How To Look For Signs Of A Termite Infestation

Every year, termites cause homeowners over 5 billion dollars. One in every five homes in your area is infested with termites. They can go months to years without being detected until it is too late, and you suffer severe damage to your home.

If you know what you are looking for, you may be able to observe signs of an infestation before it gets to that point. To know what to look for, try to recognize these signs of a termite infestation:

Damaged Wood

Termites and wood go hand-in-hand. Wood is food for termites, and they love your flooring, walls and ceiling beams. There are a few things you can look for on your wood, such as dark discolorations, scars, holes, and blisters surrounded by sawdust.

If there are no visible signs on your wood, then you can take a tool, such as a screwdriver or a hammer, and gently tap it on the wood to see if there are hollow spaces. Some floors can even show blisters from termite feeding.

When termites chew through the wood, they can leave behind long grooves, sometimes with a honeycomb-like interior.

Mud Tunnels

Termites use water for more than a drinkable source. Since they build nests and consume wood that is dry, they have to make sure there is plenty of water around, so their bodies don’t dry up with a lack of moisture. Because of this, they build tunnels through the mud where they travel and avoid harm.

These tunnels, that can go for hundreds of yards, are more likely to exist where any wooden structure comes into contact with the ground without a proper seal or separation. If you have this at your house, you should look there first for the termite’s point of entry.

Swarm Evidence

Termites are colony insects that travel in swarms. During mating season, swarms will emerge from tunnels in search of a mate. They can leave behind old wings when they move between nests because once they find a home, they rip them off. Once nested, they will create holes or separate tunnels and dispose of their feces, which look like pellets of sawdust.

To Conclude

If this still doesn’t give you full clarity on what to look for, refer to professionals who are trained to find and exterminate termites for you. Orange Environmental Services understands the value and importance of your home.

Orange Environmental Services are the leaders in using Integrated Pest Management, or IPM, which is a new technology system that manages and eliminates pest infestations with both chemical and non-chemical treatments. For a fast and efficient solution to your problem, contact us today.

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