Understanding Professional Mice Removal

Mice Removal: Our Approach to Professional Mice Exterminationexterminator getting rid of mice from home

Mice can be highly frustrating household pests because they reproduce so quickly, gnaw through wiring, contaminate food, and carry diseases. Prompt and effective mice removal is essential to protect your home and family, and it requires more than just setting a few traps.

Precise offers professional mouse removal services to help you live pest-free in your home and prevent rodent infestations from recurring.

Why You Need Professional Mice Removal

At the first signs of mouse activity, many homeowners turn to DIY methods such as store-bought traps and rodenticide baits. However, these strategies often fail to deliver comprehensive and long-lasting results.

Our integrated approach involves everything from sealing to trapping and baiting, to ongoing monitoring and homeowner education, to reduce future risks through preventive measures.

Step 1: Find the Entry Points

The first step in our mouse extermination work is a thorough survey of the interior and exterior of your property. We look for cracks, gaps, holes, signs of gnawing, insulation damage, droppings, urine stains, and other signs of mouse activity that often get overlooked by the untrained eye.

Step 2: Exclusions and Sealing

Once we identify problem areas, we move forward with exclusion work by blocking mice’s access routes and installing rodent-proof materials, such as steel wool and wire mesh, that they can’t chew through. To prevent mice from entering your home, we seal wall and foundation cracks, close gaps around vents, and secure areas around utility lines.

Step 3: Strategically Place Traps and Baits

The next step in our mice removal process is to place targeted traps and bait stations to catch mice that are already living in your home

Step 4: Monitor and Adjust Strategies for Ongoing Prevention

Since mouse control issues are rarely a “one and done” endeavor, our professional mouse removal process involves ongoing monitoring and follow-up with our customers, making adjustments as your needs change. We offer peace of mind year-round, as we regularly check traps, remove dead rodents, and assess sealed entry points to prevent recurrence.

Before and After Your Mice Removal Treatment

Before we eliminate mice from your home, we recommend decluttering potential rodent hiding spots, such as basements and garages. Ensure that all food is stored securely and note any observed signs of mouse activity, such as droppings, scratching sounds, and chewed wires.

To prevent mice from returning after our mouse removal treatments, ensure that all food sources remain inaccessible and that no new entry points are introduced. We can also help you patch new holes and cracks that develop in the future, helping you avoid new mouse activity.

You Can Trust Precise with Your Mice Removal Needs

If you suspect mice in your home, don’t delay contacting Precise right away. We service Bergen, Passaic, Morris, Sussex and Essex counties and can arrive at your home quickly to handle your mice removal.

When & Where Mice Are Most Active: What Homeowners Need to Know

Understanding Mouse Activity in Your Home

Mice are highly adaptable rodents that enter homes through tiny spaces and creep throughout a home. Therefore, it’s crucial to understand when and where they are most active so that you can prevent infestations, even before the first signs of mice activity.

In this Precise Pest Control article, we cover the places where and times when mice make their moves so you can stop them in their tracks and live in a pest-free environment.

Daily Activity Habits of Mice

Mice are primarily nocturnal, which means they move around the most after dusk. This is when human activity typically decreases, and people feel safer venturing out to search for food. The prime times for mice activity are 30 to 60 minutes after your household quiets down. For example, mice commonly start moving throughout a home between 10 pm and 11 pm.

However, mice are also known to move within a house during the daytime, especially in areas with low human activity that remain undisturbed during the day.

Seasonal Patterns of Mice

Mice become very active during the fall, as they begin to seek warmth, shelter, and a consistent food source before winter. In New Jersey, our “mouse season” typically runs from September to November.

Mice in our area often remain indoors between December and February once they find reliable food and nesting areas. Mice remain active year-round and frequently breed in attics, basements, and wall cavities.

In the summer, mice breed, and young mice may venture out into the wild on their own.

Where Mice Prefer to Live 

When mice are active indoors, they tend to gravitate toward basements, attics, crawl spaces, and wall voids. You may also notice mouse activity behind appliances and inside cabinets.

Other common areas for mouse activity include sheds, garages, HVAC shafts, and places with plumbing pipes. In the winter months, you may notice mice migrating towards warm places like furnaces and near open water sources.

