These kinds of termites live in colonies, mainly under your home, within the soil. They require a lot of moisture, thus why they are so prominent in Oregon.
They can burrow tunnels that go on for hundreds of feet. These tunnels usually connect to all their feeding sites. 
The most aggressive type of Subterranean termites is called the Formosan termite. They can form nest above ground attached directly to your home.

Formosan Termites are even worse than the normal subterranean termites. Because they not only reside in the soil but also establish their source above the ground through formations as secondary spots.

Termites have their own role within the colony:

• Workers
• Soldiers
  
• The Queen
  

Flying Termites

As the colony grows, it will send out its winged swarmers to form a new colony. Winged males and females fly around and mate. Once fertilized the termites will then shed their wings and go about establishing the new colony. Flying termites are a clear indicator of a maturing colony that you should get taken care of immediately.

Signs of a Termite infestation

You are very unlikely to even know if you have a termite problem. They live in dark, moist places, and usually underground.

What you need to look for is:
Frass - Termite droppings. They look like small woody pellets. Sometimes resembling coffee grounds.
Mud tubes - these are dirt made tubes that termites use as roadways to connect from colony to colony.
Wings - when swarmers find a new location they will shed their wings (look for these around entry points to your home).
Damaged wood - tap the wood, you think has been damaged, with a hammer or screwdriver. You are trying to see if it sounds hollow or not. 

What is an entry point?

There are many ways termites enter your home. Here are some of the most common ways they can get in.

• Cracks in the foundation, and even up the side of the foundation
• Cracks in your homes plumbing
  
• Expansion joints
  
• Hollow block walls
  

Termite Damage

Termites have special enzymes in their guts that allow them to digest cellulose – this is bad news if you live in a home made of wood. Although one termite may eat relatively slow, termites live in large groups. Some colonies can get upwards of 10,000,000 in termite population. If you look at it from that perspective, a colony of 3,200 termites could eat through a thousand sqft home in a year.

Preventing Termite Infestations 

When you are looking to prevent termite infestations look around your house for those specific entry ways (or any other way they could get in). You must remember that termite's (like all other beings) are in search of food, SO don't make it easy for them.
Termites are looking to eat Cellulose - wood, paper, cardboard, and possibly carpet. And since we are in the Pacific Northwest, pay close attention to those food sources that are also damp - containing a lot of moisture.

• Find and remove potential food sources.
• Fix overly moist problem areas (fix plumbing, AC units, or any other equipment that may leak water).
  
• Caulk cracks in the foundation.
  
• Store easy accessible food away from the home (i.e., firewood, yard debris, etc.).
  
• Get rid of any stumps you may have on your property.
  
• Always monitor your properties wood structures for possible attacks.
  

What do we do?

We will come over and inspect your home or property. We check all areas of your home for possible infestations or areas that may be at risk. We then discuss with you, the homeowner, what the process moving forward should be. Together we will develop a treatment plan. 

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Inspect + Treat + Protect + Guarantee

Termites are very hard to detect and deal with unless you know what you are doing, this is why you should be worried. Termites can do some serious damage to your home - an infestation can cause an upwards of $8,000. Research shows that termites can are the cause of almost $5 billion a year to homeowners. 

Think you have termites? Get in touch with one of our professionals now! We offer a FREE home inspection. 

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Termite Control

Types of Termites

There are there different types of termites.

• Subterranean Termites
• Drywood Termites
  
• Dampwood Termites
  

​In the Pacific Northwest, especially the Portland and Vancouver areas, we mainly encounter the Subterranean Termite.

(503) 758-3651

503.758.3651