What are the signs of termite infestation?
Termites are a menace that most people try to eliminate in order to avoid property damage. The biggest problem, however, is failure to detect a termite infestation. Termites are very small in size which makes their presence hard to detect.
Some homeowners realize that their house is infested when it is too late. There are different types of termites that may become uninvited guests to your house. These include dampwood termites, subterranean termites, drywood termites and cone-head termites.
To help you investigate whether your house is infested with any of these types, here are some warning signs that should never be ignored;
- Discarded wings
These small pests have wings specifically the swarmers. After they find a mate, the swarmers lose their wings and set up a nest to build their colony. Once you start seeing discarded wings around the house especially on windows it is highly likely that there is a termite infestation waiting to happen.
- Hollow sounding timber
Termites burrow through surfaces especially wood frames in your house. They eat the inside part of timber leaving a thin layer of wood and a tunnel in between the timber. Knocking on wood frames is a common way to investigate whether your house is infested. If the frames produce a hollow sound, you definitely have a termite infestation problem.
- Mud tunnels
Termites use mud made tunnels to transport food to their nest. Mud tunnels are also their safe passage to any location in the house. This is a major sign on most structures. Not only should you demolish these tunnels but also you should use insecticides and other pest control measures to prevent a further infestation.
- Annoying click noise
Everybody has a defense mechanism when threatened and just like people, termites also do have theirs. If termites feel threatened or are disturbed, they produce an annoying click sound. The sound is normally the soldiers banging their heads on wood so as to warn the worker termites.
If you ever accidentally or willingly knocked on any wood covered place or wall and heard this sound, then your house is hosting unwelcomed termites. Take termite treatment measures immediately to prevent damage to property.
- Tight fitting doors and hard to open windows.
Although it is a sign of damp and hot weather, one should never take the chance. Termites produce excrements that trap heat and moisture while they devour timber and tunnel through doors and windows frames. The trapped moisture causes the wood to warp therefore making it difficult to open windows and doors.
The next time you observe these signs, be sure to check or calls a pest control company to investigate whether there are termites at your house.
Though they are hard to detect, termites leave a noticeable amount of damage and the above signs which easily tell there is a termite infestation at your house. You can use the most effective termite treatment methods to get rid of these pests.
