If you are like other homeowners, you may be aware of how damaging termites can be. Such wood-eating creatures can seriously undermine your home’s foundation. But how do you know you have termites in your house? While there are obvious signs of a termite infestation, pest control experts at Pestcom Pest Management can help identify and address an infestation.
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Signs of a Termite Infestation
Termites usually go unseen. That is why you may not look out for them. But it is important to check your home for signs of these pests, particularly if you have spotted swarms of them around your property. If termites have invaded your house, the following signs will confirm their presence and the need for professional pest control:
- Damaged drywall, wallpaper, and paint. Typically, drywall is not a material that termites devour on; however, they can damage it along the way. You will know you have termites in your house if you can see small pinholes in your wall. Apart from damaged drywall, the paint of your house may indicate the presence of a termite issue. Peeling wallpaper and bubbling paint can indicate the presence of termites. As termites introduce water into their environment, the damaged wallpaper or paint can look wet. Also, this damage can be accompanied by sagging when left untreated for a long time.
- Stuck doors and windows. If your doors or windows suddenly do not close, your issue may be due to termites. These pests target such areas since the exposed wood offers them easy access to their food. You should also look for other types of damage like crumbling baseboards and sagging ceilings or floors.
- Termite droppings or wings. If you spot termite droppings or discarded wings, drywood termites may have made their way into your house. Termite droppings are pushed out of termite nests. In general, the color of these droppings is similar to the color of the wood that termites feed on. For you, they can look like a pile of pepper or salt.
- Mud tubes. These tubes are often found along the foundation of your house. Although termites cannot damage the foundation’s concrete part, they will utilize it as they travel to their wood sources. Termites create mud tubes to protect themselves against the heat. These pests have thin exoskeletons that can quickly dry out.
- Hollow or buckling wood. if you spot splintered or hollowed support beams, termites may have infiltrated your house. The same can be said if you notice buckling joists and floorboards.
Why Termite Damage is Dangerous
Termites do not present direct harm to you or your family, they can do catastrophic damage to your house. When left undetected and untreated for a long time, they can significantly undermine your home’s structural integrity. Sadly, standard homeowner’s insurance does not cover termite damage. If they have done too much foundational damage before being detected, portions of your house could suddenly collapse.
Protecting Your House from Termites
Termites are sneaky pests; however, they do not invade your house without warning. If you spot any of the signs mentioned above, they may have taken up residence in your house. However, you do not have to worry about them if you have a pest control team on your side.
No matter the species of termites you are dealing with, experts will look examine the signs of you have noticed in your house to find the underlying cause of the issue and develop an effective treatment plan. Their services include thorough inspections and treatment processes, ensuring they find the pests and eliminate them for good. They use professional-grade pest control products that have been proven safe and effective in eliminating pests.
