the colony. Whether you have a termiticide barrier or a bait solution, such as the Advance® Termite Bait System, workers will pick
8. up an active ingredient and share it with their colony, leading to colony elimination.
9. Once the colony near your home has been eliminated, you'll have a reprieve. But the initial colony will send swarmers out again.
10. The new swarmers will create colonies on or near your property, and workers will head out to feed on your property again.
11. The workers will pick the active ingredient up and bring it back, leading to colony elimination.

Termites never stop, and neither can your termite protection. Whether you have liquid or bait protecting your home, maintaining your protection is critical. You don't want worker termites to find a hole in your armor. For this reason, termite control providers offer ongoing termite control plans. There is no quick fix for termites. Termite protection must be maintained.       

What Kind Of Damage Can Termites Cause?

We can't tell you how much damage termites will do to your Western Massachusetts home. All we can do is share the facts with you and allow you to decide.

• The termites we deal with in Western Massachusetts are Eastern subterranean termites, which are the most destructive termite species in the United States.
• Eastern subterranean termites are the most destructive because they have the greatest distribution.
• While not as destructive as Formosan subterranean termites or Asian subterranean termites, you should not underestimate the termites in our area.
• Termites cost U.S. property owners over $5 billion annually. Most of that figure is caused by subterranean termites. All other termite damage combined is only in the hundreds of millions.
• Termites will do more damage to a home that is not properly protected. While termite control products are the best way to protect your property, they're not the only way. Routine inspections can alert you to a termite problem if you haven't had one yet. But, once termites are detected, it is wise to get ongoing termite protection in place.
• Studies indicate that subterranean termites can completely devour a structure without showing any warning signs.

Long before you see signs of a termite problem, it is a good idea to get termite protection for your home. When you see signs of termites in your yard or home, it is likely that termites have had years to damage your property. Don't wait. Get proactive to protect your equity from termites.        

The Trick To Getting Rid Of Termites In Western Massachusetts 

If you're in Western Massachusetts, the best and easiest way to protect your property from termites and prevent a termite infestation in your home is to let the certified pest control professionals at American Pest Solutions install a termiticide curtain around your home. We also offer termite monitoring and colony elimination with the Advance® Termite Bait System. When you get this level of protection, you avoid unwanted surprises in your retirement years and you decide how much you're willing to allow termites to cost. In fact, you can make it a line item in your budget. Reach out to us today to get your termite protection in place.