Timing Your Pest Control Strategy Right

The fall season is a critical time to take preventive measures to control mice. This means sealing entry points, inspecting high-risk areas, and eliminating open food containers. However, it’s crucial to inspect your home for signs of mouse activity regularly and to repair structural vulnerabilities throughout the year periodically.

The best times to place traps and monitor mice activity are in the evening and early night hours. Before mice’s peak movement hours occur, you can increase your chances of catching them during this time frame.

Precise Can Help You with Mice Extermination and Prevention

For peace of mind that you aren’t living among mice in your home, contact Precise for a free mouse inspection. Our experienced, licensed technicians will implement proven mouse extermination methods and proactive prevention strategies to eliminate active infestations and identify entry points.

Whether you are already noticing the signs of mice activity or want to safeguard your home before they arrive, Precise is here for you and all your pest control needs.

Please contact us to learn more about our mouse control techniques and to schedule your appointment. With our extermination team on your side, you can enjoy a cleaner and healthier mouse-free home at all times of day and all months of the year.

How to Rodent-Proof Your New Jersey Home Before Winter

Rodent searching for warmth and food indoors during winter, highlighting the need for professional rodent-proofing methods.

How Can I Rodent-Proof My Home Before Winter?

As the seasons change, many homeowners are starting to ask, “How can I rodent-proof my house before winter?”

As temperatures start to drop, mice, rats, and other rodents begin searching for warm places to live with easy access to food. Your house might be an ideal target for rodent activity in the winter, which is why preparing your home now is crucial.

Precise Termite & Pest Control can help you take proactive steps to protect your living spaces with DIY tips, all-natural rodent repellant treatments, and traditional mouse control services.

Why Rodents Are a Winter Problem

To learn how to keep mice out of the house in winter, you need to understand rodent behaviors as the seasons change.

Rodents often move indoors during cold weather to find warmth, food, and safe places to nest. Once established inside, rodent infestations can quickly escalate and evolve from a minor nuisance to significant property damage. Mice and rats in a house can damage insulation, chew electrical wires, and contaminate food sources. They can also make you sick as they spread bacteria and allergens, diminishing the air quality inside your home.

DIY Rodent-Proofing Tips for Homeowners

How can I rodent-proof my house before winter using low-cost and straightforward DIY methods?

Seal and Protect Entry Points

First, it’s essential to seal any areas where rodents may enter your home. Check your home’s foundation for cracks, utility line areas for gaps, and vents for openings. It may be necessary to repair damaged weather stripping, use steel wool or caulk to seal gaps, and install door sweeps to prevent rodent entry.

Maintain a Clean Environment

Throughout the year, aim to maintain a clean home that is less attractive to rodents. Ensure human and pet food is stored in airtight containers, and quickly clean up spills and crumbs so that hungry rodents don’t gravitate to those areas.

Outdoor Prep

As you take DIY action, inspect your outdoor spaces for clutter and trash that may attract rodents. Clear away stacks of firewood and piles of leaves near your foundation, and ensure that trash bins are always closed and tightly sealed.

Professional Rodent Prevention Options

When these DIY methods aren’t enough to keep rodents away, Precise’s professional services will help you figure out how to keep mice out of the house in winter.

Our All-Natural Rodent Repellant Treatment

We offer a safe and effective seasonal solution for eco-conscious homeowners. Our all-natural rodent repellant treatment features an organic, oil-based formula that we apply to the exterior foundation of your home.

This professional treatment is eco-friendly and safe for use around children and pets. It provides long-lasting protection throughout the winter, deterring rodents from entering the premises.

Traditional Rodent/Mice Control Services

Our traditional rodent and mice control services include a variety of extermination methods, including bat stations, traps, and ongoing monitoring. New Jersey homeowners trust us with their rodent control needs because we offer long-term protection against rodents and peace of mind that infestations are fully managed.

Signs It’s Time to Call a Professional

 If you notice any of these early warning signs, it is time to call Precise for professional rodent help:

  • Fecal droppings
  • Scratching noises
  • Gnaw marks
  • Chewed wires
  • Nests with fabric or shredded paper
  • Actual rodent sightings inside your home

Why Homeowners Choose Precise

Precise specializes in rodent prevention and control, with eco-friendly solutions available to keep your family and pets safe. We are the local extermination experts you can rely on for fast and responsive service performed by knowledgeable and friendly technicians you can trust.

Don’t Wait — Schedule Your Winter Rodent Protection Today

With winter just around the corner, now is the time to take immediate action to protect your home from rodent pests.

