How To Tell If Your Home Has Termites

Termites can be an extreme headache for homeowners around the world

. It is estimated that these pests cause more than 5 billion dollars every year in damage to buildings in the United States alone, courtesy of the National Pest Management Association. Termites are prevalent in every state in America besides Alaska. These insects make their living feasting on your fine wood and leaving a wake of property damage in their path.

The most common type of termites is the Eastern subterranean termite, which has a wide distribution across the entire continent of North America. These termites make their homes in dark and moist environments and feed on the interior of wood. These termites devour the inside of common building timbers and leave hollow wood that may not be easy to spot at first.

There are a few ways to spot a termite infestation before it becomes an extremely costly project. One of the ways is to be on the lookout for tunnels built from mud and earth in exposed areas. Termites, unlike ants, do not travel around outside. They create these tunnels to keep from exposure to any elements when making their way between areas of your home. Good places to watch out for termite tunnels are around exterior and exterior foundation walls, structural wood joists, or other exposed areas.

Another sign of a current or impending termite problem are swarming termites. Swarmers are winged termite adults that look similar to a winged ant. If swarmers are found within the house, there is most likely a termite infestation occurring within the property. Finding swarmers outside around wood, such as stumps, is not necessarily indicative of an infestation but should be a cause for precautions.

An obvious way to check for signs of termites is to check wood elements of your house for damage. Hollow wood is an obvious symptom of termites. Hollow wood may be noticeable when prodded with a screwdriver and in serious cases will sound hollow when knocked.

The main attraction for termites is moisture and you can leverage that knowledge when searching for possible termite infestations. Check around the foundation for areas that may collect moisture and rectify that situation. Things like a leaky faucet or A/C unit could definitely attract the attention of termites.

There are steps homeowners can take to prevent termite problems from arising. One of which is to keep any wood debris or firewood away from the house. This wood is an invitation for termites to come closer to your home. Also, when using wood for any structure that comes in contact with the ground, make sure it is chemically treated. This chemically treated wood acts as a deterrent and not a solution but can be helpful. Additionally, if there is any way to raise the wood off the ground by using concrete supports, that is ideal.

Finally, if you find yourself with a termite problem, you should seek immediate help from a pest control professional with experience in dealing with termites. The sooner you stop a colony of termites from attacking your home, the less damage you will have to deal with.

by: Laine McKenna

POST COMMENT

What Is All This Buzz About? What To Do If Bees Invade Your Home New Homes - Saving Your Money To Buy One Is Home Landscaping Different Than Other Landscaping? Is Home Landscaping Different Than Other Landscaping? 6 Authentic Methods To Work From Home Several Carpet Cleaning Machines Suited For Home Use Choosing Buck Stove Parts For Heating Your Home Get In Touch With Best Downtown Townhomes In Austin Get Luxurious Home With Parksville Real Estate How To Market Your Home Remodeling Services Online Lock Out The Destructive Elements, By Getting Most Durable Paving Solution For Your Home. Driveway Transform Your Home Image With Professional Miami Interior Decorators Steps To Improve The Surroundings Of Your Home