Blog – Reliable Pest Control in Houston Texas

How Does Your Exterminator Check For Bed Bugs?

Unfortunately, this is a question that more and more property owners find themselves asking these days. It’s probably the reason you’ve found your way to the site. Either way, it’s not a situation that anyone wants to be in. Bed bugs are not only notoriously aggressive feeders, but the very thought of them is enough to drive some people to their wit’s end.

Some people become so enamored with the fact that their homes are infested they find themselves unable to sleep. When you consider how parasitic these critters are, it seems only natural to fear them. Along with their notable feeding skills, bed bugs are one of the hardiest and stealthiest invaders around.

The problem with an invader like a bed bug is that most people don’t even know they are infected until the problem is a full-blown epidemic. Then they make mistakes of trying to flee to other uninfected parts of the home, which only further spreads the problem. Simply put, there is a whole long list of things not to do when you uncover an infestation.

Of course, the problem is uncovering the problem. With the craftiness of bed bugs, it can be hard

to determine when your property has been invaded. How do the pros do it?

Physical Markers

One of the most well-known methods for detecting bed bugs in the home is through physical markers. As was previously stated, bed bugs are notoriously known parasites, meaning they feed on human blood. They need it to sustain themselves. Without the will cease to exist. Even though these predators feed while you are sleeping, more often than not there is evidence of the episode.

When the bug’s saliva interacts with the human’s blood it can sometimes cause reactions. These reactions will usually be apparent in the form of a welt. The most troubling part about this is, that not everyone has this interaction with the bug’s saliva. You could be getting fed on during the night and not even know it.

Setting Traps

When it comes to bed bug detection, there are a variety of methods that pros have at their fingertips. That being said, most exterminators won’t declare a property infested until they can procure physical evidence of the bug. Either an egg, casing, or living creature. Uncovering such things might be harder than most would imagine.

The most effective and useful detection tools that pros have available to them are traps and encasements. Traps are usually installed under the legs of furniture and encasements are installed around mattresses. These methods have been tried and tested and utilized by many professional exterminators. It is one of the surest ways to determine an infestation. These are also invaluable early detection methods that our firm likes to take advantage of whenever possible

Bed Bug Treatment Experiment

It never hurts to conduct your own experiments. Utilizing a variety of the above methods, you may find a more effective bed bug eradication strategy. Thanks to modern technology, pest control companies have devised pest extermination strategies that wipe out an entire colony of bed bugs in less than three treatments.

How To Make Bed Bugs Come Out Of Hiding

The bed bug is an aggressive parasite that can adapt to any environment. Some people are under the impression that bed bugs are nocturnal insects. Bed bugs do exhibit nocturnal behavior, but that is about as far as it goes. As previously mentioned, bed bugs can adapt to all environments. As long as there is a living, breathing host, the insects can thrive in all conditions.

Bed Bug And Human Encounters

There is only one way your home will become infested with bed bugs. It only takes one brief encounter with a bed bug to be left dealing with a home bed bug infestation. A bed bug encounter can take place at any time or anywhere without your knowledge. In fact, if you ask most victims, they will swear never remembering any encounter.

Bed bug encounters can occur anywhere, such as in hotels, motels, country inns, daycare centers for adults or children, or medical centers. Like the other victims, you will probably not be aware of the encounter.

It may take several days or weeks before you begin to question if your home is infested with bed bugs. These tiny insects exhibit deceptive behaviors that allow them to share indoor environments with humans.

Signs Of A Bed Bug Problem

As mentioned above, it can take anywhere from 1 to 4 weeks before you become suspicious. This basically means you will be sharing your home with bed bugs without knowing it. Just the mere thought of sharing your living space with parasites can be unnerving. But, when you consider bed bugs tend to infest mattresses, bed linen, and box springs, the unnerving can become severe anxiety in no time flat.