We hope that you now better understand how to keep mice out of the house in winter and will contact us for your free inspection today.

The Health Risks of Mice and Rats in New Jersey Homes

Mice and rats in a home environment, common disease carriers that pose health risks to humans and pets.

What New Jersey Homeowners Should Know About Mice and Diseases

Many types of rodents, including house mice, deer mice, field mice, and rats, carry diseases that can be spread to humans and pets. Fortunately, there are proactive measures you can take to reduce your disease risk and keep your home or business free from rodents throughout the year.

Precise specializes in rodent control and offers rodent repellant treatments to keep you feeling safe and healthy year-round.

How Rodents Spread Diseases

Rodents are vectors of various pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, and parasites. Humans can contract these pathogens through directly touching live or dead rodents and from the excrement they leave behind.

People can also get diseases from rodents by inhaling contaminated particles in the air. Touching contaminated surfaces can also lead to the transmission of disease between rodents and humans.

Diseases Rodents Often Carry

Hantavirus

Hantavirus is a disease commonly carried by deer mice. The early symptoms of hantavirus in humans are muscle aches, fevers, fatigue, vomiting, nausea, and headaches. Severe cases can lead to respiratory problems and even death.

Leptospirosis

Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection that rodents spread through their urine and by contaminating surfaces. People who develop this disease may develop liver and kidney damage, as well as organ failure and meningitis.

Salmonellosis

Salmonellosis is a foodborne disease that people contract after consuming food contaminated by rodents. Symptoms include fever, diarrhea, abdominal pain, chills, and muscle aches.

Rat bite fever

Rat bite fever affects people after they’ve handled or been bitten by a rodent. You may experience symptoms such as a rash, joint pain, muscle aches, chills, fever, and headaches with this disease.

Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus

Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus is a viral infection carried by rodents, which is associated with fever, fatigue, and neurological damage in humans.

Lyme disease

Rodents can transmit Lyme disease if they are carrying fleas, ticks, or mites on their bodies. Early symptoms of Lyme disease include fatigue, pain, and swollen lymph nodes. Weeks or months later, people may experience issues with arthritis, neurological problems, heart palpitations, conjunctivitis, and difficulty concentrating.

How to Avoid Getting Diseases from Rodents

If you discover signs of rodents in your home or business, it’s essential to exercise extreme safety while cleaning up the messes they make.

For example, open nearby windows and doors to ventilate areas affected by rodents before cleaning up. Wear protective, disposable gloves and a mask to protect your skin and lungs.

Avoid sweeping or vacuuming rodent nests or droppings because dust can become airborne and cause respiratory harm. Instead, spray rodent areas with a disinfectant, such as a bleach-water mix, to prevent dust from spreading.

After you’ve noticed rodent activity, also disinfect all counters, floors, and other surfaces that may have been contaminated. Always wash your hands thoroughly after dealing with rodents, even if you’ve been wearing gloves.

When It’s Time to Call a Professional

Rodent infestations are often too extensive and dangerous to handle safely on your own. That’s why we recommend calling Precise to have one of our expert technicians remove all rodents and their messes for you, while taking preventative measures to keep them from returning.

Here are some signs it’s time to call us for professional rodent control help:

  • You have many rodents and a large number of rodents
  • You feel unwell after dealing with rodent removal yourself
  • You don’t have the right tools and equipment to clean up droppings or nests safely
  • Your DIY efforts aren’t stopping mice from returning to your home

How Precise Can Help

At Precise, we have over 30 years of experience in keeping Northern New Jersey homes and businesses rodent-free. We offer free inspections and are ready to address your rodent situation quickly and professionally.

If you live in Bergen, Passaic, Morris, Essex, or Sussex County, we are here to help you maintain a healthy and safe environment in your home or business, free from rodent activity and disease risks.

Please contact us to schedule your free, no-obligation inspection today to avoid and prevent these dangerous rodent-spread diseases.

How Ants Get In and What Attracts Them

ants on a pile of dirty dishes

How Ants Enter Your Home and What Draws Them In

Ants are tiny insects, but they’re also resourceful and resilient ones that frequently cause headaches for New Jersey homeowners.

Life’s simple necessities of food, water, and shelter attract ants to a home. However, overlooked gaps and cracks can provide easy access points as well. Understanding how ants enter a home and what ants are attracted to can help you prevent infestations and call for professional help before the situation worsens.

