Termites are incredibly frustrating and can be hugely costly problems to deal with. Unfortunately, because termites are attracted to wood all homeowners are at risk of dealing with them. Learning as much as you can about termites and ways to prevent an infestation is crucial to protecting your home. There are many questions to ask, one of the most common being, What time of year are homeowners most at risk for a termite invasion? Is there actually a “termite season”?
The answer is technically, no. Termites are active all seasons, so there is never a time your house is not at risk. Around March-November, termites can be more visible, with more frequent sightings of discarded wings and droppings. Warmer places tend to have active termite infestations year round while colder places have a dip in the winter, but termites can be harmful basically any time of the year.
If you’re trying to figure out when to look for termites in your house, analyze the climate you live in. Termites tend to stay hidden in extreme temperatures, so if you live somewhere that snows a lot, you might see a decline in this problem around the coldest months of the year. However, people who live in climates that are more moderate, this is year long problem to watch for.
If you think that you might have a termite infestation, it’s important to take action immediately. Termites can cause an unbelievable amount of damage to your home over time, resulting in thousands of dollars worth of repairs.
There are a few things around your house that can clue you in on an infestation. The first and most obvious is a swarm of termites. This typically happens in the spring, when a swarm will take off from their colony to go establish a new one. While you might not see the actual swarm, you may find their bodies near windows where they were trying to exit. Also be on the look out for tubes that termites make out of mud for shelter. If you spot either of these things, you most likely have an active termite infestation and need to take immediate action.
Although finding signs of a termite infestation can be scary, there are ways of getting a handle on it. While termites can do incredible amounts of damage, if caught early the situation can be remedied. While there are DIY remedies that can help with a small termite problem, these pests are complex and it’s often hard to know if you really got rid of them all. Killing those you see is one thing, but completely exterminating the colony is another. Most termite cases require the experience and tools of a professional exterminator.
