New Jersey and NYC Metro Area Termite Control

Are Termites a Problem in the New Jersey and New York City Area?

Termites are found in every state except Alaska with the Eastern subterranean termite being the most common and widely disbursed termite variety in the U.S. Ranging from southern Canada through the eastern half of the U.S. to southern Texas, the Eastern subterranean termite is active throughout New Jersey and New York. In high activity areas, the New Jersey Pest Management Association estimates that one in five homes will be invaded by termites.

How Costly is Termite Damage?

The single greatest economic pest in the U.S., subterranean termites cause significant damage to more than 600,000 homes every year, costing homeowners more than $1.5 billion annually. Highly efficient social insects, termites live in large family groups called colonies that can number in the millions. A large colony of termites may forage for food over an area the size of a football field.

Termites feed on the structural wood of homes and buildings, porches, decks, wooden sheds, free-standing utility or fence poles, and other timber structures. Termites can cause irreparable structural damage and even structural collapse. While they feed primarily on wood, termites will consume any cellulose-based product, including paper, books, documents, and photographs. They may infest living trees or shrubs, but are usually secondary invaders of plants already in decline. In their search for sustenance, termites have been known can cause serious damage to insulation, swimming pool liners, filtration systems, and many other materials.

Is Termite Damage Covered by Insurance?

Home insurance policies do not usually cover termite damage. During construction, many new homes are treated with a perimeter chemical soil barrier to protect against termite invasion. However, these soil barrier treatments begin to break down after about five years, exposing the home to termite risk.

Termidor Termite Protection

Termidor is America's number one termite defense product. With several flexible application options Termidor trained technicians can treat your home to rid you of of the pest that causes over $5 billion of damage yearly in the U.S. alone. When you need superior service using Termidor termiticides and insecticides call ChemTec Pest Control first.

ChemTec Pest Control Termite Professionals are certified by BASF as Termidor termiticide and insecticide applicators. Only an officially certified Termidor Professional can treat your home with Termidor. 

How Can I Protect My House From Termites?

Subterranean termites feed on wood materials and require high moisture levels to survive. Eliminating food and moisture sources from around your home, particularly the foundation, can help protect your home from termite attack.

• Repair structural or plumbing leaks to eliminate moisture along foundation walls or in wall voids.
  
  
• Keep crawl spaces well ventilated; install vapor barriers.
  
  
• Keep gutters clear and repair broken roof shingles to prevent water damage.
  
  
• Remove trash, debris or construction materials in the vicinity of the house.
  
  
• Remove hardwood mulch and railway sleepers from landscaping. Pull mulch six inches away from foundations. Pine bark mulch is least attractive to termites.
  
  
• Prune back shrubbery, bushes, and tree branches that touch the house to eliminate potential entry routes into your home.
  
  
• Stack firewood away from the house or other wood structures.
  
  
• Install downspouts long enough to direct water away from the foundation.
  
  
• Eliminate wood to soil contacts that provide a path to structural wood.

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Early warning that termites are headed for your home can be invaluable in preventing damage to your home's structure. In addition to scheduled inspection visits, ChemTec Pest Control termite control professionals can install the Termiscope early-warning monitor system around the outside perimeter of your home to alert you to termites in the area. The Termiscope monitor is capable of detecting termites burrowing deep underground. A visual "pop-up" alert warns you of new termite activity, giving ChemTec Pest Control termite professionals time to act before termites damage your home.

How Do Termites Enter Your Home?

Eastern subterranean termites build their colonies deep underground below the frost line and above the water table. These sightless insects spend their entire lives underground and primarily invade homes from the soil along foundation walls. Able to slip through tiny fissures just 1/16-inch wide, termites enter homes through cracks in the foundation or slab, expansion joints, utility conduits, and plumbing connections.

In New Jersey and New York nearly all termite infestations originate underground. Wood structures that have direct contact with ground, such as decks, porches, and fence posts, invite direct termite access.

What Should I Do If I Think I Have Termites?

You cannot successfully treat termites with household insecticides or materials from the local home hardware stores. If a termite nest is disturbed, termites will move to new, unknown location, complicating treatment. Termites can also be confused with carpenter ants, affecting treatment protocols. Successful identification and eradication of termite infestations is complicated and involves exacting procedures.

Treatment of termite infestations requires the application of commercial-grade materials available only to pest control professionals. If you suspect you have termites, you should immediately contact an experienced ChemTec Pest Control pest professional for positive identification and a termite treatment assessment. Find out more about what termites look like and about our termite control services.

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