Like most pests, termites don’t make things easy on homeowners. One of the trickiest things about termites is how difficult it is to determine whether or not you even have a termite infestation. Those buggy pests damage wood from the inside out, leaving the exterior of your wood looking quite normal and untouched.
Looking for termites on your own is only recommended if you used to be a termite inspector. All others should hire a pest control company to do a thorough termite inspection, and if needed, professional termite treatment. It’s the smart move to make.
Termites are known as “silent destroyers” because of their ability to chew through wood, flooring and even wallpaper undetected. There are about 2,000 known termite species in the world. Each year, termites cause more than $5 billion in property damage.
In addition to wood inside the home, termites are drawn inside by moisture, wood in contact with house foundations, and cracks in building exteriors. Different combinations of these factors attract different species. Additionally, geographic location plays a role in how likely homeowners are to deal with infestations.
Keep an eye out for the following signs of termite activity:
- Discolored or drooping drywall
- Peeling paint that resembles water damage
- Wood that sounds hollow when tapped
- Small, pinpoint holes in drywall
- Buckling wooden or laminate floor boards
- Tiles loosening from the added moisture termites can introduce to your floor
- Excessively squeaky floorboards
- Crumbling, damaged wood
- Stuck windows or doors
- Maze-like patterns in furniture, floor boards or walls
- Mounds of drywood termite pellets, often resembling small piles of salt or pepper
- Piles of wings left behind after swarms, often resembling fish scales
- Mud tubes climbing the foundation of your home
- Flying termite swarms anywhere on your property
A professional inspector with The Best Pest Control Solutions can study the signs and determine how severe your problem is. We thoroughly examine your home, from the foundation up, looking at all the cracks and crevices along the way. Our experts are trained to spot even the most inconspicuous signs of termite activity, potentially saving you from thousands of dollars in home repair.
