How Much Damage Can Termites Do In Your Yakima County Home

If you know anything about termites, it is quite possible that you don't know the truth about them. There are two extremes. On one side, there are those who believe that termites get into homes and consume every inch of every piece of wood, rendering the home unlivable after only a few years. On the other side, there are people who believe that termites don't eat pressurized wood, and rarely feed on homes. While there is some truth to both sides, neither is accurate. So, how much damage can termites do to your Yakima Country home? Let's break through the myths and get to the truth.

Termites Aren't So Bad

If you're afraid that termites will completely destroy your home in a couple of years, you can relax. This is not the case. It can take a large colony of subterranean termites more than three years to do a significant amount of damage to your home. It is also important to keep in mind that there are conditions that can put your home at greater risk, such as wood-to-soil contact, buried wood in your yard, or moisture issues that have led to wood rot. If your home is protected from moisture damage, and you have taken steps to address wood-to-soil contact and sources of termite food around your home, it will take longer for termites to damage your home.

Termites Are Worse Than You Think

If you're not concerned about termites at all, you definitely should be. Subterranean termites cost U.S. property owners $5 billion annually. This damage doesn't happen overnight, but it definitely happens. And you should not rely on the protection pressure-treated wood provides. There are many ways pressure-treated wood can fail to stop termites. The chemicals slowly leach out of the wood. In seven to ten years, that protection can be gone. If moisture gets in, that protection can leach out faster. If you have entry points in your exterior, termites can go past pressure-treated wood and attack untreated timbers. Even the newest of homes can have untreated lumber.

The Middle Ground

It is important to understand the real threat termites present. While they are certainly destructive, the damage they do is not done overnight. It will take years. It may even take a decade for serious damage to occur. This isn't a threat that you'll be dealing with in the first few years of owning a new home. It will be a problem you'll have to repair when you're getting ready to retire, and possibly at a time when you're looking to sell your home. The real problem is not that termites are so destructive, but that they are very sneaky. They live in the ground and come up from the ground to feed on your home. When they start to feed, you're not likely to know it, and when damage begins to become noticeable, it can be costly to fix.

Why You Don't Have To Worry About Termites

Termite damage is preventable. If you invest in termite protection for your Yakima home, you don't have to worry about termites at all. Here are just a few benefits that come with professional termite protection:

• Professional termite control comes with a warranty that keeps you covered.
• Professional termite control is a cost that you can put right into your budget. You're not going to be surprised by a large, unexpected expense.
• It is far better to stop termites from doing damage than it is to fix the damage termites have done. These insects feed on the inside of wood where it is impossible to see the extent of the damage.
• Professionals know what works to prevent termite damage. Far too often, homeowners spend a lot of money, and expend a lot of energy, only to have extensive termite damage occur anyway.

Is Your Home Protected?

It isn't a matter of if termites will attack your Yakima home, but more a matter of when. If you're not protected, reach out to Prosite and protect your finances from the unexpected devastation of termite damage. Schedule an inspection to get started. We're standing by to help you find the right solution for your specific needs.