Did you know that most species of termites are in the tropics? If you own a house anywhere, though, you must beware of termites.
Termites are ant-like creatures that eat wood, and they’re capable of causing a lot of damage. If you own a home and have never called a termite exterminator, now is the time!
Waiting until you see signs of termites is waiting too late. Have you waited too long? Are you dealing with a termite infestation?
Here are 7 signs it’s time for a termite exterminator.
1. What’s That Sound?
Do you hear a strange sound inside your walls? That could be the sound of termites chewing your house!
Stand inside your home when it’s quiet with your ear near the wall. If you hear a strange clicking sound, it’s likely termites eating wood.
2. Big White Ants
If you see what looks like white ants around the house, it may be termites. Termites look a lot like ants, but there are some differences.
The main difference is in the color. There are no species of white ants, so if you see “white ants” you’re looking at termites!
3. Swarming Termites
If you see a swarm of what looks like flying ants, these are alates. These are male and female termites looking for mates. Once they find a mate, they establish a colony.
If you see swarms of these flying creatures, especially after a rain, you’ve got termites.
4. Tunnels
You can’t always see a termite tunnel in your home because they’re inside the walls. If you have some stray wood near your house in which you see tunnels carved in the wood, that’s a sign of termites.
See tunnels in a piece of broken wood next to your home? Your first thought should be where’s an exterminator near me?
5. Difficulty Opening Windows
This may seem odd, but are you having trouble opening and closing your windows or doors? It might be more than hot humid weather.
Termites tunnel into the frames around doors and windows. This causes warping of the wood which makes them hard to open and close. If you’re struggling with opening the windows and doors, call a professional termite exterminator.
6. Hollow-Sounding Timber
Termites eat from inside the wood in your walls. They chew up the wood, leaving only paint or a thin piece of wood.
If you knock on the wall, does it sound hollow? It could be termites. If your finger goes through a door frame or skirting board, you’ve got termite troubles.
7. Frass
Frass is another word for droppings. Termite exterminators look for frass when they’re doing an inspection.
Subterranean termites use their feces for building their nests. Drywood termites push their droppings out of holes near their nests. Droppings are a sure sign of drywood termites in your home.
Time for a Termite Exterminator
Any time you own a home is a good time for a termite exterminator. Don’t wait until you see active signs of termites.
Have a termite inspection on an annual basis so you don’t catch termites too late and end up with major damage.
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