If you are a frequent traveler, have a college student living in a dorm, or volunteer at a homeless shelter, your risk of entering bed bugs is much higher than others. Knowing the signs of a bed bug problem will put you one step ahead in the process. The signs include the following:

Dried blood on bed linen
Black crusty debris on bed linen and mattress
Tiny red spots on your body (Bed bug bites)
Odd musty odor

In the early phases of a bed bug problem, a sighting is unlikely. After several weeks of reproducing, the problem will become more apparent. A single adult female bed bug lays between one and five eggs per day. Imagine if you are dealing with two, three, or even a dozen adult females.

Naturally Drive Bed Bugs Out Of Hiding

Once a live sighting has been noted, it is time to start driving the bed bugs out of their hiding places. Bed bugs are only a few millimeters in length. Some people describe the insect as being the size of an apple seed. They are also virtually the same color as wood finishes, such as walnut, cherry, and oak.

Since you do not have any special pest control tools, you will need an efficient alternative. Do not go out and buy expensive extermination equipment. Instead, you can utilize things lying around your home.

Portable Heater

Nearly every home has a portable heater utilized to heat small spaces. You can turn your portable heater into a tool to drive bed bugs out of their hiding places. It cannot be stressed enough, that the bed bug’s target area is the bedroom. In most cases, the bedroom of choice is the master bedroom.

Install one or two portable heaters in the impacted bedroom. It is important to note, that the common bed bug tends to hide in small crevices, cracks, and holes. The insects crawl deep inside the smallest vulnerability in furniture, floorboards, home décor, mattresses, box springs, hardwood flooring, upholstery, and drapes.

To maximize the effectiveness of this pest control method, it is recommended to rotate the heaters every few hours. Face the front of the heater toward the bed, keeping a safe distance between the two objects. Leave the heaters in this position for about an hour before rotating toward the wall or other piece of furniture. If bed bugs are infesting your bedroom, they will emerge from hiding after several hours.

Steamer

Utilizing a clothing or floor steamer, it is possible to drive bed bugs out of hiding. This method basically works in the same manner as the portable heater. Bed bugs are drawn to heat. They utilize their antennas to detect body heat to locate living hosts.

Frequently rotate the steamer to ensure the entire room is impacted by the hot steam.

Clothes Dryer

A clothes dryer offers two benefits for this project. It can drive bed bugs out of bed linen, drapes, clothing, and other materials. The heat produced by the dryer will also act as a natural extermination tool.

Before transporting the infested linen to the laundry room, carefully put them inside a plastic bag. Seal the top to protect the unimpacted areas of your home from the bed bugs inside the linen.

Carefully remove the infested bed linen and place it in the dryer. Preset the dryer to the maximum temperature to maximize effectiveness. It will take between 30 and 60 minutes to complete the process.

Adhesive Bed Bug Traps

To maximize the effects when utilizing heaters and steamers to drive bed bugs out of hiding, include adhesive pest traps in the process. Bed bug traps utilize a sticky adhesive that captures and traps.

Place the adhesive traps in proximity to the steamer or heater. When the bed bugs emerge from hiding, they will try to cross over the traps. Their legs and bodies will get stuck in the glue. Toss the trap in a waste bin once it is full.

CO2 Bed Bug Detectors And Traps

An electronic bed bug trap generates carbon dioxide and heat. As mentioned above, bed bugs can detect CO2 and heat. Place the CO2 detector in the impacted room. Again, you should rotate every few hours to maximize effectiveness.

Once the bed bugs come out of hiding, the trap will nab them as they make their emergence. A CO2 detector is a two-in-one device that draws and traps bed bugs.

I Found A Few Bed Bugs – Does That Mean I’m Dealing With An Infestation

No one wants to find bed bugs in their sheets or mattress. No one wants to find their casings or any indication of their presence at all. At least if you do uncover evidence of the bug’s presence, you’ll have indisputable proof to begin exterminating them. Regardless, learning that your home is infected with any kind of invader, especially bed bugs is never a good feeling. Bed bugs are especially troubling,

Why The Presence Of Bed Bugs Is So Problematic

To start, the evidence of a bed bug infestation is overwhelming for many. Just the mere thought of a creature sneaking into your bed and feeding on you when you are at your most vulnerable is enough to drive most people batty. It is not just the fact that bed bugs feed on human blood that drives most homeowners crazy, but it is the mere fact that these are not sole travelers.

