If you live in a city where termites are most common, there are some signs that can help you detect if termites are infesting your home. Termites can cause disastrous damages if they are not detected in time.
TOP SIGNS OF TERMITE INFESTATION
If you are looking for signs of termite infestation, here are a few warning signs that you should take into consideration.
First, the wood damage: Termites eat all the wood (from the inside out) and wood cellulose that are present in your home: furniture, walls, doors, books, wooden framework etc.
Consequently, when attacked by termites, wood sounds hollow when tapped or knocked on which can also help you detect their presence.
Swarming season often happens during springtime when the temperature rises, meaning that swarmings, or alates (winged termites) leave their nest to mate with other alates to establish a new colony in another place.
Once they find a new place, their wings break off and it is highly possible to find wings inside or outside your home. Finding wings is often one of the first signs of termite presence, so you’ll want to be on the lookout for this one.
Another visible sign: mud tubes or mud trails left by subterranean termites. As far as the subterranean termites are concerned, they need continuous contact with sol to be able to reach water.
They leave these mud trails when they need to travel above ground and they can be found near wall or in door jambs, on wood, inside and outside your house.
Drywood termites nest inside of wood and leave behind frass or droppings. This drywood termite excrement looks like mounds of pellets and is one of the top signs of drywood termite infestation.
Most of the time, these pellets are shades of brown, (but can also be brighter) and are ejected through a small hole out of their nest in order to create more space.
HOW TO PREVENT TERMITE INFESTATIONS AND PROTECT YOUR HOME
In order to prevent any termite infestation, you should have a pest management professional conduct an annual pest inspection, especially if you live in a state that has a high risk of termites.
You should also avoid storing any wood alongside your house, whether that be firewood, lumber, newspapers, or even cardboard, since termites are attracted to lumber and will use this to feed themselves without stopping.
Some termites are drawn to moisture and humidity which means that you should check for leaks and damaged gutters that may draw termites to your house.
Don’t forget to keep an eye on all exterior areas made of wood, including windows and door frames for any noticeable changes.