Common Ant Entry Points

Ants can squeeze through the tiniest of cracks in a home, even ones that you can barely see. It’s common for homes to develop cracks around window frames, doors, and where walls meet the ceilings and floors. Ants have even easier access if you leave windows and doors open to let the fresh air inside.

Floors are common ant entry points since ants often live underground and can easily squeeze through the subflooring. Ants can also access your house through the gaps created to run utility lines and supply you with water, electricity, gas, internet, and cable TV.

It’s possible to accidentally carry ants in from the outdoors, especially if you’re coming in from a hike or live with kids or pets.

Steady and Reliable Food Sources

Like all living beings, ants need food to survive. But ants are especially drawn to sugary foods, such as honey, jelly, and syrup. Any crumbs you leave on your counters are enticing to ants, as are spills that you don’t clean up right away.

Meanwhile, pet food left out in bowls can attract ants. Trash bins that aren’t covered and sealed can also make you more prone to ant infestations.

Ample Moisture, Amplified by Weather

Water is also critical to ants’ survival, especially during hot and dry times of the year. Ants may be drawn to your home if you have leaky pipes or leave stagnant water standing inside or near your home. Ants can also find the moisture they need in damp basements and kitchen sinks filled with dishes soaking in water and covered in food residue.

Additionally, your houseplants may be attracting ants because of the humidity and sweet residues your plants provide.

Warm and Cozy Living Spaces

In the winter, ants frequently look for warm and cozy places to live in New Jersey. Your home can provide this type of safe and comfortable shelter, especially if you have clutter lying around.

After ants enter your home in search of warmth, they may gravitate toward storage boxes, piles of clothing, and collections of toys. Natural materials and debris outside your home, such as firewood, tree stumps, and rock piles, can also attract ants and lure them indoors.

How to Handle an Ant Infestation

When you first notice ants in your house, your first instinct might be to grab a can of commercial ant spray and kill the visible ones. However, DIY treatments typically only address the surface ants and not the hidden colonies that are the real source of the problem. Ant colonies multiply quickly, perhaps leading to a full-blown ant infestation ,while you are only targeting a small fraction of the ants living in your home.

For this reason, it’s best to call Precise Termite & Pest Control at the first signs of ant activity for a free inspection.

We’ll assess the extent of your ant situation, identify the ant species you have, and recommend a targeted solution.

How to Prevent Future Ant Infestations  

To keep your home ant-free and live comfortably with peace of mind, follow these ant prevention tips:

  • Keep all food in airtight containers
  • Promptly clean up spills
  • Ensure trash cans are tightly closed
  • Fix plumbing leaks
  • Seal cracks and gaps around your home
  • Keep the perimeter of your yard free of debris
  • Reduce clutter inside your house
  • Regularly inspect past problem areas for possible ant activity

For more ant extermination advice or to schedule your free ant inspection, please call us at 866-971-2847 or contact us online.

The Risks of Ignoring an Ant Infestation

Ant-infested room

Why You Should Never Ignore an Ant Infestation

Seeing just a few ants around your home might seem like a minor nuisance that will go away on its own. However, even a small ant infestation can rapidly escalate and become a widespread issue that can cause illness and strain your budget.

Precise Termite & Pest Control specializes in early detection and long-term prevention to help you proactively manage ants and live comfortably in your home.

Why an Ant Infestation in Your House is a Bigger Problem Than You Think

As trained experts in ant control, we’ve seen firsthand the damage ants can cause when homeowners neglect to address an infestation. Ant issues are complex because these insects multiply quickly once they find a steady food and water source, like your house.

The ants you visually notice are likely only part of the problem and a small fraction of the ants living on your property. It’s common to find considerably larger ant populations living behind walls, under floors, and building satellite nests throughout a home.

Are Ants Dangerous?

Many New Jersey residents wonder, “Is an ant infestation bad?” and exactly how bad is it?

Here’s how ants can put you and your home at risk.

Health Risks from Ants

Ants have the potential to contaminate human and pet food in your house. Ants travel through soil, garbage, and other unsanitary places before making their way onto your countertops and into your pantry.

Some people have allergic reactions to ants, while certain ant species can bite and sting. These injuries can be itchy, painful, and lead to open wounds that can allow harmful bacteria to enter your body.