Bed bugs travel in packs and are considered social insects. Meaning, that where there is one or two, there are likely hundreds just right around the corner somewhere. They live in packs, they travel in packs, and they can reproduce at incomprehensible rates. It’s enough to drive anyone crazy with fright when you lay out all the facts. So, does this mean if you uncover the small presence of bed bugs in the home, you should automatically assume that you have a major infestation on your hands?

Evasive Natures And Adaptability

Another thing that needs to be known immediately about bed bugs is the fact that these invaders are so much smarter than people give them credit for. Most people just view a bed bug-like any other social insect. Unfortunately, this is not entirely the case at all. Bed bugs are extremely smart, witty, and evasive by nature. These are just a few of the many things that attribute to their durability.

If you consulted any previous home or property owner previously afflicted with bug bugs, they would simply tell you that bed bugs are one of the hardest invaders to eliminate completely. The reasoning for this is that they are evasive invaders. They are smart enough to go out of their way to avoid detection or interact with their hosts. Why do you think they only feed when you sleep?

They are smart enough to know that this is when you’ll be at your most vulnerable and unaware of their presence. Bed bugs are so smart that if you sleep during the day and work at night, they’ll adapt their sleeping habits so they can feed while you are asleep. Given their ability to hide in cracks and crevices and remain undetected, spotting these bugs likely spells major problems. It likely means that the population has grown so large, that they’ve begun forcing each other into the open.

Proper Bed Bug Confirmation

Along with being extremely smart and witty invaders, bed bugs are also tricky. One of the biggest reasons for this is because it can be so hard to come up with conclusive evidence that you are in fact dealing with an actual bed bug infestation. Most homeowners don’t even expect they have bed bugs until they start waking up in the middle of the night itching. Or when they wake up the next morning with welts or bite marks on their legs or neck.

While this is a pretty good indication that you are dealing with bed bugs, it doesn’t absolutely confirm your suspicions. The only real 100% way to confirm a bed bug infestation is by procuring actual proof. You’ll want to either come up with an actual living bug, an egg casing, or an exoskeleton. Just because you wake up with bite marks on your neck or legs, it doesn’t necessarily confirm you have a bed bug infestation on your hands.

What makes this whole situation even more troubling is the fact that not everyone reacts to the bites. Welts only show up on the body as a means of allergic reaction. It’s a reaction to the bug’s salvia. Not everyone has this allergy and therefore, won’t produce welts when infected with the bug’s salvia.

Learn The Signs And Symptoms

When it comes to bed bugs, several key signs could point to definitive proof of an infestation.

Bite marks– As was stated above, bite marks are without a doubt one of the best ways to confirm an infestation, but it doesn’t always definitively point to bed bugs. Fleas bite in similar locations and leave similar welts behind. With bite marks, you might have to take your probe a little further.
Bloodstains – Bed bugs are parasitic invaders, meaning they need human blood to survive. They can go long times between feeds, but they will have to feed at some point. Such an interaction is bound to leave behind bloodstains on the sheets. Scour your sheets closely every day, looking for blood droplets or stains.
Exoskeletons – Unknown to most, bed bugs shed like a snake. When they go through this transformation, they leave behind an exoskeleton. Although these skins are near-translucent and hard to spot with the naked eye, you’ll see them if you look hard enough. They’ll resemble the shape and size of an actual bug.
Eggs/Egg Casings – Discovering eggs or egg casings can be extremely troubling because it likely means your problem is so much worse than you originally thought. The presence of eggs or egg casings, unfortunately, means you are about to have more bugs on your hands, or they have just recently hatched. Either way, it doesn’t make for a good scenario.
Fecal Matter – Like all living creatures, bed bugs defecate. And they usually do so while feeding or after feeding, which means this is something that will likely take place in the bed where feeding occurs. It sounds disgusting and it is when you lay it all at. That said, fecal matter is black and if smeared will probably look like ink spots.
Musty, Sweet Odors – It is not always the case, but more often than not, when dealing with large infestations, you’ll catch glimpses of sweet- musty odors. The smell is unpleasant and moldy, and it will likely be foreign, so it should be something that’ll stand out right away.

