Termite Control
Signs That Termites May Have Invaded Your Home
Termites cause more than $2 billion in damage each year, according to the US Forest Service. That’s more property damage than is caused by fires and windstorms combined. It’s only natural that homeowners should be alarmed at the possibility of termites invading their property. The good news is that termites are slow eaters. It takes months, if not years for a colony to do significant structural damage. That’s why it’s important to be able to recognize the signs that termites have set up housekeeping on your property and to bring in a termite control specialist quickly.
One of the troubling things about termites is that they tend to do their damage without being seen. They tunnel into your home and burrow into wood beams and floor joists without leaving much of a trace. However, a sharp-eyed homeowner can tell if these pests have been on their property. If you notice any of these signs, it’s time to call a professional pest control contractor.
- You see mud tunnels along the sides of your foundation. Most of the termites in the Alabama region are subterranean termites. This type of termite thrives in moist, dark places and will create hollow tubes out of mud to enter and exit your home, so they don’t have to be out in the heat and sunlight. Look for these pencil-like mud tunnels.
- There are swarms of insects at the base of your home. Termites are social insects and travel in masses. They also tend to swarm, especially near the entrance to their nest. Look for these swarms near your foundation line.
- You notice piles of wings. Termites discard their wings after mating season and before they begin tunneling into your wood. Look for piles of tiny wings in the corners of your basement or ground-level rooms.
- You have wood beams that sound hollow when you tap on them. A sign of a more advanced termite invasion is hollow-sounding beams and joists. If you knock on these wooden pieces and hear a sort of echo, it’s likely that termites have eaten away at that wood from the inside.
