Six Signs You Have Termites
1) Discarded Wings
Termites have tiny wings that they use to fly while searching for mates. Often, a sign of their presence will be dozens or even hundreds of discarded wings. You are most likely to find these in piles near windows and doors in your basement or crawlspace.
2) Mud Tubes on Exterior Walls
Termites are subterranean creatures. When they infest your home, they often take the earth with them on their way to your home. They will build mud tubes or tunnels near the base of your house to help get to the material they enjoy eating. The presence of mud tubes on exterior walls near your crawlspace or basement is a sure sign of a termite infestation.
3) Hollow Spots in Wood
Termites can often go undetected, but the damage they do will be evident. If you find hollow spots in your walls, wood floors, or steps, it is likely the result of termites. Unfortunately, it may be difficult to notice this until they have done a significant amount of damage already. Go ahead and call a professional immediately.
4) Windows and Doors Opening Poorly
The process by which termites consume parts of your home can lead to the warping of doors and windows. If your windows are starting to stick shut when you try to open them, you need to be on the lookout for termites and termite damage.
5) Droppings or Termite Bodies
Sometimes you will not see active termites destroying your home, but you will see what they leave behind. If you run across piles of tiny insect bodies, it is likely you have an infestation. If not the bodies, you might find their droppings. Having the appearance of coffee grounds or sawdust, these droppings indicate that something has been feasting on your home.
6) Damaged Wood and Chipped Paint
Termites love excess moisture. The most likely places you will find signs of damage are basements and crawl spaces. It is a good practice to occasionally inspect those areas for visible damage and hollow wood. Chipped paint is also often indicative of moisture issues and the presence of termites.
What Can You Do About Termites?
There’s a reason termites are called the “silent destroyer.” While you may not notice immediate signs of an infestation, they are busy eating cellulose-based plant materials in your home. They’ll also eat plastic, paper, and drywall. Regardless of the materials used to build your home, they’ll find something to munch on. Termites can do a tremendous amount of damage before you ever notice. Therefore, at the first sign of their presence, homeowners should act immediately.
The best thing you can do to prevent additional damage is work with a professional extermination company. Rid-A-Bug Exterminating will help exterminate termites and eradicate them from your home. However, an extermination will not necessarily prevent them from returning. Our team will help establish an environment that deters termites from ever bothering you again.
Here are a few steps you can take to make your home less inviting:
- Correct the causes of excess moisture in your home.
- Make sure there is adequate clearance between shrubs and plants and your home.
- Seal your crawl space.
- Move wood piles away from your house.
- Utilize pine needles instead of mulch.
- Make sure sprinklers and irrigation systems are not pointed toward your home.
While no one can guarantee avoiding a termite infestation, taking the right steps will significantly reduce the chances they will infest your property again.
If you suspect you have termites, you need professional extermination services that will ensure they are thoroughly exterminated and will not want to return. Contact Rid-A-Bug Exterminating today for more information about our termite management services.