News & Professional Tips

3 Warning Signs Termites May Be Eating & Destroying Your Home:

 Ants or Termites?  Learn the Dangerous & Costly Difference!
 If you see winged, ant-like insects flying around your home, you need to know whether they are ants or subterranean termites. Call BUG-OFF to schedule a comprehensive termite inspection. If they are swarming termites, an established colony of these house-damaging insects is looking for new nesting areas... and your house is in danger. The illustrations to the left highlight the differences between winged ants and winged termites.  Look them over carefully and check them against the insects flying around your home.
If the insects are, indeed, termites, call BUG-OFF immediately.  We will eliminate the old colony and protect your house from these damaging invaders.  Call us if you're still not sure after checking the illustrations, and we will confirm identification and treat, if necessary.
 Ant            Termite 

Termites eat wood from the inside out, defying detection for years while doing extensive & costly damage.

Subterranean Termite Damage

1. Remember! At least once a year, call BUG-OFF's termite inspectors to give your home a comprehensive termite inspection.  Annual termite inspections can help identify early signs of termite infestation in your home.  The early alert of termites in your home gives you extra safety and could save you thousands $$$ on repair bills and lost home equity & value! Call 410-913-1754 to schedule a comprehensive termite inspection for your home.  

2. Eliminate sources of moisture:

• Repair leaky gutters, downspouts and roofs.
• Do not allow leaves and debris to accumulate in gutters.
• Repair leaky exterior water spigots, sprinklers and interior water pipes.
• Install extensions on sump pump discharge pipes and gutter downspouts to carry water 6 ft or further away from your foundation.
• Grade soil so that water runs away from your foundation. 
• Check crawl space for any standing water, mold or fungus.  Put down a vapor barrier if there is not one.  Make sure your crawl space has proper ventilation.

3. Remove potential food sources:

• Remove any wood that is in direct contact with soil within 6 ft of your foundation, such as tree stumps, firewood, wood debris, landscaping boards, stairs, fences, lattice work, trellises, dead bushes, etc.
• Maintain at least a 12-24 inch barrier between your foundation and wood mulch.
• Remove any wood or paper debris in crawl space.

4. Look for cracks in your foundation and seal them immediately.  Termites can pass through a crack only 1/64" wide!

All these conditions attract termites and sustain termite colonies while they gather forces to attack and destroy your home.
It is critical to detect and treat termite infestations early and to continuously inspect and monitor your home for termite activity and damage!