Termites are tiny but incredibly destructive creatures that can wreak havoc on your beloved home. Often lurking in the shadows, these silent invaders can compromise the structural integrity of your house, causing extensive damage and incurring substantial repair costs.
If left undetected and untreated, termite infestations can quickly spiral out of control, turning your dream home into a nightmare.
Note that termites won’t come out in the light since they prefer staying in the dark.
Remember: termites are the silent saboteurs of your house. They can expand a nest inside your house, which looks like droppings. This serious condition requires immediate intervention by the termite control service providers.
But before that, it’s important to identify the warning signs.
So, how to do that?
Worry not!
We will explore the top eight early signs of termites you should know. By recognizing these red flags early on, you can quickly protect your home from these greedy pests.
8 Early Signs of Termites Manifestation in Your House
Before we proceed into the signs, let’s quickly go through the two breed types that can damage your house.
- Subterranean Termites: They usually prefer living in moist spaces, and when they grow large, they can damage your house. However, they are fed on moisture to live and sustain.
- Drywood Termites: As the name suggests, these termites live on wood and can cause huge damage to your woodwork.
Let’s now take a look at the eight signs of termite droppings.
Mud Tubes
Termites habitually create pathways (mud funnels) when they look for food. These tunnels serve as a storage space that protects the food they’ve collected. This can include firewood, mud, or wood chips. Often hidden beneath furniture, underground, or within the brickwork of your house, these mud tubes may appear as peculiar linings along the walls or galleries of your house. This is a definite sign of termites in walls – so be watchful if you find such odd linings in the walls of your house.
Hollow Sound
Termites are drawn to dark and damp environments, making wood that sounds hollow particularly appealing. Instead of feeding on the wood’s surface, they penetrate inside. Therefore, if you notice any hardwood surface that appears smooth and light, termites may be causing damage to it. By tapping or banging on the wood and hearing a hollow sound, you’ll understand if these pests have manifested in your house.
Cracks and Holes
As termites gnaw through plaster and wood surfaces, they leave significant gaps in doors and walls. So, if you find any such gaps in your house, seal them as soon as possible. In general, termites target the sides of roofs, windows, vents, and doors, so it’s essential to stay watchful for cracks and fissures.
Abandoned Wings
One of the early signs of termites is the abandoned wings. Now, what are these? Reproductive termites, known as swarmers, shed their wings as part of their natural behavior. You can find these discarded wings at window sills, emergence sites, or even trapped in cobwebs. Spring month is typically the reproductive month for termites. So, keeping a keen eye out for these abandoned remnants during spring would be the best way to find their presence in your home.
Termite Droppings or Frass
Termite droppings, which are called frass, look similar to wooden color because they come from termites eating wood. Finding these droppings on your floor could mean you have a termite manifestation at home. Keep your floors, window sills, and other areas clean to prevent these sneaky insects from having a food source.
Stuck Doors and Windows
Have you ever observed stuck doors or windows that take much effort to open or close? That’s a very early sign of termites in your house. Termites have a preference for wood that is easily reachable, like window and door frames. When they feed on the wood in these structures, they can create deformities that make it difficult for them to function properly, causing issues with opening and closing.
Moldy Scents
As termites create tunnels in wood, they also create a moist environment. This excess moisture can encourage the growth of mold and fungi, which release a distinctive musty or moldy smell. It might indicate a termite infestation if you notice such odors in specific areas of your home, particularly near wooden structures.
Loosening Floors and Tiles
When termites infest wooden flooring, it can substantially impact its stability and strength. As termites consume the cellulose in the wood, they weaken the flooring material, making it less secure. This weakening can lead to clear effects, such as floors that produce squeaky sounds when walked upon and tiles that become loose or shift out of place.
Seek Professional Help Today!
So, these are the early signs of termites in your homes. So, if you notice any of the signs mentioned above, get in touch with the nearest pest control providers, such as Pestico, that offer the best termite control services at the best prices. The technicians at Pestico have extensive knowledge in identifying termite indicators in and around your home. They possess advanced technology that allows them to detect termites, even when there are no apparent signs. So, contact Pestico for the best services and protect your asset from these creatures.