Termites Can Destroy a Home in One Year

Pest infestations are a major pain for homeowners. From rodents to cockroaches and more, unless they are dealt with, the home can become an unhealthy and unhappy place to live in. Many think that termite infestations are the same. They are not. The dangers of other infestations to the residents of the house must not be underestimated, but in the case of termites, it is the house itself that is in danger. Termites do not simply damage furniture and wooden items in the house. They can destroy the house itself. This may sound like scaremongering, but termites are a ticking time bomb that can do serious damage to a house and what’s inside it in a surprisingly short time. In the worst case, a major infestation could even make a home dangerous to live in. This is not like an oven or TV becoming unusable – when it comes to your house, you cannot just cut your losses and buy another one. So, how rapidly can a termite infestation destroy a home? Read on to find out.

One Year Is Not a Long Time

Termites live to eat and their diet goes beyond wood. They will eat anything that contains cellulose – fabrics, wire insulation, and more. Termites often make themselves at home in your yard. They burrow underground and build nests where they can multiply undetected and undisturbed. Once the colony is large enough, it's time to move. They dig tunnels to the nearest food source, which could be your home. Even if it is not, they will soon consume other food sources such as timber that is lying around, and then move to the big feast – your house.

Also Read: Demystifying Termite Damage Repair Costs: Facing the Reality

The tunnels they dig to reach the structure are difficult to detect. Once they reach the building, they build tiny mud tubes through which they move around the house in search of the next meal. The damage is difficult to spot until it becomes serious, by which time the repair costs could be thousands of dollars. Or, if you are unlucky, the house itself may become unsafe to occupy. The speed at which the damage can occur depends both on the size of the infestation and the type of termite.

Subterranean Termites: These insects live under the soil and are among the most common types of termites. Large colonies have been known to destroy a house in 5 or 6 years if no action is taken to stop them.

Formosan Termites: These are a subspecies of subterranean termites and are known for both their voracious appetite for anything made of cellulose and the rapidity at which they reproduce. These termites could, in the worst case, destroy a home in as little as one year.

Drywood Termites: A drywood termite colony is typically smaller in size than that of other termite types. And the destruction they cause usually occurs more slowly, but it can still be as complete. The problem with drywood termites is that there could be multiple colonies in the same structure, so the pace at which the damage occurs could increase exponentially.

Professional termite prevention treatment is the only way to be sure that your home is safe from damage or even destruction. Various types of termite prevention methods can be used, each designed to deal with specific termite types, structural and environmental conditions, and any specific requirements of the homeowner. When it comes to termites, prevention is always better than cure so the sooner a termite control company is contacted to inspect your home, deal with any infestations that may be found, and provide termite prevention treatments, the better for your home and your family.