Studies done by the National Pest Management Association found that termites cause more than $5 billion in property damage each year. Termite damage can be a serious problem for homeowners and can cause structural damage to your home.
Catching the warning signs of termite damage in wood can help you treat your pest problem before it is too late.
Do you want to learn more about the top five warning signs of termite damage? Keep reading this article to learn more about the different types of termites, signs of termites, and more.
1. Mud Tubes
One of the most common signs that you have a termite infestation is if you spot mud tubes on your property. These mud tubes help protect termites from dry air and allow them to travel between their colonies and food sources.
Mud tubes look like small veins that start from the ground and reach towards areas of your home that have exposed woods.
Many people will destroy these mud tubes and assume that they have killed the termites. However, this is not typically the case. You should check your mud tubes several times to see if you can spot live termites or if the broken tubes have been repaired.
2. Shed Wings & Termite Swarmers
Next, you can easily spot a termite infestation if you see termite swarmers or their wings! Termite swarmers are a type of termite that primarily focuses on reproducing.
As swarmers leave the colony to mate, they will shed their wings and establish a new colony. Because of this, spotting a termite swarmer inside your house is one of the surest signs that you are dealing with an active infestation.
Termite swarmers have two large pairs of wings, about 1/2 an inch long. Because of these wings, many people mistake termite swarmers for flying ants.
Finally, you will often see termite swarmers or the wings that they shed near a light source. They are often found near doors, windows, or glass in your home. Because they don’t live as long as other types of termites, you will often find dead swarmers near the entrances to your home.
3. Piles of Frass
Another common sign of a termite infestation or termite damage to wood is if you notice piles of termite droppings, which are also known as frass. This is only visible if you are dealing with drywood termites, and looks like wood-colored pellets.
After eating through wood, termites digest their food and push it out of the colony, which prevents the droppings from building up in their shelter. Because of this, you will often find piles of these droppings near their colony.
Termite frass will often look like wood shavings.
If you are dealing with subterranean termites, you will not find any of these droppings. This is because they use them to build their mud tunnels. By learning more about the different types of termites, it is easier to know how to spot them.
4. Damage to Flooring, Walls, or Furniture
If you are looking for signs of termites damage in your home, you will most often find this in the flooring, walls, or furniture. This is an easy way to identify a termite infestation.
While many people think that termites only feast on wood, they will eat pretty much anything in your home. This includes cardboard, baseboards, laminated floors, and more.
As was mentioned before, termites often travel through tunnels they chew through wood. To enter and exit these tunnels, they will create tiny exit holes, also known as pinholes, in your walls.
If you notice these tiny holes on your walls, you may have a termite problem. It may also manifest as bubbling paint, damage to wallpaper, or dented and sunken areas on your wall.
You can also often identify termites when you find blisters in your wood flooring or furniture. When termites feed on your flooring or furniture, it will lead to buckling wood.
If you notice that your floors are blistering or sagging, you must hire a professional pest control company to inspect your home. You can look here to find a reliable termite control company to work with.
5. Stuck Windows or Doors
Finally, if you have a termite infestation in your home, you may notice that your windows and doors get stuck more often. This is because termites will often target your doors and windows because they have exposed wood that is easy to access.
When the termites eat through the wood on your door and window frames, it may cause the wood to warp or expand.
This makes it much more difficult to open or close your windows. Still, there are many other potential causes for damaged doors and windows in your home. For example, extreme humidity and wood rot can cause your windows and doors to warp and expand.
If there have been no other changes to your climate, you may want to reach out to a pest control company to inspect your home for other signs of termite damage.
Learn More About the Signs of Termite Damage in Wood
There are many ways that you can spot the signs of termite damage in wood before it becomes a serious problem.
Learning more about the signs of termite infestations can help you be prepared to deal with your termite problems. Do you need help learning more about the signs of termites and finding a reliable pest control company?
We can help! Our website features articles about business, lifestyle, and more. Check out our articles today to learn more about pest control and how to protect your home.