 Termite infestation has been one of the most common problems of millions of homeowners. It seems that having termites at home has been part and parcel of living in a house. In fact, around 600,000 homes are infested by termites annually in the United States alone.
But you don’t have to put up with termite infestation. Experts believe that the key to solving termite problems lies in early detection. Spotting the signs of termite infestation before they create even more damage can help you get rid of them easier. Be one step ahead of these unwanted house guests by looking for signs of possible termite infestation. 1. Look out for discarded wings When termites mature, they are ready to leave their colonies and build a new one for themselves. But before they fly out and mate with other termites, they discard their wings as they no longer have use for them. Termites typically shed their wings near doorways and windowsills or any light source. Most of the time, these discarded wings are the first visible sign of termite infestation in your home. 2. Check for hollowed and damaged wood Termites chew wood from the inside out. As they do so, they create hollow grooves which can make the wood weak and fragile. One way to check if the wood is infested by termites is to simply knock on it. If the wood sounds hollow, then there is a big possibility that it is infested by termites. Similarly, blisters on wooden flooring can also point to termite infestation, as subterranean termites slowly chew on the wood underneath the panels. These blisters may look like water damage, but it is also worth checking for termite infestation. 3. Beware of strange sounds If you think you are hearing strange sounds inside your house, you might be hearing the sounds of termite infestation. Soldier termites signal danger to the rest of the colony by banging their heads on the wood. Meanwhile, worker termites are noisy eaters. They create a knawing sound as they chew on the wood. To further check for sounds made by termites, simply press your ear close to a wall you suspect of termite infestation and hear them chew and head-bang away. 4. Keep an eye on out for droppings Frass, or termite droppings, is another tell-tale sign of a termite problem. Since termites eat wood, their droppings are also made out of wood. They like to keep their nests clean by discarding their frass outside their colonies, thus creating mounds of droppings on the floor. Frass closely resembles ground coffee beans and most of the time, a powdery substance is also present along with the frass. Frass mounds often form near their colonies. 5. Inspect for mud tubes Mud tubes indicate the presence of subterranean termites, the most destructive termite species. These termites create mud tubes out of soil and wood debris in order to provide moisture as they travel from their colonies to their food source. Mud tubes can be found mostly close to the foundation of your home but it can also be anywhere the ground meets the soil, such as a tree or a shed. In addition to serving as their bridge from their nests to yours, these mud tubes also protect termites from predators that lurk around their colonies. Seeing one or all of these signs of termite infestation in your house might cause alarm, but the good thing is that termite problems can be solved and prevented. However, homeowners should be wary of solving the problems on their own as homemade or store-bought solutions may make the infestation worse. Better leave the job to the professionals, as they know how to properly solve and even prevent termite problems. Save your house from termite infestation and book an appointment with us Termites North Brisbane today!
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