Termites. Just the thought of little critters eating away at the very structure of your home is enough to send shivers down your spine. These insatiable little pests will eat their way through beams, floorboards, windowsills, and anything else they can find. Early detection and treatment is key when it comes to preventing damage from termites, so it’s important to know what to look for. Call a pest control professional to schedule a termite inspection right away if you notice any of the following:
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Windows and doors that are difficult to open and shut.
As a termite colony eats away at wood beneath the surface, humidity starts to accumulate around them. If they are focused on door and window frames, the humidity can cause warping – leading to doors that stick and windows that jam, seemingly for no reason.
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Discolored drywall or peeling paint.
All the action behind the walls is likely to eventually leave signs on the surface of the infestation below. Faint lines of discoloration in the drywall may form along pathways and tunnels the termites use; humidity within the wall could cause paint to peel in areas where a colony is present.
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Clicking or rustling sounds in the walls.
Termites are perceptive little creatures; as they work, certain types will bang their heads against the wood to alert the others if they sense danger. This leads to the clicking noise you might hear behind the wall. Furthermore, the hustle and bustle of a full colony eating and moving around will often cause a sound like rustling paper.
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You see “white ants” around the house.
Termites are quite often mistaken for white ants. However, no ants are completely white – so if you see some scurrying around, it’s likely you have a termite infestation. In case you’re in denial and think that maybe a new species of white ants has suddenly emerged only in your home, a quick internet research session will reveal other differences between the body and wing shapes of ants and termites.
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Hollow-sounding wood.
If you rap on a wall that should be solid and instead sounds hollow, you might have a termite infestation. Termites eat from the interior out, creating hollow casings in wood throughout the structure of your home.
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Soft spots in the flooring.
Termites do not discriminate as far as what part of the house they’ll eat…if it’s wood, it has the potential to be dinner. If you begin to notice soft spots in your flooring or baseboards, there may be termites at work behind the scenes.
Termites can cause serious damage to the structure of your home. Take a page out of their playbook – termites are perceptive as to when there is a potential for danger, so you should be too. If you see (or hear!) any of these warning signs of a termite infestation, it’s time to take immediate action with a professional termite inspection. If you live in the San Joaquin Valley and need a capable, well-trained professional who knows exactly how to deal with termites, call San Joaquin Pest Control to schedule an inspection right away.
