Termites are the worst nightmare for every homeowner. The damage these pesky insects cause can compromise your home’s structure and foundation. To make matters worse, this damage is usually not covered by insurance. There are a few telltale signs that can help you identify the presence of termites in your house. If you are vigilant about these signs, you can save yourself a lot of trouble.
CLICKING AND HOLLOW SOUNDS
One of the first things you need to listen for is quiet, clicking sounds coming from the walls. This is the sound of termites feeding on the wood or moving behind the walls. Usually, termites attack wood from the inside. If there is a termite infestation, your wooden walls will sound hollow when you tap on them. A hollow sound means that the insides of the wood have already been eaten up by termites.
FLYING TERMITES
These flying termites are also known as swarmers. They are one of the first signs that you need to look for in a termite infestation. Swarmers are termites that go in search of a new place to start a colony. That new place could be your home. When the flying termites find a mate, they lose their wings. Discarded wings are another telltale sign of termite infestation. They then reproduce and start new colonies. If flying termites are present in your house, you need to act immediately.
TERMITE DROPPINGS AND DUST PILES
If you find termite droppings (also known as frass) in your house, it is a sure sign of an infestation. Termites dig tunnels and discard frass as they feed on wood. These droppings are similar in appearance to wood shavings but are definitely more dangerous. While the tunnels are hard to spot, they are more clearly visible in broken timbers, so make sure you look carefully. You need to act immediately if you find such droppings near your wooden furniture. If you live in New Jersey, where Eastern subterranean termites are commonly found, you should look for a professional termite exterminator to get rid of the infestation before it destroys all the woodwork in your house. The sooner you deal with the termite problem, the better.
EXTERIOR WOOD DAMAGE AND MUD TUBES
If the wood in your house is damaged on the outside, it could be a sign of a termite infestation. Termites tend to infest wood that is rotten or exposed. Wood that is damaged by moisture is also an invitation to termites. Another sign of termite infestation is the presence of mud tubes in your house. These mud tubes can be found around the food source of the termites.
A termite infestation can cause more damage to your house than you can ever imagine. The good news is that if you are vigilant and on the lookout for the telltale signs of an infestation, you might be able to control it before it spreads. So keep an eye out for these telltale signs of termites and act immediately if you spot any of them to protect your home.
