14 Jul Top Signs You Have Termites
Termites are every homeowner’s worst nightmare. Many people have heard horror stories of termites destroying their homes and all of the headaches and costs that come with treatment and rebuilding the damage to their property.
Termites are currently found in 49 states throughout the country and cause billions of dollars in damage every year. The best thing that you can do as a homeowner is to notice the signs of termites and get treatment right away to make sure that they aren’t doing more damage than necessary to your home.
Here are a few of the most obvious signs of termite presence.
- Damaged or Hollowed-Out Wood
Wood damage throughout the home is perhaps the most common and recognized sign of termite damage. Wood damage, including hollowed or damaged wood in the floors, walls, and even support beams can be signs of termites chewing through the wood. Termites search for cellulose in wood and leave long grooves behind that ultimately weaken the wood. It can lead to serious structural damage.
- Swarms of Insects
Termites swarm when they are mating. This typically happens in April or May, and while these swarms can be confused with carpenter ants, it is important to be on the lookout for signs of termite-specific swarming. One of the most notable is finding discarded termite wings near your doors and windows. You may also see these tiny, winged bugs flying around your home.
- Bubbling in Wood Flooring
If your home’s beautiful hardwood floors have areas that look “blistered” then you may have subterranean termites. These termites can cause damage to the subfloor in your home, which ultimately causes your wood floors to bubble or look like they have water damage.
- Presence of Mud Tubes
If you want to determine whether or not you have termites, take a walk around your property and look at where the ground meets your house or any other wood structures on your property. If you notice hard dirt going from the soil up the foundation this could be mud tubes.
If you feel as though your home may have termites, or if you have noticed some of these signs and signals, then contact the experts here at Proctor Pest. We are here to answer all of your pest-related questions and will help identify this or any pest-related issue in your home so that you can get the treatment you need to regain control of your home.