How To Prevent Termites In Pennsylvania? - Pest Control Tips and Advice

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If you live in Pennsylvania, you must take steps to prevent termites from destroying the structure of your house. After each termite extermination, the prevention of termites should be a top priority. Most of the termite damage to homes in Pennsylvania is caused by ground-nesting or subterranean termites.

Pennsylvania homeowners should try to prevent termites even after extermination to ensure these destructive pests don’t return. Past experience has shown that unless special attention is given, termites will return and almost certainly cause damage.

Each termite infestation can be expensive to repair. Therefore, prevention is an effective way to save money. Preventative measures such as yearly termite inspections are required to avoid another expensive termite infestation.

Termite detection can be difficult if homeowners miss the early signs of termite infestation. About 90% of Pennsylvania termite infestations occur because of wood in direct or indirect contact with the ground. But the question is: “How do you prevent termites in Pennsylvania?”

Termite prevention in Pennsylvania must continue even after extermination. Yearly termite inspections, proper lawn maintenance, and reducing clutter and standing water around your Pennsylvania home can prevent termite infestations. Based on my research, removing food sources, avoiding storing firewood, and cardboard boxes and controlling moisture inside your home can prevent a termite infestation in Pennsylvania.

In Pennsylvania, termites are some of the most destructive pests. Termite prevention should be a top priority for all Pennsylvania homeowners, even though prevention doesn’t always work. Unfortunately, the best termite prevention often requires professional termite control in Pennsylvania. The only way to effectively prevent termites from invading your home is to understand the termite threat and resulting termite damage.

Pennsylvania Termite Season

The termite season in Pennsylvania is year-round. Unlike in some states, termites are a constant problem in Pennsylvania. That’s partly because of Pennsylvania’s climate. Pennsylvania’s hot, humid, and wet weather is ideal for termites.

Each year, starting in March, large swarms of subterranean termites swarm in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania has several termite species in the U.S. So, you can expect to see large swarms of various types of termites from early spring through summer. Although during summer months you will see flying termites. In Pennsylvania, swarming termites occur from spring each year.

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How bad are termites in Pennsylvania?

The termite problem in Pennsylvania is extremely bad. Termites are extremely destructive. These pests will destroy virtually anything that contains cellulose.

According to experts, one in ten Pennsylvania homes is termite damaged. If you live in Pennsylvania, getting rid of termites can feel like an uphill battle, especially when dealing with huge colonies.

If you have ever had to deal with a termite infestation, you know that getting rid of termites can feel nearly impossible. But, your house is at risk of costly termite damage if you live in Pennsylvania.

If there is a Subterranean or Dampwood termite colony in your Pennsylvania home, you have an infestation where termites are actively building nests in and under your home. And because termites are so good at hiding, they are difficult to detect before they damage your house.

What type of termite causes the most damage in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania is home to three types of termites: Subterranean, Drywood, and Dampwood. All homes are at risk of termite damage. But the Subterranean termites cause the most damage to Pennsylvania homes.

What is a Drywood termite?

Drywood termites are very common in Pennsylvania. They are similar to Subterranean termites but not as harmful. These termites build nest-like structures, called chambers, to burrow into the house’s wood structure.

Drywood termites become active from April through October. Unfortunately, a single termite can start a new termite colony.

Drywood Termites in Pennsylvania

Drywood termites are the most common termites in Pennsylvania. These termites live inside garages, walls, and attics. They nest within the wood structure of your house. Drywood termites are especially common in the coastal communities in the southern half of Pennsylvania.

But, this pest is also common in other parts of the southwestern United States.

Central Pennsylvania Termites

Central Pennsylvania is home to several termite species, such as drywood, subterranean, and dampwood. The most common termites in central Pennsylvania are:

Formosan termite
Pennsylvania dampwood termite
Eastern subterranean termite
Cryptotermes drywood termite

Because central Pennsylvania has warm temperatures all year long, termites quickly reproduce. The termites in the area begin infesting before spring, making central Pennsylvania homeowners susceptible to termite infestations year-round.

How to keep termites away in Pennsylvania?

Are you concerned about termites in Pennsylvania? Termite control professionals know how to check your house and surrounding areas for termites. A termite control expert can provide a strategy to help remove termite infestations. They can also help with termite prevention measures.

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How to get rid of termites in Pennsylvania?

Getting rid of termites in Pennsylvania is critical because the longer you have termites, the more damage they cause. Because of Pennsylvania’s climate, homes are at constant risk of termite damage.

Unlike in other U.S. states, the termite season in Pennsylvania is a year-round challenge. Although any termite infestation can result in costly damage, Subterranean termites cause the greatest property damage in Pennsylvania homes.

While there are steps you can take to prevent termites in Pennsylvania, it’s best to have your property inspected for termites annually by a trained termite control professional. The pest control company you call should be able to identify early signs of termite infestation. A trained termite control professional can locate points of access that aren’t immediately apparent to the untrained eye.

Can concrete block (CBS) homes in Pennsylvania get termites?

Concrete block homes in Pennsylvania get termites. If you live in a CBS house in Pennsylvania, termites are still a real threat. Termites get inside the house through cracks. Once inside, termites consume any wood inside the house.

Termites Swarming in Pennsylvania

All termite species swarm in Pennsylvania. Each year, March through June, the Formosan termites swarm. It is the most most destructive termite in Pennsylvania. The massive termite colonies cause costly wood damage. According to experts, Formosan termites can consume up to three pounds of wood daily.

Asian Subterranean termites in Pennsylvania swarm yearly, between March and May. They cause massive wood damage to Pennsylvania homes. Mostly, subterranean termites are significantly more destructive than Dampwood or Drywood termites due to their colony sizes.

Pennsylvania’s native termites, the Eastern Subterranean termite, swarm from November through May. You can see them swarm during the day since they are attracted to light.

During the summer months, the Dark Southeastern Subterranean termites swarm. Like the Eastern Subterranean termites, the Dark Southeastern termites swarm during daytime hours. Moist conditions, tree stumps, and mulch along your home’s foundation attract Dark Southeastern termites.

Termites in Pennsylvania

The economic impact of termites is more than $5 billion in the United States, much of which is in Pennsylvania. Subterranean termites cause about 80% of the damage in Pennsylvania.

Your home is one of the largest investments you make, so don’t let termites destroy it. Termite prevention should be a top priority for Pennsylvania homeowners. An annual termite inspection will ensure that you are protecting your home from costly termite damage.

Why are Pennsylvania termites difficult to control?

Pennsylvania termites are difficult to control because they live in large colonies.

How many termites are in a colony?

Depending on the species, a termite colony can have millions of members. Their foraging territory can cover more than one acre, so one colony can infest several homes.

How to get rid of subterranean termites?

There are two ways to get rid of subterranean termites. First, you can get rid of termites during construction. The pest control industry refers to this as “pre-construction” termite control.

The other method is “post-construction” subterranean termite control. Both methods will help you get rid of subterranean termites in Pennsylvania.

The application of liquid soil termiticides is the most common method to get rid of termites. This termite control method is effective for pre-construction and post-construction. The amount of termiticide applied will vary by soil type, area to be treated, and product label.

The pest control professional must know building construction and equipment to apply the required quantity of termiticide. Depending on the home, drilling of concrete block walls or slabs may be necessary.

There are two types of liquid termiticides, repellent and non-repellent chemistries. But even non-repellent termiticides can be repellent if applied in large enough concentrations.