Keeping A Vigilant Eye

Bed bugs are a tricky and hardy bunch. The best way to deal with them is to head the problem off as early as possible. While no one wants to uncover a bed bug infestation, the earlier you discover it, the easier it’ll be to deal with. Smaller infestations might even be successfully treated with over-the-counter pesticides and insecticides.

That said, it is usually always best to turn to the pros when dealing with bed bugs. One of the reasons for this is that they’ll know exactly where to look. Although bed bugs are extremely stealthy creatures, they must hide in the home and near their food source. If they’re in the home or on the property, a trained exterminator with previous experience will know where to look to uncover their presence.

Most of the time this will be in the sheets, in the drapes, in drawers, the cracks and crevices of mattresses, and pretty much anywhere that the residents sleep in the home. They’ll even get into electrical outlets and behind baseboards.

Top Places Bed Bugs Hide

Bedbugs are intelligent pests that know how to hide exceptionally well. These pests are not interested in being spotted. Therefore, they’re going to remain hidden during the day and feed at night. However, they can adapt to their surroundings. If you sleep during the day, they’ll stay away during the day. With this in mind, you cannot tackle a bedbug infestation until you’re positive that your home is infested. The best way to achieve this goal is by looking at their most common hiding places.

Where are bedbugs going to hide in your residence? While they can hide anywhere, they will primarily hide on mattresses and on furniture. Where else do they hide in residential structures? Read the guide below to find out. Bedbugs are attracted to body heat and CO. When you go to sleep at night, they can easily detect your presence. Then, they’ll come out to feed on your blood.

Bedbug Hiding Spots During The Day

One thing you have to remember about bedbugs is that they’re nocturnal. Therefore, they’re going to remain hidden during the day. If you sleep at night, you won’t see them during the day. They’ll come out to feed in the middle of the night while you’re sleeping. Bedbugs do not travel a long distance. Instead, they prefer to access nearby food sources quickly and conveniently. As a result, these pests are going to remain close to you. Bedbugs are going to remain close to food sources. To achieve this goal, they’ll hide on your bed. They may be living in your sheets, blankets, pillows, and elsewhere.

They can hide on both sides of the mattress. In addition to this, bedbugs will hide elsewhere in your bedroom. They can hide behind your wallpaper, on the bed frame, and in electrical outlets. They’ll hide in corners and crevices that you never check. Bedbugs can also spread out and exit your bedroom. Whether they’re in a residence or commercial establishment, they will hide in furniture. Bedbugs will likely be found under your couch and in your electronics.

If you have carpeting in your home, bedbugs are likely going to hide here too.

Where Bedbugs Hide On The Human Body

Bedbugs can hide on your body as well. Although it sounds odd, most people do not notice this problem until it is too late. They’re small, thin, and lightweight. Therefore, you probably won’t realize that you have a bedbug infestation until you’ve been bitten. Bedbugs are much different from ticks. While ticks are going to attach to your body and suck your blood, bedbugs do not. Instead, they’ll bite, suck your blood, and leave. Bedbugs usually don’t hide on people. They’ll travel up to 20 feet from their hiding spot to consume human blood. The feeding process is quick so you likely won’t notice it.

It can take bedbugs between three and 10 minutes to successfully feed. They’ll be in and out before you know it. You likely won’t realize that you have a problem until you notice red bumps on your body. Regardless, bedbugs are not going to stay on your body for more than a few minutes.

Where To Find Bedbug Eggs In Your Home

Besides hiding in your home, bedbugs are also going to lay eggs in your home. Therefore, you’ll likely find bedbugs and bedbug eggs in your residence. Unfortunately, the eggs are going to hatch soon. Once this happens, the infestation will rapidly worsen. Female bedbugs tend to hide their eggs in obscure corners and gaps. They prefer staying as close to their food source as possible. Start by searching your bed, pillows, and covers. Bedbugs may leave their eggs under the mattress or on the frame. They can also hide them in nearby electronics.

