Termites: How To Safeguard Your Home From This Tiny But Destructive Pest

It isn’t news that termites are a threat to the wellbeing of your property. However, you still want to have the latest info on how to prevent a termite infestation. These tiny insects (which sometimes have wings) can be mistaken for white ants and thought to be harmless. But this post will help you correctly identify these silent destroyers. Thank goodness they aren’t too clever to cover their tracks! So with a keen eye, you can identify the damage they leave behind and relate it to their activity. Read on to be in the know!

Termite Facts

But first, let’s look at the facts about termites. What are their feeding habits? What kind of damage do they cause?

Termites can chew through more than wood: Wood is the most obvious substance termites like to feast upon, but they can chew through other materials containing cellulose. They can damage materials such as paper, cardboard and even carpet, and they will burrow through inedible materials on their path toward their desired wood.

Termite damage can look like water damage: Take a closer look next time you assume water is the culprit!

You can actually hear termites eating your wood: Keep your ears open for munching and crunching sounds coming from within your walls, ceilings and other wooden structures. If you hear this, you most likely have a termite problem. Read more at Pestech

What’s more, you don’t want to underestimate termites. A mature colony of termites can have approximately two million worker termites! How much chewing can these ones do?

Threat to Your Home

So, it’s important to establish how exactly these pests can wreak havoc in your home. Here are the details:

Termites love to feed on wood and moisture. Even if you only see a small hole or minor evidence of termites in your home, there may be a lot more damage beneath the surface.

This can affect the structure of your home even if your home is mainly brick or masonry. Termites can get into the wood parts of your home and wreak havoc. Things like wood paneling can also be susceptible to termite damage.

In addition to structural damage, termites also create a terrible odor in your home. This is from the fecal pellets that they leave behind. Their fecal matter can cause your walls to blister or be discolored. Read more at Safeguard Pest Control

The presence of termites in your home is bad news! You should do everything possible to get rid of them as soon as possible.

Identifying the Damage

Prevention is always better than cure, however, if you already have a termite problem, the first step is to identify it exists.

Signs of termite damage include the following:

• buckling ceilings or walls
• the appearance of water damage
• maze-like designs in wooden structures
• mud tunnels on home foundations
• swarms of termites themselves

Unfortunately, these signs often indicate that you’ve had a termite problem for a while and that a colony is thriving.

Advanced termite damage can greatly affect the structural integrity of your home, even causing ceilings or floors to collapse.

However, if damage does not affect your home’s structure, your family’s experience at home can still be impacted by ruined carpeting, walls, furniture or flooring. Whether your termite damage is structural or aesthetic, immediate action should be taken before conditions worsen.  Read more at Orkin

The last thing you want is a trial-and-error solution to a potential termite infestation. It is wiser to seek professional help.

If you’re searching for a pest control company whose reputation and services are reliable and effective, look no further than Backyard Bug Patrol. Our preventative termite protection package will ensure that any sign of termites around your home will be eliminated. Don’t wait until it’s too late, call us today!