Termite damage can certainly be very expensive and when the termite infestation is left untreated, it can mean disaster for your property. Knowing the signs of a termite infestation can help you prevent much bigger damage and will allow you to solve your termite problem right away.

As soon as you detect signs of termite damage, it is best to contact a pest control professional and book for a termite inspection. Because termites, no matter what type of species they are whether it is subterranean termites, dry wood termites, etc. work in a stealth mode, it is often too late when you find out that you have an infestation around your property.

A pest control professional can assist you in protecting your home and could help you prevent further termite damage.

Healthy Conditions for Termites

In order to at least avoid termite infestations and save yourself from a costly repair due to property damage, learn about the conditions that make these termites thrive. One thing for sure, termites love moisture so if you can do something about the moisture levels around your home would be a step towards not attracting them.

Other factors that could encourage termites into your home would be high temperatures, wind, the intensity of light, and atmospheric pressure. Aside from knowing about the perfect condition for these pests, you may also want to find out where to look for some evidence of their presence.

If you have structures or parts of the house that are made of wood such as beams or floorings, it is recommended that you check them regularly as they might be damaged by termites without you knowing it. To check a damaged wood, you can try pinning down your thumb against the wood and when it feels soft, then it is a sign that there is an infestation.

For the floors, since they could be an entry point for a subterranean termite, it is suggested that you let a pest control specialist inspect them for damage each year. If you have some furniture made of wood, it is best to keep them away from the walls to avoid termite damage.

Other places around your home that you need to constantly check are the roof and your air conditioning units as both create moisture. And when you have cracks on your roof, better to repair them as soon as possible to prevent the termites from entering your home.

For storage, it is best to use something that is made of plastic rather than a cardboard-based material as the latter is composed of cellulose which is also a food for a termite.

10 Signs of Termite Damage

Check for signs of termites around your home to prevent more damage and protect its structural foundation. As soon as an indication of termite is found, call a termite control right away.

1) Mud Tubes

Mud tubes are among the most common evidence of a termite infestation. These mud tunnels are usually found within concrete walls or through cracks in baseboards or floorings. Subterranean termites use the wood that they eat along with their saliva and droppings when they are building mud tubes. These mud tunnels go from the ground up through the wood that they have a colony in and they use it as a shelter as well as protection when they move from their food source to their dwelling in the soil.

2) Termite Droppings

Termite droppings are another indication of an infestation and these look like hard pellets. This happens when the termites excrete feces and they eliminate a lot of moisture. To keep their workplace clean, they make some holes and kick out their droppings in there, and these pile up easily which makes their presence obvious.

3) Termite Swarmers

Termite swarmers may be evidence that you might have a termite colony in your house. Swarmers are the ones responsible for reproduction and when you see these, it means that it is mating season and you can expect that they are building a new colony somewhere in your home. In most areas in the United States, termite swarms occur in the Spring. However, in other places where the temperature is conducive for them, termite swarm can also happen in the Fall.

4) Damaged wood

Damaged wood that has a hollow sound can mean that it is infested with termites.

5) Discarded wings

Discarded wings that you may find in bathtubs, vents, window sills, or door frames are an indication that a new colony is being built because, after mating, termites shed their wings.

6) Tunnels inside wood

Tunnels inside wood is not readily seen by the eye but when you get a piece of broken wood within your house, you can see right through the middle to find out if the termites cause its damage.

7) Distorted doors and rigid windows

Distorted door and rigid window, this damage may be a cause of termite presence in your home. When subterranean termites eat your wood, moisture is released which could cause your doors and windows to get stuck and warp.

8) Termites that look like white ants

Termites that look like white ants can also be a sign that your home is infested. They have transparent or milky cream color and have a size and body shape that is like an ant’s that makes them often mistaken for one. The difference is that termites have double sets of wings.

9) Drywalls that seem like water damage

Drywalls that seem like water damage and sagging floors are other indicators that they are damaged by termites. When dry wood termites and subterranean termites eat wood, they cause it to become weak that makes it sag eventually and the drywall will look like water damage has caused it.

10) Clicking noises

Clicking noises or a sound that is like that of a keyboard typing can be a sign that your home is infested with termites. This happens because when termites eat, their mouths are open so you can hear them feasting on your wood.

Though termites such as a dry wood termite or a subterranean termite invade the home, there are other pests like carpenter ants that can cause damage to the wood in your home. Though carpenter ants do not eat wood as they feast on small invertebrates or other insects, they create their nests inside the wood so this kind of pest is also something to watch out for.

Once you sense a pest or termite activity or see some holes within your home, the best thing to do is to see a professional exterminator so they can do an inspection. You can ask them any question you may have about termites or other pests and get them to inspect your walls as well as other parts including the ceiling and even the soil.

Termite damage can cost perhaps about 5 billion dollars each year to repair the damaged structures which is why to look for any sign of damage that can save you from termites costs. If only everyone knows how to easily spot termite damage, then 5 billion dollars worth of repair can also be spared.

If you have any questions about infestations, seek help from a pest control specialist as they are knowledgeable about these things. They will not only help you solve your termite problem but they will also give you some advice about prevention.