Termite Update

[errantember]

So after a day of research, freaking out, and running around the outside of the house to discover where the fuckers might have gotten in, I've leaned a few things:

1) The biggest reason the termites are attacking my house is because the leak in the bathtub faucet had kept that area moist for years.

Termites need two things to live: wood and water. While fixing the faucet (as I've already done) and making sure the area gets properly ventilated in the future won't completely solve the problem, it will make the area unpalatable to future (and current) termites. Naturally this makes me wonder what's going on in *other* areas of the house that have been habitually moister than intended. After the other treatment is done, I will probably get a space heater with a blower and set it a safe distance away from the hole to dry things out again.

2) I have a lot of work to do outside to stop this from happening again. I've done a fairly good job trimming back the trees so they don't touch the roof, but the fence touches the house on one side, so do several bushes and gutters, and I haven't cleaned the gutters in over a year. I think I'm going to get or make some of those gutter cover to make it easier to keep things clean. This will also improve the quality of my captured rainwater.

3) Killing the queen will help, but other reproductive termites can become a new queen on fairly short notice, so it's not a one-shot-one-kill situation. When they swarm, every set of termites could start a new nest, so having the protection of a foundation, etc., doesn't help you in that instance. The only defense is to have a house with no external entrances (not fucking likely with the white stone facings I have) or to make sure everything is dry enough not to appeal.

Comments

[dj-warhammer.livejournal.com]

Shall I mail you a big bag of playa dust? That stuff will dry anything out!

[errantember.livejournal.com]

The sheer poetry of killing them with playa dust would be orgasmic enough to then require even more playa dust.

I'd rather have you ship yourself here.

[gailmom.livejournal.com]

My understanding is that they need moisture to GET established...but need a lot less moisture once they are established to thrive. Granted they need some (which is why my folks in Denver weren't required to get a termite inspection) but moist DIRT is only required when they start out...then they do ok in the walls, cuz it's sooo darn humid in Texas. weee....

And yes, they swarm within the house, as well as out of it. They are a treat to try to get on top of once you've gotten them.

Good luck... *shudders*

[errantember.livejournal.com]

I'm calling Aztec Pest Control today to come and look. For many hour yesterday, they were walking in the open on the paths I had broken up, but now they have disappeared, possibly because of the reduction in moisture. I can tell they are just under the surface, though. I'm about to pick up a stethoscope from Craigslist to listen to the boards.

[gailmom.livejournal.com]

Is it wrong that my brain went:

Stethoscope? kiiiinky....

;)

[errantember.livejournal.com]

Not necessarily. I've used a stethoscope for that before. It's pretty interesting to listen to someone's heart rate when it's not necessarily steady.

[gailmom.livejournal.com]

I like you so much! :D

[errantember.livejournal.com]

I'll bring it next time. :)