Property Risks from Ants

Certain types of ants, such as carpenter ants, damage wood as they create nests. This behavior can cause structural damage to your home, such as weakening floors and support beams.

Signs You May Already Have a Problem

The early warning signs of an ant infestation include ant trails in kitchens, bathrooms, and around windows. Other red flags are piles of sawdust-like debris and wooden features that sound hollow.

You will often notice more ant activity in the summer months and after heavy rains. It’s also essential to learn what attracts ants and avoid these common pitfalls to prevent an infestation.

Why Professional Treatment is the Best Solution

You can start the ant control process with DIY sprays and traps to eliminate the visible ants. However, these approaches don’t address the many hidden ants that are actually fueling the infestation in your house.

The professional ant treatment we provide offers accurate ant species identification so we can pursue the best strategy. Once identified, we employ effective methods to eliminate visible ants and hidden nests that you may not even be aware of.

Why NJ Homeowners Choose Precise Pest Control

Precise has over 30 years of local pest control expertise and a fully licensed and insured extermination team to serve you.

Our exterminators are committed to your safety and well-being, with responsive and professional service you can rely on. We customize every ant infestation treatment plan and tailor our services to address your home’s unique needs.

Don’t Wait — Schedule Your Ant Inspection Today

Are ants dangerous? Is an ant infestation bad? The answer to these questions is yes, and the longer you ignore an ant infestation, the worse it will get.

At the first signs of ant activity, it’s best to call Precise to protect your health, property, and peace of mind.

Please call us at 866-971-2847 or contact us online to schedule your free ant inspection.

Preventing Ants in Your Home: Tips & Tricks from the Pros

ants clustering around baseboardsHow to Prevent Ants in Your House

Ants have an important role in nature, but they have no business being inside your house. Ants outnumber people by something like 2.5 million to one. But armed with knowledge, effective prevention tips, and a reliable exterminator on your side, you can overcome even the most problematic ant infestations.

Precise Termite & Pest Control is here to help you not only get rid of ants you already have in your house but also prevent them from coming back. From our expert extermination team, here are our best tips for controlling ants in your house.

Keep Your Home Clean

There’s nothing ants hate more than a clean, spotless home. One of the best ways to prevent ants is to keep your home clean at all times and occasionally deep-clean your house.

Avoid leaving out food and dirty dishes to deter ants. Also, wipe your stove, toaster, and other appliances clean so crumbs aren’t left behind. Rinse out recyclables before placing them in the bin, and keep your garbage lids on tightly to limit ant activity. Also, regularly vacuum, sweep or mop your floors to prevent ants.

Seal Gaps and Entryways

Ants are tiny insects capable of squeezing their way through the smallest gaps and cracks in a home. Look for ant trails and follow ants back to entry and exit points. You can seal up openings with silicone caulk, poster tack, paste, putty, or petroleum jelly.

Use Commercial Ant Deterrents

If you walk down the grocery or home improvement store aisles, you’ll find countless DIY projects to control ants. You can certainly try these products to kill existing ants you have in your home.

However, commercial ant sprays are not typically effective in deterring new ants from entering your home and replacing the ones you just killed. There’s also the risk of chemical exposure from harsh sprays, especially if you have kids or pets.

Try Natural Ant Control Alternatives

Alternatively, many natural ant control solutions eliminate the chemical risks and might help you keep an ant situation under control until professional help arrives. Some of the best natural ant remedies include lemons, peppermint, powdered chalk, and red and black pepper.

Learn About Odor Deterrents

There are certain smells that ants hate and that help keep them out of your home. For example, ants dislike garlic, peppermint, laurel, bay leaves, camphor, and lavender.

You can apply these substances as oils or leave them in their natural form as deterrents. It’s also helpful to grow mint and lavender plants near your home’s entryways to keep ants away.

Secure Your Pantry

Your kitchen pantry is an ideal place in your home for ants to invade, live, and destroy. Pantries are open sources of food and are especially attractive to ants seeking shelter from the cold outside during winter. Ensure that everything in your pantry is sealed in airtight containers, and wipe any sticky residue off those containers to avoid attracting ants.

Place Barriers Around Your Home

In addition to sprays, you can build barriers to keep ants out of favorite places like your kitchen. If you don’t already have ants in a space, you can create a barrier with a powdered cleanser or baby powder to keep them out. Other barriers to try include powdered charcoal, turmeric, cayenne pepper, Vaseline, and citrus oil.

