There are some things in your home that you never want to see. Pests are one of them. These unwanted guests come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but each can pose their own problems. One of the greatest threats is the sight of termites. Not only do these insects infest your home in large numbers, but they can also create unsafe conditions for you and your family. The presence of termites can make it impossible to sell your home if you are interested in getting it on the market. Termites can also lower the value of your home. It is important to recognize the evidence that termites live in your home. Being aware of these signs will help you determine when it is time to call for help to get rid of them.
Doors are hard to close and open
Have you recently discovered that doors that were once closed tightly and once opened with no problems now result in fits? You may initially think that the door is simply getting old, hung incorrectly, or having other manufacturing problems. Termites could be to blame for this. These intruders eat through wood, which can cause warping in the door frame. The wooden frames can change shape or sag, making the door more difficult to open and close. This problem will get worse over time and will not resolve itself.
There are tunnels in wood
Termites can be in your home for weeks, months, or even years before you know it. Obviously, seeing inside your walls isn’t easy, so you may have to look for evidence outside of these areas. If you have wood on the property near your home or wood in the house, watch out for rooms where termites have made their mark. These insects like to build tunnels through the forest. Instead of using up the entire piece, they eat through smaller sections and make holes. If you spot this in showy pieces of wood, termites have likely infiltrated your place.
You see the termites for yourself
The characters are sometimes easy to highlight. You can see the real culprit himself crawling up walls or across your floor. It is therefore important to be able to identify these insects. Termites come in a number of different species, but most are usually the size of ants. Termites have white, transparent wings and are about a quarter of an inch long. They also have short, straight antennas.
You can hear the termites
It may be annoying, but there may be instances where you hear the termites chewing on your walls or ceilings. Termites live in huge colonies. Queens can lay up to 25 eggs per minute, so the colonies can be huge. When the insects are all together they can make noises as they often hit their heads in the forest when they sense danger. If you pay close enough attention you can also hear the animals chewing the wood.
You see sawdust on the floor
As you walk around your house, you may see piles of sawdust here and there. This should not be ignored or taken lightly. It’s a good bet that the wood in your walls is filled with holes.
They discover feces
Like any animal, termites make their mark in the form of waste. If you know how to spot termite feces, you can properly tell that these pests have decided to settle in your home. Many termites do not use their droppings to build their nests, but instead push them out of the holes near their nests. If you see black spots on the wall or floor, or if you notice powdered substances in the house, it may be termite debris.
Your walls sound hollow
As you begin to suspect termites, you may be looking for further confirmation from other clues. One way to do this is to knock on the walls that have a wooden beam on them. Typically, you shouldn’t notice any hollowness while doing this. If you hear the sound of hollowed out wood as you knock, it is likely because termites have eaten some meals.
Paint problems
Some homeowners may mistake water damage and termite problems. One reason for this is how the paint looks on your walls. If you find that the paint is bumpy or begins to bubble, contact an exterminator. It could mean that termites are causing problems in the walls.
You should never call a professional to look for termites. If you have any of these signs and clues in your home, get help right away. The best Los Angeles, CA pest control companies can tell you whether your suspicions are correct and get rid of these destructive pests once and for all.
