Termites and Rain (And How Damaging They Can Be For Your Home)
Termites love rain. The moist, soft dirt that rain leaves behind is a haven for termites. The damp, moldy wood that rain can cause in a home is ripe for termite infestations.
There is no better time to have a termite inspection in Gilbert than after a rain. And we’ve had some heavy rain over the past few days…leaving extremely damp ground and soft wood.
Every time we have rain here in the Arizona valley, you’ll find the termite pro’s at Magic Pest getting the word out about termites, because now is the time they love to invade homes…
You need to know the signs of a termite infestation:
Symptom of Termite: Discarded Wings
What To Look For:Wings all of the same size (look like tiny fish scales) shredded near an entry point to your home.
Swarmers are usually winged and as a part of their behavior, they usually discard their wings in places like windowsills, doors or in cobwebs.
Symptom of Termite: Mud Tubes
What To Look For: Mud tubes are usually built by Subterranean termites, which are the most destructive species. As they move out from their colony in search of food, they build mud tubes to provide moisture. These mud tubes are often found near the foundation of the home, so those places should also be checked regularly.
Symptom of Termite: Wood Damage
What To Look For: Termites often eat wood from the inside out thereby making the wood soft. The damage may not be visible on the outside. The wood’s surface might still appear smooth even if termites are causing damage from inside. So if the wood sounds hollow when tapped, it may be because termites are eating the wood from the inside.
Symptom of Termite: Cracked Paint
What To Look For: Swarming drywood termites can enter through very tiny openings. Always try to cover up cracks in the home’s foundation, near roof siding, vents and windows. If your paint is cracking, it means there is moisture build up in it which could be as a result of either water damage or termite problems.
Symptom of Termite: Frass
What To Look For: As Drywood termites infest wood, they leave behind wood-colored droppings called frass. You can prevent this by keeping gutters and crawl spaces free of debris and cellulose materials so that termites don’t use them as sources of food.
Symptom of Termite: Noise
What To Look For: Some species of termites, like the soldier termites, usually make loud noises while eating or while trying to sound alarm to warn others of impending danger. The soldier termites make a banging noise with their heads on the wood to serve as an alarm to alert others. So if you tap on a piece of wood where you suspect termites, and you hear a loud banging sound, then there is termite infestation in your home.
