You work hard to make sure your home stays in good order. You fix leaks as they arise, have heaters and air conditioning units repaired as they break, and patch up any damage around your home caused by general wear and tear. Needless to say, when you can see a problem, you have it fixed. We are here today to talk about one problem that many homeowners have trouble seeing: termites. If you are looking for a way to identify termite infestations before they destroy your Centerton home, here are 5 signs you can use to spot them early.
Why Are Termites So Destructive?
Have you ever heard the story of the tortoise and the hare? Termites are a lot like the tortoise in this story. Although termites cannot destroy wood as fast as let’s say a beaver can, they can deal more damage over time. They do this with patience, diligence, and stealth.
You see, when termites destroy a home they do so quietly taking small bites at a time and working together to consume and collect wood for their colony. Doing this over several years, they can do devastating damage to the structure of a home. Fortunately, termites aren’t perfect, and on occasion will leave behind some signs you can use to spot them.
Mud Tubes
Termites need to stay moist at all times. For this reason, they will often construct mud tubes up the exterior of homes to gain access to wood. Keep in mind, if your home has wood that comes directly in contact with exterior soil, they will not need to construct mud tubes to get inside.
Ventilation Holes
When termites tunnel through homes they construct tiny pin-sized holes to help with ventilation. These holes can be difficult to spot, but with a bit of careful observation they can help you determine if termites are around.
Bubbling Paint/Wallpaper
As termites tunnel through walls they spread moisture. This moisture can leak out and cause bubbling to happen across paint and wallpaper.
Tight Fitting Windows & Doors
As termite infestations become more severe, moisture and pressure problems can cause doors and windows to become difficult to open and close.
Soft Clicking Noises Coming From Inside Walls
Although termites are quiet pests, they are not completely silent. If you place your ear up to a wall termites are eating, you should be able to hear the sound of their mandibles clicking as they tear apart wood.
How You Can Prevent Termites
Once you have made sure your home is termite-free, your next step should be to put in place measures to ensure termites stay away. To help you with this, here are some prevention tips our experts recommend.
- Use a caulking gun or liquid cement to seal up gaps and cracks in your home’s exterior foundation.
- Eliminate sources of standing water around your home that could be negatively affecting its wood.
- Make sure your gutters are in good working order.
- Fix leaky pipes and fixtures in and around your home.
- Address any other moisture problems that could potentially damage the wood of your home.
- Repair or replace wood that has been affected by water damage, rot, or decay.
- Keep your yard clear of organic debris such as woodpiles, leaf piles, and trimmed foliage.
- Avoid using wood-based mulch near your home’s foundation.
The Best Way To Handle Termites
From inspections to elimination to long term termite control we offer many solutions for you here at Alder Pest Control. Suspect your home has termites, let us come out and check. Looking for a way to keep termites off your property for good, give us a call and discuss your termite control options with one of our friendly service representatives. Whatever your need is, we have the answer you are looking for.
Reach out to our team today for more details.