The thought of termites or other wood-destroying insects eating away at your home isn’t a pleasant one. If a neighbor’s home has termites or you have spotted concerning signs on your own property, be alert to these signs of a termite infestation at home.
What to Do If You Have a Termite Infestation at Home
An inspection completed by a licensed professional will tell you with certainty if you are dealing with a termite infestation at home. If termites are found, treatment should begin as soon as possible. Your termite inspection report might also reveal conditions that are ideal for an infestation and should be fixed. Here are some of the more common signs that you should schedule an appointment with a termite inspector.
Visible Mud Tubes
Some termites reach homes by burrowing through the ground and working their way to wood surfaces above ground by creating mud tubes. These tubes, found on fences, foundations, or siding, might be damp or may look like dry dirt. By chipping away at the tube, you may termites scurrying around. If no insects are visible, you could be looking at the site of a previous infestation. If the mud tube is repaired within the next day or two, the termites are using it.
Hollow or Damaged Wood
Because termites create channels inside wood as they eat, termite-infested wood will have hollow spaces. In some cases, you can gently pull away the top layer of wood to reveal the internal damage. This means that wood has been weakened and should be replaced after termite treatment is complete.
Droppings on the Ground
Termites will produce waste by eating wood in or around your house. Their droppings are called frass, and they have a distinctive appearance that looks like wood shavings or sawdust. Even if you do not notice other signs of a termite infestation, droppings that look like wood shavings should be investigated further with a termite inspection.
Swarms or Wings Can be a Sign of a Termite Infestation
Some termites will reach your home through the soil and others will fly in swarms from area to area. If a swarm flew through your yard, you often notice termite wings on the ground. An active swarm may have passed on to the next home, but you cannot know this with certainty without a professional inspection.
While these signs of a termite infestation at home require further review and inspection, schedule an inspection to check for wood destroying insects regularly. Through an inspection, you can learn about a previous or active termite problem and address any termite-friendly conditions as soon as possible.
Guardian Property Inspections offers pests and termite inspections to Central and East-Central Wyoming. Contact us to schedule an appointment.