Termites can cause a lot of damage to your well-designed home if you don’t spot them first. The University of Kentucky’s Entomology Department says, “Termites cause billions of dollars in damage each year in the U.S.” Here are some signs of termites to be aware of as fall approaches.
Deteriorating Wood
Most people don’t notice Alates-Winged reproductive termites until there are hundreds of swarmers in a home. Before the swarmers hit, the most obvious sign you can look for is damaged wood. Termites mainly eat wood, and you can tell if they’ve been near if you see chipped wood pieces. Another way to tell if wood has damage is to knock on it. When you do so, it will sound hollow, which means you may have a termite problem.
Peeling Paint
Bubbling and peeling paint is commonly associated with water damage, however, if you don’t find water, there is a good chance it comes from termites tunneling in the wood. This causes the paper coating on the sheet rock wall to peel or bubble. The damage from the termites occurs right behind the paint layer, which leaves a cracked or damaged look to the paint.
Swarmers
When termites reproduce, their wings fall off. If you find them in your home, it’s most likely a sign of an infestation. The termites have now produced a colony, and they have likely chosen your home as a place to stay.
Mud Tubes
Another way you can determine if termites infiltrated your home, you will see mud tubes on the outside. You can usually spot this on the foundation; it has a brownish color and is about the size of a regular straw. The tube typically goes directly from soil to wood, so the termites can avoid the cold.
Frass (Droppings)
Droppings are a common way to spot many types of pest in the home. For termites, it’s called frass, and it looks more solid than other droppings. The frass is also small and almost seed-like. Some termites even make tunnels out of the frass.
If you suspect termites have infiltrated your home, enlist the services of a termite inspection company in Baltimore County, so you can get a proper diagnosis.
