How do you know if you have termites? As Termite Awareness Week comes to a close, we are going to discuss signs of termites and what to look for. Termites, a wood destroying insect do their dirty work out of sight, so it is important to understand the differences between an ant and termite and what type of evidence termites leave behind.
Signs of Termites:
Mud Tubes:
Termite foraging tubes extend from the ground to the infested wood.
Tube are flattened, muddy and the width of a pencil.
Obvious locations of termite mud tubes include concrete foundations and exposed surfaces. Less visible, running along cracks, underneath flooring, or behind siding and baseboards.
Termite Swarmers:
Winged termites emerging indoors or outside from swarming termite mud tubes.
Attracted to light, indoors termite swarmers are often found around lighting fixtures, windows, doors and vents.
Wood Damage:
Dark areas or blistering in wood flooring is a sign of termites in your home.
Subterranean termite damage can go unnoticed because the termites only eat the spring wood leaving the grain and exterior surface intact.
Termite damaged wood sounds hollow and a screwdriver may even break through the wood into the galleries.
How can I keep my home safe from wood destroying pests?
Seal cracks and holes on the outside of the home including entry points for utilities and pipes.
Keep basements, attics and crawl spaces well ventilated and dry.
Repair leaking faucets, water pipes and AC units.
Repair fascia and soffits and rotted roof shingles. Some termites are drawn to deteriorating wood.
Replace weather stripping and repair loose mortar around basement foundation and windows.
Store firewood at least 20 feet away from the house and 5 inches off the ground.
Routinely inspect the foundation of your home for signs of mud tubes (used by termites to reach a food source), cracked or bubbling paint and wood that sounds hollow when tapped.
Direct water away from your house through properly functioning downspouts, gutters and splash blocks.
When a termite swarm occurs, it is your notification that a subterranean termite problem may be present somewhere in the structure. Thomas Pest Services offers a long term termite solution that eliminates the colony from the structure, the Sentricon Termite Elimination System. Sentricon is a termite bait system installed around the perimeter of the home and it is green! Termites will begin to swarm soon, so if you see piles of insect wings, termite damage, or other signs, contact Thomas Pest Services for a free inspection. Termites eat wood 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, do not let termites damage your structure!