Termites are social insects that live in large colonies of many thousands to millions. If they infest your home, you need to get rid of them urgently before they cause any damage.
Protecting your home from termite infestations could save you thousands of dollars in repairs and, worst case scenario, possible demolition.
Signs of a Termite Infestation
Here are ten signs of termite infestation signs you should look for to protect your home:
1. Mud tubes
Termites often create pencil-sized mud tubes to travel from the soil where they nest to their possible food source. These mud tubes block cool, dry air from the outside, enabling termites to eat your house’s wooden structures and furniture in their conducive environment.
2. Discarded wings
After swarming, termites often discard their wings in piles, which can be found near doors or windows. Once they find a suitable location, they shed their wings, mate, and build a new colony.
3. Hollowed wood
Termites feed actively on wood and create tunnels as they move inside it. These tunnels make the wood sound hollow when you tap on it, and if left unchecked, they will compromise the structural integrity of your home and furniture.
4. Sagging flooring or ceilings
As termites eat through the wooden components of the floor or roof, they weaken the structure, which can cause the floor or ceiling to sag and become uneven.
5. Blistered or peeling paint
Have you noticed paint peeling on the walls or wooden surfaces of your home? If your walls have wallpaper, they will also feed on this too, as the paper contains cellulose. So, if you notice bubbling beneath your wallpaper and pinholes with specs of dirt, you have termites present in your home.
6. Frass or termite droppings
Termites leave behind small, pellet-like droppings called frass, which can accumulate near the site of their activity. Frass is typically small and can look like sawdust or sand. However, unlike sawdust, termite droppings are often hexagonal, gritty, and have a sand-like texture.
7. Tight-fitting doors or windows
As termites burrow through wood, they create tunnels, which weaken the wood and cause it to swell, shrink, or warp. This can lead to windows or doors becoming misaligned or sticking, making them difficult to open or close properly.
8. Moisture problems or damp spots
Termites are attracted to moist environments, so the presence of leaks in a home can make it more susceptible to termite infestations. When termites infest a home, they can create mud tubes to reach moisture sources, which can result in visible damp spots.
9. White ‘ants’
Termites are not ants, but they do look similar. Whenever you see a single termite or ‘white ant’, then there is a possibility of a termite colony being nearby. This is because termites are social insects that live in large colonies so where there is one, there are many.
10. Clicking sounds
Termites make synchronized clicking sounds while working as a means of communication with other colony members. Soldier termites tap their mandibles against the walls of their tunnels or galleries to signal danger or alarm to the colony in response to disturbance or threats.
Although termites are a fascinating and important part of many ecosystems, they can cause great damage to your property. If you have noticed any sign of termite infestation in your home, you should act fast and contact professional pest controllers to prevent further damage to your home.
