How to Identify and Detect Signs of Termites in Your Home

Did you know that the average cost to repair damages due to termites costs around $3000? That’s a lot of money. Not everyone has that amount ready to be spent immediately, and with the prevalence of wood as a building material in the US, no one is safe from a termite invasion.

Termites are small, wood-destroying insects that can cause significant damage to homes and other wooden structures. It’s essential to identify and detect signs of termite infestation early to prevent further damage.

If you’re a homeowner, how do you determine if you have termites at home? It is imperative to know as soon as possible to prevent further damage to your home. Keep reading to see the signs of a termite infestation.

Look for Discarded Wings

The first thing you need to do is look for the discarded wings of a termite colony. Termite colonies are made up of winged males and females that help them spread their wings around the area and build their nests inside them. 

To look for these discarded wings, you will need to look for any small holes in your walls or ceilings where you see piles of dirt or dust coming out from the walls. If you find any signs of an infestation, then contact pest control experts immediately so that they can take care of it for you! Contacting professionals as soon as possible will lessen the damage to your home.

Check for Mud Tubes

Termites have tubes called “mud tubes” that run from their nest to the outside of the colony. These tubes can be found under the eaves of your home and around windows and doors. 

The colour of these tubes will vary depending on how far away they are from a source of food. For example, if you see a brownish-red tube close to where you live, it’s probably close enough to your house that termites could be feeding off it as they travel back and forth between the nest and their food source. 

However, if you see a black tube farther away from your home, you may want to consider checking for termite infestation in your yard or even moving closer to food sources like trees or shrubs in order to prevent further damage.

Tap on Wood

Termites can cause damage to wood that isn’t visible. If you think you have a termite infestation, tap on the wooden structures around your home.

By tapping the wood, you will find the places where termites hide. Thus you will be able to pinpoint their location and focus your treatment on that one area.

You can also choose which wood to tap by following their tunnels. Follow their tunnels and look for holes in the walls, floors, and furniture and tap on them to see if it is hollow on the inside.

Inspect the Foundation

Check your house’s foundation for signs of termites. The most common sign of termite infestation is subterranean termite galleries that can be seen with the naked eye or with a flashlight.

The soil from your backyard can also help bring termites into your home. Also, termites also like moisture in the soil, which further directs them underground, toward your foundations. This is why you should also find a water leak and fix them to stop adding moisture to your soil, making the area inhospitable for termites.

Look for Frass

Termites leave behind small piles of sawdust when they’re done eating. This waste is called frass.

Frass can be found on the baseboards, flooring, and other areas where you may have seen them. The hardwood floors will often show termite damage from the outside, with the frass showing up on the surface. 

Watch Out for Swarms

Swarms of termites are a strong sign that there is a colony of termites present in your home. These swarms can contain thousands of insects, which is an indication that the colony has grown significantly.

Swarming is a common termite behaviour. It’s when whole colonies of termites leave their nest at once, usually in groups of around 10 to 20.

These swarms usually travel to other areas, making them difficult to detect unless you’re in the right place at the right time. Termite swarms are often associated with moisture or food sources that are scarce in a home’s environment.

Call Pest Control Services Immediately if You Spot Any of These Signs

If you see any of these signs around your home, do not hesitate to call pest control services. This will do whatever it takes to remove termites from your home so you can have a good night’s sleep knowing that termites won’t destroy your home any further. What are you waiting for? Contact professionals today!

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