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5 signs of termite activity:
Mud tubes
Mud tubes the width of a drinking straw connect termites to their food source.
Blisters in wood trim
Dark areas or blisters in wood flooring can indicate termites feeding within or below.
Drywood termite droppings
Mounds of pellets, resembling sawdust or coffee grounds, can indicate the presence of termite waste.
Evidence of swarms
After swarming, termites usually leave discarded wings. There may also be several black or brown dead termites found.
Hollowed or damaged wood
Hollowed wood usually has a honeycomb interior and an empty sound.
TOP 5 TERMITE SIGNS TO LOOK FOR IN YOUR HOME
Found in 49 states, termites are a national problem. It’s estimated that termites cause $5 billion in property damage each year. Protecting your home before signs of termites arise is one of the best ways to save money and keep your family safe when it comes to these destructive insects.
Termites that have been nesting in your home for years can cause thousands of dollars in damage. This type of damage is not usually covered by homeowners insurance.
Be proactive about preventing termite damage by searching for termite signs in your home on a periodic basis and maintaining a termite plan by a reputable company that includes an annual termite inspection. This helps remove the worry of having to repair new termite damage in your home.
Take a look at the top three signs of termite activity below:
1. BLISTERS IN WOOD TRIM
These areas or blisters can indicate termites feeding within or below. Subterranean termites can cause damage to the subfloor, which can make your wood flooring appear as if it has water damage.
2. HOLLOWED OR DAMAGED WOOD
Wood damage can be found below and behind surfaces like walls, floors and more. This can be caused by termites chewing through wood in search of cellulose, leaving behind long grooves. Over time, these grooves weaken the wood and create structural damage. Hollowed wood usually has a honeycomb interior and an empty sound.
3. EVIDENCE OF SWARMS
Discarded termite wings can be found near closed windows, doors and other home-access points. This is caused when termites swarm out of their nest to mate and find a place start a new colony. When they land, termites intentionally twist their wings off because they will never need them again. Termite wings are all the same size while ants have one pair of larger wings (front) and one pair of smaller wings (rear).
4. MUD TUBES
Pencil-sized mud tubes can be found wherever the ground meets your house or any other possible food source like a tree or shed. This is because subterranean termites nest underground and forage up to their food source, which is often a house structure. These termites require certain temperature and humidity levels to survive. Their tunnels help block out cool, dry air, effectively turning your home into an environment where they can thrive.
5. DRYWOOD TERMITE DROPPINGS
Drywood termites nest inside of wood. While tunneling and eating the wood they’re infesting, they create galleries that they like to keep them clean. To keep them clean, they create kick out holes where they remove their excrement. And since drywood termites eat wood, their excrement is wood, which essentially creates mounds of pellets. These mounds of pellets, resembling sawdust or coffee grounds, may indicate the presence of drywood termites. Unfortunately, even if you don’t see signs of termites, that doesn’t mean they’re not there. Termite damage can go unnoticed for a while, and by the time damage is noticed, significant structural damage may already be done. That’s why it’s best to be proactive when it comes to termite control. Help protect your home by contacting Eliminix today to schedule your comprehensive termite inspection.