Seven Reasons Why Termites Are Dangerous For Your Family’s Health And Home

Termites are perhaps the most worrisome home pest. Most people feel like they can handle things like ants or even cockroaches, but when termites come to call, the anxiety level rises dramatically. We know that the expense and trouble of dealing with termites is greater than with any other pest, but just exactly how do they create those problems? Here are seven ways that the structural damage caused by termites endangers your home and health.

Creating Fire Hazards

As if it weren’t enough that termites damage the most essential wooden components of your home, they can also create a fire hazard. Areas weakened by termite damage can shift and twist, potentially putting pressure on electrical components and gas lines. This pressure can lead to short circuits and leaks that put your family in real danger. In some cases, termites may even cause damage directly to electrical wires.

Leading to Exposure to Home Remedies

As soon as termites are noticed, many homeowners try to solve the problem themselves. They may disregard label requirements for pesticides and use them in dangerous ways, applying at higher rates, more frequently, and in locations where they shouldn’t be used at all.

We have consulted the experts of Bennetts Services Termite Barriers about products available to general consumers, like bug sprays, and they explained to us that they are not effective against termites, so it is safer to look into professional help to prevent a termite problem.

Causing Shifting of the Structure

Another hazard of damaged beams and other structural members is the settling and twisting it can cause. Your home can shift in unexpected ways, creating cracks in the walls and making it difficult to open windows and doors. These issues are destructive in their own right, but they also pose significant danger if you must try to escape from a fire and a window will not open.

Causing Cosmetic Damage

Many termite infestations have been found by bumping baseboards with furniture or the vacuum cleaner. The wood collapses, revealing a world of damage behind the paint. Not only will this situation require costly structural repairs, but many pieces of finish work will also have to be replaced. To make matters worse, these surface signs are often indicative of an even deeper infestation underneath, leading to massive repair bills as you dig into the problem.

Creating Access for Other Pests

The destruction of wood is also the destruction of the protection your home provides from other pests. Termites typically work in the dark, damp areas around your home’s crawl space and foundation. These areas are typically a great hiding place for other pests as well. It could be rodents, snakes, or spiders, but whatever is lurking nearby is sure to take advantage of the opportunity presented by a damaged wall or floor.

Exacerbating Moisture & Mold Issues

A certain amount of moisture is normal in and under your home, but when termites begin creating openings in through major wooden components, the problem can become dramatically worse. Added moisture can create unhealthy mold, foster additional decay of wood, and damage fragile electronics and other contents. Termites on the move can also help to transport mold spores elsewhere, spreading mold more rapidly than it would have on its own. The numerous health hazards associated with mold are well-known, so this is a serious issue.

Creating Dangerous Maintenance Tasks

One final area of problems is also related to your attempts to control termites yourself. Crawling into narrow spaces, climbing on ladders, and otherwise putting yourself in harm’s way to attempt to control termites is a serious hazard to life and limb. The fact is that only a licensed pest control company can get access to the products that will control termites, and the damage is likely to be so extensive that a contractor could be required anyway. Our pursuit of independence in attacking termites is often our undoing.

Termites present all kinds of risks to homeowners. Many of us are well aware of the costly and unsightly damage they can do, but we often let this fear guide us to take steps that are not likely to be effective. Making a decisive move to treat termites properly and adequately can go a long way toward presenting some lesser-known hazards created by these notorious pests.