Call Precise for Expert Help 

If you’ve tried one or more of these ant prevention strategies and are still struggling with an ant problem, it’s time to call Precise for help.

We specialize in ant control and removal in Northern New Jersey, and we provide free inspections, ant extermination, and ant prevention solutions. Please call us at 866-971-2847 to schedule your inspection and get rid of your ants once and for all.

How Fast Can Bees Take Over? The Importance of Immediate Bee Extermination

Close up of bees swarming on a honeycomb on outside building.

Close up of bees swarming on a honeycomb on outside building.

Just a few bees around your home might not seem like a major cause for concern. However, bees can quickly establish colonies, necessitating immediate pest control to prevent property damage and keep your family safe.

In this Precise Termite & Pest Control article, we discuss how fast bees colonize and safe bee extermination methods.

Bee Colonies Can Grow Faster Than You Think

Queen bees can lay up to approximately 2,000 eggs per day – that’s 2,000 opportunities for new bee activity around your home.

Bees are capable of rapidly expanding their hives, especially during swarming season. Swarming occurs when bee colonies reproduce and move in large groups to shift locations. You’ll often find bee colonies growing around attics, wall voids, and under roof awnings.

Risks of Ignoring a Bee Infestation

If you don’t take immediate pest control action for bee removal in NJ, your home could suffer structural damage. Bee hives and honey buildup can create structural issues that require costly repairs.

Without effective bee extermination, there are also the safety risks of bee stings, which are especially concerning if you have children or pets or are allergic to bee stings. Professional bee extermination will help prevent the colony from returning after bee removal.

Why DIY Bee Removal Is Dangerous

Many homeowners attempt to remove bee hives themselves to save money. However, this action is incredibly risky because bees often become aggressive when their hives are disturbed.

Furthermore, if you remove only part of the hive, hive regrowth will likely occur without professional bee extermination. There are also legal concerns associated with bee removal in NJ because certain species, like the rusty patched bumble bee, are protected under the Endangered Species Act.

According to the NJ Department of Fish and Wildlife, New Jersey is home to about 350 species of native pollinating bees. Many of them are beneficial and essential to maintaining local ecosystems and our food supply, yet their populations are declining due to habitat loss.

Benefits of Professional Bee Removal NJ

Fortunately, we have been in this industry for over 35 years and provide safe bee extermination services, incorporating proven bee removal methods using protective gear. Our local expertise in dealing with locally specific bee species and their nesting and reproductive behaviors informs our bee removal NJ services.

Why New Jersey Homeowners Trust Precise Pest Control

New Jersey homeowners know Precise Termite & Pest Control for our quick response times, free inspections, and local knowledge about bee extermination. We employ the most skilled, licensed, and experienced technicians who will take the hassles of bee removal off your plate and immediately handle your bee situation.

At Precise, we offer long-term bee removal NJ solutions—not just temporary fixes—to give you peace of mind and help you feel safe and comfortable in your home.

Schedule Your Immediate Bee Extermination Today

At the first signs of bee activity around your home, we encourage you to call Precise for a free inspection. We’ve seen firsthand that seemingly minor bee issues sometimes become severe infestations within a few days.

For bee extermination services you can always rely on, or to ask any questions about our bee removal techniques, please contact us online or call us at 866-971-2847.

How to Identify Termite Damage and Prevent It

termite damage in the wall of a home

New Jersey homeowners face various types of pests that threaten to destroy their homes and yards. One of the most destructive is the termite, which is notorious for creating structural damage in local houses.

Precise Termite & Pest Control offers professional termite eradication and helps homeowners identify the types of termites they have to prevent future infestations.

What Do Termites Look Like?

Dozens of termite species exist in our world today, but they all have a somewhat similar appearance. Termites are typically between a quarter-inch and a half-inch long. They are white or light brown in color and have soft bodies, straight waists, and straight antennae.

Homeowners sometimes misidentify carpenter, flying, and fire ants as termites because of their appearance. To the untrained eye, termite damage can resemble the damage caused by powderpost beetles and carpenter bees.

Types of Termites to Know

Termite species can be broken down into several categories. For example, subterranean termites live in soil, build large nests, and cause most of the termite damage to New Jersey homes.

