You’ve probably heard about termites and how incredibly damaging they can be to structures. These pests are known to cause more than $5 billion in property damages each year in the U.S. alone and even though they play an important role in nature in breaking down dead or decaying trees and plants, they are also known to break down the structures that we live in. How do we combat these pests in our homes and businesses? The first step is being able to recognize the signs of termite damage in your Indiana, Kentucky, or Illinois property.
Weak and damaged wood is a good sign that you could have a termite problem. Door frames and window frames that sag are also good indicators that termites are present. These are signs that the wood has been damaged and that the wood now lacks structural temerity.
Wood may sound hollow when tapped on. Because termites don’t like to be out in the open and because they avoid sunlight, they destroy wood from the inside out.
Painted wood surfaces that appear cracked or puckered are another sign of termite damage. Termites can enter wood through cracks as thin as a dime and may infest wood that has been chemically treated or painted. You can try to prevent this by sealing cracks in wood surfaces and giving wooden surfaces fresh coats of paint regularly.
Though not considered termite damage, mud tubes or tunnels on exterior walls and foundations are a sign of termite activity. Because termites don’t normally reside in the wood they are consuming, they must travel to and from your home via protected tunnels on outside walls. The tunnels lead to the colony in which they live, which is often underground. These tunnels are created by termites and provide moisture while they are above ground.
Another sign of termites on or in your property is the appearance of shed termite swarmer wings. These are wings that have been discarded by the reproductive termites during their mating swarms when they take flight to create new colonies. Subterranean termites normally swarm in the spring but have been known to swarm at other times of the year as well. If you discover shed wings inside your home, then your home has already been infested by termites. On the outside, it could mean that a neighboring property is experiencing a termite problem or that your home could already be at risk.
These signs of termite damage and signs of the pest can all signify that there has previously been or currently is a termite problem. If you’ve only seen one of these signs, you could still have a severe infestation and you should contact your local pest control company immediately. The professionals at Action Pest Control have more than 65 years of experience in getting rid of termites in Indianapolis, Terre Haute, and Louisville as well as throughout Indiana, Kentucky, and Illinois, and are ready to help you with all your termite control needs. If you simply want peace of mind that your property is free of termites and the damage they cause or if you know you have an infestation and need immediate assistance with termite control, contact us today!