Your home is intended to keep you safe. Imagine if your house were being eaten from the inside out.
This is a scary notion. The problem is, it’s more than just a thought. Termites are a silent destroyer. What’s more, the termite numbers are on the rise.
Therefore, you need to be vigilant against termite infestation. Fortunately, there are certain indicators that will warn of an infestation.
Keep an eye out for these 5 signs that your home has termite problems. If you act fast, you’ll be able to contact a professional before things get out of hand.
1. Wood Damage
Give the wood in your home a solid inspection. You should be on the lookout for any deteriorating wood or paint damage.
A good place to begin the search is around baseboards, wooden floorboards, and wood paneling. These are spots that tend to attract termites first.
The damage may not always be visible. Tap on potential problem areas. If you hear a hollow sound, termites may be at work.
If you catch it early enough, there are solutions. Check out this article to see what type of termite prevention the professionals use.
2. Signature Sound
Termites communicate with each other by banging their heads on the wood. This action will send vibrations through the wood to signal each other.
Although termites can’t hear the sound, you can. The action will sound like a dry rattling in the walls. If you are hearing these noises, you likely have termite damage.
3. Mud Tunnels
Mud tunnels are another dead giveaway of a termite infestation. These are travel pathways termites build to move from place to place.
Often these tubes will show up on the exterior base of your house. They are about the diameter of a pencil and sometimes have an intricate pattern.
Mud Tunnels are a clear identifier that termites are getting inside.
4. Shed Wings
Termites grow wings so they can fly to new places to set up a nest. However, once they set up shop, the termites will shed their wings.
If you see an abundance of these tiny wing fragments around the house, it is cause for concern. Yet, termite wings look a lot like ant wings. You may need a professional eye to determine the difference between ants and termites.
5. Termite Droppings
While you look for the wings inside and outside your house, also keep an eye out for termite droppings.
The waste is known as frass and it has a very distinct look. Because the termite consumes so much wood, the frass looks like piles of sawdust.
If you see frass, you have a termite hole nearby.
Don’t Ignore These Termite Problems
These are a few of the major indications that you have an infestation. If you don’t act quickly, your termite problems can get out of hand. Don’t let these insatiable insects damage your home.
If you found this article useful, stick around the blog. There are many more homeowner guides.
