The excitement of moving into a new home in Alabama may be short-lived when you come across a termite infestation. While irritating and inconvenient, you may not feel the need to address the problem right away.
Unfortunately, termites can endanger your safety and your health. As such, at the first sign of a termite infestation, you should respond immediately and seek help to eradicate the problem.
Threats to structural integrity
Inside your home, you expect to have protection from the elements outside. Termites can threaten your safety because their consistent consumption of the wood throughout your home may compromise its structural integrity.
Termites are detritivores meaning they feed primarily on organic material. As they work their way through your home, compromised wood may crack, jam or fall apart. If left alone, critical components of your home’s structure could collapse.
Threats to personal belongings
Depending on the size and scope of a termite infestation, these pests could eventually move into the more personal spaces of your home. They may ruin furniture, cupboards, walls, doors and window frames.
After extermination, the Environmental Protection Agency recommends that you implement the following tactics:
- Store firewood away from your home
- Periodically assess your home for subsequent infestations
- Promptly fix leaks
- Fill cracks in and around your home
- Prevent blockages from disrupting the airflow in your vents
If you end up with a termite infestation that was not disclosed to you, the costs to correct the problem could cause unexpected stress. You may consider working with an attorney to inquire about compensation for damages and emotional distress.
