Termites are one of the most expensive household pests. Because they eat wood, termites often cause significant damage to homes. To save yourself the time and money often lost to termite infestations, you should learn how to spot signs of a termite infestation. By treating the issue early on, you may be able to prevent serious damage.
What You Should Know About Termites
Although termites are pests, they are also essential. They seek out and eat cellulose, which makes them an important part of the ecosystem.
Unfortunately, termites don't always remain where they belong. At times, they end up in the backyards and homes of New Jersey residents. When they do, disaster ensues. They chew through wood and other building materials, leaving you with property damage.
This damage can cost you thousands of dollars. They might even do enough damage to make your ceiling or walls collapse. Even if the damage isn't that severe, termites can ruin your carpets, floors, and furniture.
You'll probably find signs of termite damage before you see a termite itself. If you do see a termite, you might confuse it with an ant. Termites are about 1/8 of an inch long. They tend to be white, brown, or black.
What To Look For
If you notice any of the following signs, you should contact a pest control expert:
1. Noise Inside Your Walls: Termites aren't silent. When they communicate, soldier termites make loud (for insects) noises as they bang their heads on surfaces. You may be able to hear these noises coming from your walls. If you hear a quiet clicking sound, you should contact a pest control specialist. They can check for an infestation and treat the problem.
2. Hollow Timber: As termites chew through wood, they leave it hollow. Typically, they only leave behind a narrow strip of timber or the paint itself.
You can detect hollow wood by listening to it. When you knock on the wall, listen to the sound. If the wood sounds hollow or papery, you could have termites.
3. Tight Doors Or Windows: One of the common signs of termites is windows and doors that don't fit properly. When termites eat wood, they produce moisture. That moisture does damage to your windows and doors.
There could be other causes for your tight-fitting windows and doors. However, termites are a likely culprit. The only way to find out is to call for a home inspection.
4. Mazes Or Cracks In Your Wood Or Furniture: Termites often chew through wooden furniture. So, one of the first signs of an infestation can be damaged furniture. You might see strange mazes, which show the paths of the termites. Or, you might see cracks that weren't there before.
5. Frass: Dry wood termites push their droppings out of their tunnels. When they do, they leave behind small black marks and a strange, powder-like substance. Known as frass, these droppings are a sign that you have termites hiding in your home.
Termite Prevention Tips
Before you find yourself with a large-scale termite problem, you should take steps to prevent termites. All of the following steps could keep these pests away:
Repair Wood Damage: Because termites prefer moist wood, homes with damage are attractive to them. You should repair any wood that has water damage and fix leaks that could cause excess moisture.
Store Firewood Away From Your Home: A pile of firewood near your home will attract termites. To make your property less appealing to termites, move your firewood away from your wooden structures.
Professional Protection
If you do see signs of termites, don't waste time or money. Call the professionals right away at Heritage Pest Control and we will keep termites away.