Next up are drywood termites, which prefer living in moist wood conditions outdoors and are, therefore, often less of a problem for New Jersey homeowners. They don’t need soil to survive; however, they love to feast on hardwood floors slowly and devastatingly in homes.

Meanwhile, Formosan termites are very destructive but less common in New Jersey than in other parts of the country.

Damage Caused by Termites

Regardless of the species, termites cause extensive damage to the structural integrity of buildings. Termites commonly take up residence in wall studs, support beams, ceiling joints, and household furniture. It is also possible for termites to inhabit non-wood materials of your home, such as metal siding and insulation.

Subterranean termite damage often resembles water damage because this species prefers soft wood and eats wood along the grain. Drywood termite damage results from tunnels the insects build inside walls and furniture, as these termites eat large sections of wood and chew against the wood grain.

Identifying Termite Damage Early

Termites frequently cause damage to a home’s floors, ceilings, siding, plaster, metal, and furniture. There are several tell-tale signs of termite damage, which is helpful since termites cause at least $5 billion in damage to American homes annually.

Here are some common signs of termite damage to look for:

  • Buckling paint and tiny holes in the wood
  • Weak and missing parts of wood structures
  • Mud tubes where your home touches the ground outside (looks like clumpy lines in the soil)
  • Fecal pellets near termite tunnels
  • Termite wings near windows and doors

Professional Help with Termite Identification and Termite Extermination

If you notice any of these signs of damage or the presence of insects around your home that you’re unsure about, it’s time to call in the professionals.

Precise Termite & Pest Control is your local expert in New Jersey termites. We offer prompt, affordable, and reliable extermination services with excellent customer service and no pressure.

Identifying and eradicating termites on your own can be challenging, especially if you aren’t sure what to look for or haven’t dealt with an infestation before.

With termites, prevention is your best defense, and many homeowners don’t notice any pest activity until extensive damage is already done. Therefore, it’s smart to have our exterminators come to your home for a free inspection to assess your potential termite risks and plan ahead for them.

Please call us at 866-971-2847 or complete our online form to learn more about our inspections and termite extermination and prevention services.

Why Termite Inspections Are Crucial for Homeowners

Close-up of severe termite damage on a wooden beam during a home termite inspection in New Jersey.

Close-up of severe termite damage on a wooden beam during a home termite inspection in New Jersey.

Is a Termite Inspection Worth It as a Homeowner?

As a homeowner, you face many common expenses beyond your mortgage payments, HOA fees, property taxes, and utilities. To prevent costly issues and take the best care of your home, it’s also important to keep up with critical maintenance and inspections.

Some New Jersey residents wonder, “Should I get a termite inspection when buying a home?” and also, “When else is a termite inspection worth it?”

The extermination experts at Precise Termite & Pest Control answer these questions to help you plan ahead with preventative home maintenance at any stage of life.

Why Should I Get Termite Inspections?

Termites are stealthy insects that often remain out of sight until they damage a house significantly. By the time you notice the hollowed wood or mud tubes they create, the damage could be so severe that it results in thousands of dollars in essential repairs.

Many homeowners’ policies don’t cover termite damage, which means you might be on the hook for paying for repairs if you don’t keep up with home termite inspections.

Should I Get a Termite Inspection When Buying a Home?

Yes, it is definitely a wise idea to get a termite inspection before buying a home. Most real estate transactions require home termite inspections to ensure a property is free of pests before someone new moves in.

Since buying a home is one of the most significant investments you’ll ever make, it’s crucial to pay attention to the details, such as termite inspections. If your inspection reveals termite damage or an infestation, you may be able to negotiate a better price or request the seller to pay for repairs and treatment.

Other Important Times to Get Home Termite Inspections

Aside from when you’re buying a home, termite inspections are recommended in other circumstances, too. We recommend getting a termite inspection once a year as part of your home maintenance routine.

It’s also a good idea to get termite inspections after heavy rains, flooding, and plumbing leaks since excessive moisture attracts termites. Additionally, consider getting termite inspections after renovating or doing construction on your home, and also any time you notice signs of termite damage.

Where to Get Termite Inspections in Bergen County, NJ

Precise Termite & Pest Control specializes in the types of termites that impact New Jersey homes. We work in Bergen, Passaic, Morris, Essex, and Sussex counties to keep homes termite-free so you can rest easy with peace of mind.

Please contact us online or call us at 866-971-2847 for free termite inspections, and we’ll get your appointment scheduled right away