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To reduce dust mites in bedding during the fall, wash sheets, pillowcases and washable mattress covers weekly in water at 130°F (54°C) or hotter, use allergen‑proof encasements on mattresses and pillows, keep indoor relative humidity below about 50%, and routinely vacuum or steam clean mattresses and upholstered bedding with a HEPA‑filtered machine. These actions remove…

Dust mite allergy symptoms often worsen when the heat comes on because higher indoor temperatures and the air movement from heating systems increase mite activity and make microscopic mite allergens — mainly fecal particles and body fragments — more likely to become airborne. Dust mites thrive in warm (around 20–25°C) and moderately humid environments; heating…

A termite baiting system typically requires three to twelve months to eliminate a subterranean termite colony, although elimination can sometimes take up to two years for very large or multiple interconnected colonies. The baiting process depends on termites encountering the bait stations, feeding on slow-acting active ingredients, and transferring the toxicant through trophallaxis and grooming—factors…

Eco-friendly termite treatments that perform reliably in wet climates include borate wood preservatives for sheltered structural timber, stainless-steel mesh and sand- or silica-based physical barriers, entomopathogenic nematodes and fungal biocontrols applied to moist soil, and targeted non-chemical measures such as heat or mechanical removal of infested material. Each of these approaches reduces reliance on broad-spectrum…

A wood-destroying insect inspection should be performed at least once every 12 months, with properties that show past infestations, persistent moisture problems, or direct wood-to-soil contact inspected every 3–6 months. Annual inspections are the baseline for early detection; increased frequency is warranted when known risk factors—such as recent evidence of termites or carpenter ants, ongoing…

Acoustic emission monitoring, thermal imaging, environmental DNA (eDNA) assays and networked sensor systems are among the new technologies changing how termites are detected, enabling earlier and more objective identification of subterranean and dampwood activity than visual inspection alone. Acoustic and vibration sensors pick up characteristic chewing and tunnel-construction sounds inside framing; thermal and infrared cameras…

A termite barrier protects a home by establishing a continuous physical or chemical blockade between a structure’s wood components and termite populations in the surrounding soil, preventing subterranean termites from gaining undetected access to framing, sills, and other vulnerable timbers. Physical barriers—such as stainless-steel mesh, particle barriers, or rigid flashing—block or redirect termite entry points,…

Termites in homes with slab foundations are most often dealt with by creating a treated soil barrier (trench-and-treat or sub-slab injection), installing subterranean termite baiting systems, and selectively injecting or foaming termiticide through drilled slab ports to reach infested soil otherwise inaccessible beneath the concrete. These approaches are paired with targeted wood treatments where accessible,…

Termite treatments differ between Western and Eastern Washington primarily because the regions support different termite species and present contrasting climate, soil and building conditions that affect where termites nest, forage and respond to controls. Western Washington’s cool, wet maritime climate and abundant decaying wood favor dampwood termite species that can nest directly in moist structural…

Seattle’s rainy season increases termite activity by elevating wood and soil moisture, creating conditions that favor the dampwood and subterranean termite species native to the Pacific Northwest. Persistent precipitation and high relative humidity soften and decay structural and landscape wood, expand subterranean galleries where soil moisture rises, and often prompt reproductive swarming during warm, humid…