Here Are Five Signs Your House Has Termites
Finding that your house has termites can be a very upsetting discovery. However, knowing what to look for can save you time and money in dealing with them. Whether you are concerned about buying a house that has termite or whether you feel the need to get a termite inspection done, here are five things to look for that will help you determine a problem or not.
Sounds Are Coming From The Walls
Despite their small size, termites are actually pretty noisy creatures. Both soldier and worker termites are known for making very specific noises, which you can hear through the walls if you listen closely.
For example, when soldier termites feel danger is present, they will bang their heads against the wall in order to warn the colony. That sounds like a clicking noise to us as the home owner. Likewise, worker termites are noisy eaters and can be heard through the walls as they munch away.
If you hear clicking or crunching sounds coming from the walls, you may be in need of a termite inspection.
Flying Termites In Or Around Your Home
If you have never seen a termite before, you should know there are several different types that make up a colony. Some will remain hidden inside the walls and others be spotted more easily.
The type of termite you are likely to see are the flying termites. Flying termites are responsible for exploring and finding opportunities to form new colonies. So, you are most likely to see them outside the walls. If you notice a winged insect that is white and looks like an ant flying around your house or sets of wings lying around, its a good chance that termites have invaded your home.
Finding Termite Droppings May Indicate That Your House Has Termites
Like all animals, termites leave behind waste. Termite waste, also known as frass, appears as a powdery black substance near the area of the home where termites have infested. Termites push their waste to the end of their tunnels, so where the waste appears is often very noticeable. Termite droppings are the first thing a home inspector will look for when performing an inspection for wood destroying organisms.
If you notice a black powdery substance or black marks on your walls, its very possible your house has termites.
Wood Sounds Hollow
When termites tunnel into wood, they eat it from the inside out. When termites have consumed a piece of wood they hollow it out leaving the outside mostly intact. Try tapping along the beams in your house and listen to see if they sound hollow.
Your Wood Shows Tunnels
Since your walls are not typically exposed, spotting the tunnels that termites create is not always obvious. However, if you happen to find a broken piece of wood in your home and it has tunnels running through it, that is a surefire sign that you have a termite infestation.
If you can take a look at the wood itself, these tunnels are easy to see. However, they are often hard to see since the wood in our home is obscured by drywall.
What Should You Do If You See Signs Your House Has Termites?
If you see possible signs of termites in your home, the first thing you should do is call Solid Rock Inspection Group to perform a termite inspection in your home as soon as possible. Termites can cause incredible damage to a home and the longer you let it continue, the more it will damage your home. Since termites send out winged termites to start new colonies, the longer you let it go on means there is a chance additional colonies might start in your home.
Whether you are buying a new home or are concerned that the home you are living in might have termites, Solid Rock Inspection Group can help you. If you would like to learn more about our effective Florida termite inspection process, call us today at (727) 386-8627 today or contact us on our website here to schedule your inspection.
Once we can verify the presence of termites, we can help you schedule a treatment program with one of our preferred pest control companies that we partner with.