Female bedbugs release a sticky substance that helps the eggs cling to the surface in question. A female bedbug can produce many eggs during her lifetime. She’ll lay hundreds of eggs in your home. The eggs are difficult to spot because they’re so small. They’re white and small. If you want to see them, you’ll have to use a magnifying glass. When the temperatures are 70 degrees or higher, bedbug eggs can hatch in 10 days or sooner. At lower temperatures, it’ll take the eggs much lower to hatch. Once the nymphs have hatched, they’re going to begin searching for food.

Once you’ve learned where the eggs hide, you can identify an infestation much sooner. After you’ve done that, don’t hesitate to contact a professional. With professional heat treatments, the bugs can be dealt with quickly.

What Scent Keep Bed Bugs Away?

Regardless of your housecleaning regimen, bed bugs are always going to be a risk. Yes, it is unfortunate that everyone has risks when it comes to the “Cimex lectularius,” household bed bug. There is another species of bed bug that is only known in tropical climates. The “Cimex hemipterus,” tropical bed bug, and household bed bug share many of the same features. Both species have oval-shaped bodies that are dark brown in color until feeding, at which time, it turns a dark red.

While everyone can encounter a bed bug at any moment, some people have a higher risk than others. The tourist, college dorm tenant, and homeless shelter patron are just a few examples. Hotels, motels, inns, college dorms, and homeless shelters are known to target bed bugs. These establishments are revolving doors for the general public, which is why they are high for bed bug infestation.

Bed Bug Repellant

It is not always possible to avoid a bed bug encounter. However, it is possible to keep the parasites at bay during the encounter. Most victims of bed bugs are not even aware of when the encounter occurred. With a quality repellant, the bed bugs will come nowhere near you. Of course, it will need to be the right type of repellant, as many are not universal. In other words, repellants are not effective for all insect species.

According to a study conducted by researchers, Changlu Wang and Andrew Li, essential oils have proven to be an effective bed bug deterrent. The study reveals that some essential oils are more effective as a bed bug repellant than against other insect species.

People who strive to keep a low carbon footprint will be interested in knowing this factual tidbit. Wang and Li categorize effective essential oil bed bug repellents as “green insecticides.” These eco-friendly bed bug deterrents include silicone essential oil and paraffin essential oil. Now, the question, just how effective are these “green insecticides.” According to the researchers a solution of 1 part water and three parts silicone oil is 92 percent effective against bed bug eradication.

Paraffin oil does not mix as well with water. So, the percentage of effectiveness is slightly lower. However, both essential oils can help humans safeguard against bed bugs.

If you are interested in eco-friendly essential oil bed bug deterrents, you can utilize silicone and paraffin. You can also conduct your own research by adding three parts of any essential oil to 1 part of water.

Bed Bug Natural Pheromone (Deterrent)

Did you know the bed bug has glands that generate a pheromone that acts as a bed bug deterrent? Bed bug nymphs utilize their unique pheromone to deter adult male bed bugs from trying to mate with them. The pheromone is ineffective against adult females, which are not a threat to nymphs.

When the adult males detect the natural pheromone, they are immediately deterred from invading the young nymphs’ nest.

Summary

Bed bugs target public facilities, such as resorts, spas, children’s daycares, homeless shelters, university dorms, hospitals, skilled nursing homes, and rental cabins.

Best Mattress Covers For Stopping Bed Bugs

Entomologists deemed the tiny parasite that targets human hosts while they sleep in their bedrooms a “bed bug.” The bed bug feeds on the blood of animals and humans, with the latter being the more preferred.

There are millions of bed bug victims all across the globe. Bed bugs are known to mercifully victimize their hosts. Sharing your bed with a colony of bed bugs is enough to cause stress. It only gets worse when tiny red bites are discovered on various parts of the body. Bed bugs show no mercy because they must feed on blood to survive.

