How to Tell if Your Home has Termites
Termites are winged, ant-like insects that live in the wooden parts of a building. They can be found in the floor, sub-flooring, roof, support columns, or even in the sheetrock. Termites are more common in some areas of the country than others, and they can cause severe damage to your home by literally eating it from the inside out. Luckily, there are a few warning signs that you can look for to determine if your home is being damaged by termites:
Know How to Identify Termites
Termites are small insects that look a lot like flying ants. They are usually less than 1” long and have two sets of wings of equal lengths. Termites frequently shed these wings, so be on a lookout for them on windowsills or on the floor.
Look for Damaged Wood
Termites and carpenter ants both chew through wood and leave behind visible tunnels. Look behind shutters or windows and door frames for small, dark tunnels burrowed into the wood. If you see these, it’s a sure sign that you have some form of insect infestation in your home.
Access Tunnels
Sometimes termites will build small raised tunnels on the outside of your home. These tubes are about 1/4” wide and connect from the walls of the building into the ground.
How to Prevent Termites
Keep Wood Away From the Ground
Termites largely live underground. You can reduce the chances of a termite invasion if you keep wooden materials raised up from the ground. Also, don’t keep piles of lumber or firewood stacked right up against your house.
Keep Your Home Dry
Check along your foundation and in your basement for any signs of moisture. Make sure any holes to the outside, like for gas or water pipes, are properly sealed. Don’t let grass or leaves grow too high and trim bushes away from the walls.
Get a Home Inspection
Once a year, have a professional pest control company perform a full inspection of your property. They will be able to identify termite activity in places that you can’t see on your own.
What to Do When You Find Termites
Unfortunately, many of the warning signs for termites aren’t easy to detect. Most people will only notice them after extensive damage has already been done. Hire a professional exterminator service like Preventative Test Control as soon as you discover any problems. In addition to treating an existing termite infestation, their specialists can perform routine inspections and advise you on what your options are. One call can save you thousands of dollars in costly repairs later on.