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Does your house have termites?

By
Education & Training with HouseHome

One of the most destructive pests globally is termites. There are termites everywhere, in fact, there are over 2,300 species worldwide.

When you suspect you have termites you should take action straight away. Regular checks by a professional pest control service can catch an infestation before causes a lot of damage to your home.

As well as the condition and material of your home, your location can have an impact on the chances of infestation, they are particularly fond of warm moist climates. However, termites can strike any home, so what are the signs to look out for?

Signs your house has termites

Several early signs give away you have a problem. These include:

  1. Wings the termite flyers have discarded - Swarmers or flying termites lose their wings after they find a mate so you may see those discarded wings around the home.
  2. Noise coming from your walls - If you listen with your ear to the wall, or late at night when everything else is silent, you might be able to hear them in your walls. There is a clicking sound from their wood chewing and they bang their body against their tunnel walls as a warning to the rest of the colony if they think there is a danger.
  3. Termite droppings - Termite droppings are called frass. They push their droppings out of their tunnels and that means you might notice a dark powder-like substance or black marks.
  4. Galleries or tunnels in wooded areas - You can see them more clearly in logs outside but it can also happen in the home where you see patterns or tunnels in the wood.
  5. Windows and doors that are warping - When termites eat they produce moisture and that can lead to things like window frames and door frames warping.
  6. Cracking in the paint and wood - If you see cracks in your beams or in your paint that is another sign of termites.
  7. Walls and timber that sounds hollow - When you knock on it if timber sounds hollow that is not a good sign.

What attracts termites?

Termites feed on wood, so you need to minimise the availability and access to food. Ensure firewood is stored off the ground and away from the house. Don't mulch garden beds against your home. Avoid any timbers touching the ground - either your home or landscaping timbers. Remove any dead tree stumps in your yard.

Moisture is also important for termites to thrive. Any damp areas within your home or property are likely to attract termites. So ensure you don't have any water leaks around your home. According to Brisbane Plumbing & Drainage, leaking garden taps, broken underground pipes and poor drainage are often overlooked water sources which can cost you money as well as attracting termites.

Steps to protect your home from an infestation

While there are things you can buy to try to deal with pests at home it makes more sense to call in a professional pest expert to handle them. They know exactly where to place termite bait stations, treatment barriers and what steps to take that are going to be the most effective at getting rid of them. If you notice signs that you have a problem call straight away so that they can come and handle it with the least amount of damage left behind.

Comments (1)

Shayne Stone
HomeSmart - Fulshear, TX
"Your Rock Solid Choice Realtor" RETIRED

Great information!  Thanks for sharing and have a wonderful day!

Mar 18, 2021 06:53 PM