Bed bugs easily adapt to all human living conditions to avoid detection. The insects alter their feeding schedule to ensure their hosts are fully asleep. Since the insects refuse to travel long distances to feed, they tend to take up residence in the mattress, box springs, or bed frame. A tiny crevice or hole can easily become a bed bug hiding place as long as it offers quick and easy access to food.

Protect Your Mattress From Bed Bugs

Every time you stay in a hotel, school dorm, hospital, or another public facility, you can encounter a bed bug. When bed bugs are ignored for any period of time, an infestation will develop. Reputable businesses do not waste time in addressing bed bug sightings. You also have businesses that do not give their customer complaints a second thought. The research will only do so much to keep you and your family safe from bed bugs.

A quality mattress costs anywhere between $400 and $1,500 for brand names. Unless you want to replace it due to an infestation, you should build a barrier between it and bed bugs.

Full Encasement Mattress Protector

A full encasement mattress cover is designed to provide 100 percent protection against bed bugs. Several designs are available, but the best option is one that includes a zipper. The zipper creates a full seal around the mattress to keep bed bugs out. Straps and Velcro fasteners do not create a complete seal. The tiniest opening is enough to give bed bugs access to your high-ticket mattress.

Mattress Topper

A mattress topper is insufficient as a bed bug barrier. This design only covers the top half of the mattress, leaving the bottom half exposed. Never consider a mattress topper to combat bed bug problems.

Third-Party Testing

When it comes to shopping for a mattress cover, your safety comes first. Some manufacturers utilize materials that are questionable when it comes to safety. Take the time to read the product description carefully. If there is no mention of third-party safety testing, do not hesitate to reach out to the manufacturer.

Only consider a toxic-free design for mattress covers.

Durability

Mattress covers made by reputable manufacturers can also be expensive. It is either to purchase or not to purchase a cover for your expensive mattress. If you opt to not purchase a cover, your mattress will be exposed to the possibility of bed bugs. Remember, it is cheaper to purchase a mattress cover than to replace an expensive mattress later on down the road.

Environmental Protection

A mattress cover offers environmental protection as well as a bed bug barrier. A full encasement cover will fully protect your mattress from coming into contact with dead skin, dirt, dust, foul odors, stains, bacteria, and viruses.

A mattress cover will end up paying for itself. It will ensure your mattress is sealed safely away from bed bugs, dust mites, and other pest species. However, not all brands are created equal. Conduct extensive research and always read the customer reviews before making a purchase.

Tips To Avoid Bed Bugs While Traveling

What is the first thing you think of when someone says, “bed bugs?” These small pests are notorious for targeting unsuspecting tourists. Professionals, business owners, newlyweds, children, government officials, and other people should know the risks of traveling. The destination or starting point does not matter because all travelers share the same risks. One particular travel risk, less often considered, is a bed bug encounter.

Bed bug encounters can take place at the drop of a hat. You just need to be in the right place at the right time to encounter a bed bug. These parasitic pests are known to target travel destinations, such as hotels, bed & breakfasts, and chalets. Any establishment, with revolving doors, can become a haven for bed bugs.

Survey (Visual Assessment)

At first glance, your room looks neat and tidy. Travelers quickly scan their motel rooms before they step inside. On the surface, the bed is neatly made, the carpet is fluffed and clean, and the drapes are pressed and smell fresh. What about the areas that are not immediately visible? Take for example the mattress and box springs. Are these very important components clean? You will never know unless the bed is completely stripped. If the motel room is infested, bed bugs will cover the mattress.

Looking Underneath

Unfortunately, bedbugs are sneaky. They can hide in a room for months without being noticed. If you don’t inspect the room carefully, you make end up taking these bugs home with you. Since you don’t want this to happen, you should look underneath furniture, mattresses, and other items. Bedbugs could be hiding on the bed frame, behind baseboards, under the mattress, and elsewhere. Remove the sheets and pillowcases. Check both sides of the mattress. If you are staying in a room with bedbugs, ask for a refund and find a new motel.

