Signs You Might Have a Termite Infestation

A termite infestation can cause thousands of dollars in damage and threaten the structural integrity of your home. That is why it is so important that you know the signs of a termite infestation so that you can get treatment as soon as possible. Regularly inspecting your home to check for these signs can help you detect termite problems when they are still a nuisance, rather than waiting for them to be a serious problem.

One of the signs of termite infestation is a termite swarm. Termites swarm as the weather moves from colder to warmer. Swarms are more likely on dry days following rainy ones. A termite swarm happens when alates, the reproductive members of the termite colony, leave the colony in search of a new home. Alates are not the destructive “worker” members of the termite colony, but solely exist to reproduce. However, if they are swarming in or around a structure, they indicate that there is probably already an existing termite colony in the structure. This is because they are not strong fliers and cannot fly far from the colony. You may see the actual swarm of flying termites, but you may also just see evidence of the swarm. Discarded termite wings at or near access points are one of the strongest indicators that a swarm has occurred.

Termites eat wood, therefore it should come as no surprise that damaged wood is one of the warning signs of termites. You may see this damaged wood, which might look like it has grooves in it. The damage can also occur below the surface of the wood, where it actually creates a honeycomb like appearance and can make the wood sound hollow. This wood may not be structurally sound and may cause damage on the surface, as well.

Termites in wood flooring can cause the wood to take on a blistered appearance. This happens because the termites are feeding on wood below the surface, which can damage the subfloor. The result is that the surface of the floor might look like it has blistering that looks like water damage.

Termites also use mud tubes to move between structures. Commonly found where the ground and your house meet, these mud tubes are how subterranean termites move between their nests and their food sources. The tubes help optimise their nests, which should be warm and humid for the termites to thrive. Mud tubes may also appear in number before the beginning of swarm season.

Termite droppings are another sign of an infestation, though not all varieties of termites leave obvious droppings. Termite droppings look like sawdust, though they can vary in colour from the light colour of sawdust to darker coffee-ground coloured droppings. Any unexplained piles of material that look like sawdust should have a property owner on alert for termites.

If you think you might have termites, Flick can come out and inspect your property for signs of termite infestation and termite damage, then develop a termite extermination and prevention program to keep your home safe from further damage.