Indicators You Have A Termite Problem In Your Property

Identifying a termite problem before it escalates can save you thousands of dollars in losses. Termites may look small, but they can cause massive damage to your structures. As such, you should watch out for the early signs of termites on your property. Once you spot the following signs, call a termite control service immediately.

Swarmers

It's normal to have swarming termites during the spring season. But don't ignore them because they could mean your property has termites. You might want to schedule a termite inspection if you spot flying termite swarms in your yard. The swarmers appear in the evening or during the night, and they'll fly near bulbs and light sources. So, be on the lookout for swarmers when the spring season starts.

Mud Tubes

You might be in deep trouble if your wooden structures have mud tubes. These pests use mud tubes to travel from their nests to the food source. These mud tubes are carefully built to protect the termites from the scorching sun and predators. So, the presence of mud tubes could mean that the termites have already formed a nest on your property. 

Unfortunately, homeowners will destroy the mud tubes and assume the termites will disappear. The truth is the termites will build new mud tubes within a couple of days. Therefore, you must call a termite exterminator to destroy the nests before the termites damage your wooden structures.

Stuck Windows and Doors

Termites will always target your window and door frames before moving to other spots. And, if you aren't paying attention, you'll miss the signs of termite activity on your doors and windows. Once the termites feed on the window or door frames, the wood will warp or swell, making it difficult to close or open them. Sometimes the frames will disintegrate completely, and you'll have to replace them.

Termite Droppings

If you're paying enough attention, you can quickly tell that your property has termites by looking for droppings. Sadly, most folks might confuse termite droppings for wood dust or shavings. Frass from termites resembles pellets and has a brownish color, just like wood. You must be very attentive to differentiate the termite droppings from wood dust.

Blistering Wood

Sometimes, you'll know that you have a termite problem after these pests have already caused damage. Once the termites feed on the wood, they'll leave holes and blisters. The affected wood will become light and hollow. So, if you tap on it, you'll notice that it sounds hollow. You can even spot the physical damage once you scrape off the mud tubes.

Call a termite exterminator if you need to deal with termites. 


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