Raising Your Luggage

Make sure that your luggage is elevated from the ground. Bedbugs can climb up furniture and bed frames. They’ll also climb walls. You don’t want to let the bedbug climb into your bag at night. Otherwise, you’ll probably take them home with you. Avoid this issue by placing your luggage off the ground. Using the luggage rack is recommended. Just don’t place the rack near the wall. Put it in the middle of the room away from walls and furniture.

Examination

Don’t rush into your home. Instead, you need to take time and make sure that you’re not bringing bedbugs into your residence. Return home and leave your bags in your utility room or garage. Search your bags and clothes. Have you found any bedbugs among your belongings? If so, you need to do something about this immediately. Otherwise, the bedbugs will rush into your home. Using your dryer is an effective way to eliminate them. Either way, don’t bring the bedbugs into your home.

Placing Them In Your Dryer

Once you’ve returned home, you’ll want to make sure that you eliminate the bugs before they enter your home. Although this sounds hard, it doesn’t have to be. You’ll find that bedbugs cannot tolerate extreme temperatures. If you can expose them to extremely hot temperatures, you will eliminate them. Suffice to say, using your dryer is an effective way to kill bedbugs. Before going inside, you should take your clothes and throw them into the dryer.

Turn the dryer to the hottest temperature setting. Let the dryer clean your clothes and eliminate the bugs for 15 minutes or so. After that, you can bring the clothes inside since the bedbugs have been killed. There is no guarantee that you’ll prevent them from entering your home. You should prepare for a potential infestation by learning about the exterminators in your area. Have our phone number ready so we can help you promptly.

Dealing With A Termite Infestation And Hiring A Termite Exterminator

Termites can ruin your home rapidly so you cannot sit around and wait. Doing so will lead to bigger problems in the future. Furthermore, you have to understand that termites are a silent killer. They’re not going to make their presence known. If you suspect your home has termites, you’ll need to look far and wide for them. You’ll need to search your property until you’re positive that your home is infested. Once you’ve done that, you can start fixing the problem. Termites love wood and they’ll eat the wood supporting your home.

Hiring a Houston termite exterminator is the best way to fix this problem.

Do You Have Termites?

Termites are tricky because they can remain hidden for a long time. You may not realize that you have termites until your home has been severely damaged. With this in mind, you need to start looking for problems immediately. For starters, you should begin looking for mud tubes around the wooden beams of your home. It is best to start looking in crawl spaces and attics. You’ll also want to check your window sills. Do you notice any discarded wings?

Next, you’ll want to check the wooden beams in your home. Knock on them. Do they sound hallow? If so, you might be dealing with a termite infestation. Houston residents who have termites in their homes should contact us as soon as possible.

Removing Termites From Your Home

You cannot let termites linger in your home. They’re going to ruin your property and your life. With this in mind, you cannot let this problem linger. Termites are going to eat the wood in and around your home. They’re destructive and work quickly to ruin your life. Thankfully, there are numerous ways to get rid of termites. You can use natural or chemical solutions. If you prefer natural methods, you should visit a local garden store. Purchase nematodes because they can help get rid of the termites in your home.

You should use these worms immediately after getting them home. Don’t wait because UV light can kill them. You can also use cardboard traps to kill termites. Finally, you should try exposing termites to sunlight. This will eliminate the termites from your home quickly and conveniently. If you have a piece of furniture that has been infested with termites, you’ll want to set it outside in the sun to get rid of them.

Then, you can take the furniture back inside and you’ll be good to go.

Professional Exterminators

Dealing with termites can be difficult but you can do it. For the best results, you’ll want to skip the DIY treatments and hire a professional. This ensures that you’re able to get satisfactory results quickly and conveniently. Our company offers professional termite extermination services in and around Houston. We’re ready to begin helping you immediately and our prices are unbeatable. We offer safe solutions and eco-friendly options. Do not hesitate to contact us today because we can help you get rid of your termites quickly.