Termite infestations can quickly get out of hand if you’re not careful and considerable damage can occur long before you even start to see signs of these destructive household pests in or around your home. That’s why it’s important to check for termites or enlist the help of a professional for a termite inspection if you’re worried about the negative effects termites can cause within your home.
Termites feed on wood and therefore eat away at windows, doors, furniture and other household items. If you’re aware that termites are present in your neighborhood then regular termite inspections are even more important if you’re serious about preventing these pesky pests from causing havoc in your home.
Catching termites as early as possible is the best way of preventing these unwanted guests from causing damage. Below are a number of telltale signs that termites could be setting up camp in your home:
Finding Discarded Insect Wings
Termites shed their wings shortly after finding a mate so if you begin to find small discarded wings around your home this could be the first sign you have a termite problem. These discarded wings are often found in or around door frames and window sills, bathrooms and interior vents.
Hollow sounding wood
Hollow sounding wood is one of the most well-known signs of termite infestation. If you’re worried that the wood inside your home is beginning to sound like it’s being eaten away from the inside out then chances are you’re probably right!
You see termite droppings
Another key sign you are dealing with a termite infestation is visible droppings or ‘frass’ around your home. Some species of termite push their droppings out of their home in order to keep the area clean. Termite droppings or ‘frass’ is dark and pellet-like and will often build up around the entrance of a termite nest and can resemble sawdust or coffee grinds.
Tunnels in woodwork
Although this is a harder sign to pick up on, seeing tunnels in broken woodwork around the house could be a sign of infestation.
Warped Doors or Windows
Some species of termites can cause your windows and doors to become warped or stiff. This is due to the moisture they release whilst feeding on the wood.
Clicking sounds around the house
Believe it or not, termites can be heard if you listen closely enough. As these unwanted critters eat away at your woodwork you may hear a slight clicking noise that is often described as the sound of scissors cutting or even typing on a keyboard. If you put your ear to an area in which you suspect termite infestation and hear clicking then it’s time to call your local pest control experts.
If you’re unlucky enough to find you have a termite infestation there are a number of ways to treat the problem.
Chemical Treatments
Pesticides or chemical barriers can be used to remove or prevent termite infestation. One common form of chemical barrier used by pest control professionals is to lay treated soil around the affected building. Depending on which chemicals are used and the type of soil that is treated this chemical barrier will need to be replenished periodically.
Non-Chemical Treatments
Physical barriers made from materials termites cannot eat such as metal can be used to form a non-chemical, physical barrier for your home. Although this doesn’t help with existing termite infestations is it an excellent way of preventing infestations from happening.
Baiting Systems
There are a number of different baiting systems pest control experts use to kill termites present in your home. One method is to get the termites to congregate in an area where small amounts of termiticide are present. Once the termites leave this area they will carry this termiticide back to the nest and in time, wipe out the termite colony.
As with most infestations, prevention is always better than a cure. And the best way to prevent termite infestations is by getting professional help. Pest control experts will have the knowledge and experience to deal with termite infestations safely and efficiently, protecting your property from unwanted termite damage.
No comments