Many people worry about the health effects when they hear that they have a termite
Not unless you are unbothered when insects crawl all over your body as you sleep, you can go ahead and sleep on a bed with termites. This is, however, not recommended even though termites are not considered to cause direct harm or be dangerous to humans.
Termites aren't known to pose any significant health risk to humans. However, they can cause extensive damage to buildings and paper-based objects within them.
Yes, termites can indirectly cause health issues. While they don't transmit diseases, termites can exacerbate symptoms in people with allergies or asthma. Their droppings and the dust they create when they chew through wood can irritate respiratory systems, leading to coughing, sneezing, and other discomforts.
Termites don't experience sleep in the same way humans do, i.e. awake during the daylight hours and asleep at night. Instead, they are designed to have a continuous, round-the-clock activity cycle, where individual termites take turns in performing various tasks within the colony.
Termite damage sometimes appears similar to water damage. Outward signs of termite damage include buckling wood, swollen floors and ceilings, areas that appear to be suffering from slight water damage and visible mazes within walls or furniture. Termite infestations also can exude a scent similar to mildew or mold.
Spotting a problem early on will make it easier to get the proper termite extermination your home needs. When you're able to recognize some of the early signs of these invasive insects, you can end up saving your home and your wallet from serious damage.
Can Termites Get in Your Hair? Termites typically do not infest human hair.
Inhaling dust from termite droppings or wood dust can create respiratory problems such as asthma and bronchitis. If you have termites in your home, it's important to have them removed as soon as possible to avoid any potential for respiratory problems.
Termite colonies can take 3 to 5 years to fully mature. While there is no accurate way of calculating the exact age of an infestation, there are ways to make accurate predictions of their age. It can take anywhere from 3 to 8 years for termite damage to show up depending on the size of the colony.
The standard practice is to wait two to four hours post-treatment before re-entering your home. This precaution minimizes health risks from chemical exposure. Ventilating your property for about 30 minutes after re-entering is also advisable.
Living in a house with termites is risky. These pests eat wood, cardboard, and plant matter. They can damage a home's structure over time. A big termite colony can cause expensive repairs in months if not treated.
By the time you notice them, it might be too late. If you can not identify the signs of a termite infestation like termite droppings, the infestation can quickly spiral out of control leaving you with thousands of dollars in damage or even losing your house altogether.
Crumbling or Damaged Wood: Visible wood damage, such as crumbling or soft spots, is a clear indicator of termite feeding. Maze-like Patterns in Wood: Tunneling termites often leave behind maze-like patterns in walls, furniture, or flooring.
Remember, termites often target wooden structures and furniture inside your home and your bed can be a prime target.
It Is a No for Clothes
While the termites certainly can eat through your cotton clothing because of the presence of cellulose, they prefer to travel through furniture. Termites do not make colonies in clothes and thus you need not panic when you see an item of clothing infested with termites.
Termites can also be harmful to health as they can cause a fungal infection known as Sick Building Syndrome, or SBS, where occupants experience acute health and discomfort issues such as chronic headaches. It's possible that fungi dispersed by termites lead to SBS.
Don't panic if you do find live Termites
Termites are quite common and believe it or not, are found in almost every yard. Termites are much like regular ants, just subterranean, meaning they're active deep beneath the surface.
If you suspect or see evidence of termites, your best bet is to contact an exterminator immediately. Since routine maintenance is the homeowner's responsibility and termites aren't a covered peril, your homeowners insurance won't cover termite treatment.
While you cannot get rid of termites permanently from the environment, you can help prevent them from taking root in your home and control any active colonies nearby. Although it may be tempting to try termite control yourself, prevention and treatment is best left to the professionals.
Answer: Modern termiticides can solve the existing problem, so there is no reason not to buy the house. Orkin can inspect the house and determine the extent of the infestation and damage, but cannot determine the level of structural damage.
If nothing else suits you, go and try the successful heat treatment to control termites at home. Just use hot air or increase the temperature of the infected area up to 120 degrees and maintain it for half an hour. This much heat for this much time will kill the termites instantly.