Termites can cause extreme structural damage to a home, serious financial damage to a homeowner's bank account, and unhealthy levels of stress to residents. These unwanted pests, on average each year, damage roughly 600,000 homes in the United States.
If you've spotted termite damage in your home, it's essential that you act quickly to prevent the damage from spreading and costing you even more money. You should hire an exterminator as soon as any signs of termites are present.
Most people know that sawdust under wooden objects is a sure sign of a termite infestation, but there are other, less obvious signs, too. Here are a few more warning signs of hungry, hungry termites to keep an eye out for.
Damage to Any Wood Inside Your Home
Termites eat through wooden structures and leave behind long trails of grooves. After a while, the grooves left by termites become very weak and cause wooden structural damage. Usually, termites will do their best to remain out of sight while chewing through your wood, so it's best to check areas behind walls, underneath the floors, and in your attic. Since searching in these difficult-to-reach areas probably isn’t your expertise, it's best to work with a professional pest control company that can send an experienced exterminator out to your home to address the termite issue.
Leftover Termite Wings
Discarded termite wings are typically found near points of access around your home. You should check the areas around each window, door, and any other home-access points. Termites leave their nests to attempt to begin a new colony. After termites fly to their desired location, they break off their wings because they have settled and will not need them again. This is a great warning sign of termite presence in your home. If you notice a significant amount of discarded termite wings, seek professional help immediately.
Small Mud Tubes
Termites need specific humidity levels to survive. By inspecting the areas of your house where it meets the ground, you'll be able to identify any of these mud tubes that can lead to a termite infestation. The tubes are usually shaped like a pencil and help block out dry, cool air, making your home a better place for termites to live. If you discover a mud tube that looks like it hasn't been used in a long time, you can remove a middle section of the tube and leave the rest of it intact. If termites are still active in your house, they will rebuild the middle section and continue on.
If you need a Tallahassee exterminator to come to your home and rid your home of termites, contact Dixon Pest Services today!