3 Signs You Might Have Termites in your Home

 

How do you know if you have termites in your home or property? Termite season usually starts to peak in the spring, when swarms of these wood-destroying insects start to emerge from their colonies in search of mates and new places to build nests. As a homeowner, you want to do what's best for the structure of your house. Termites can cause major damage to your home, so it's important to recognize their warning signs, such as mud tubes and discarded swarmer wings. Here are 3 signs you might have termites in your home.

 

Termite Swarmers & Discarded Wings

 

Seeing termite swarmers inside a house or building is a telltale sign of an active termite infestation. Termites have a caste system that consists of workers, soldiers, and swarmers. Swarmer wings are pale-colored, approximately 1/4-1/2 inches long, and easily distinguishable by having two pairs of large wings. After finding a mate, the winged alate sheds its wings and begins building a new colony. People often mistake swarmers for flying ants. They look very similar, but termite swarmers have straighter bodies and two evenly-sized pairs of wings, whereas flying ants have pinched waists and two unevenly-sized pairs of wings.

 

Termite Droppings

 

Termite droppings, also known as "frass," is another sign of termite activity. As termites eat through the wood, they digest it and push it out of the colony to avoid buildup.

 

These tiny, oval-shaped pellets are about 1 millimeter long, and appear small piles of salt or pepper. These pellets are from termites and are most often found near kick out holes that can be found in the infested area. These mounds often resemble a small mound of pepper-like droppings.

 

Stuck Windows or Doors

 

If you notice your windows or doors getting stuck, or suddenly becoming harder to open and close, it could be a sign of a growing termite infestation. The termites tend to target locations like windows and door frames, where wood is exposed and easy to access. Removing the damaged wood can allow more moisture which makes conditions better for more termites. Besides sticking windows and doors, damage from termites may also result in other types of structural problems in your home, such as crumbling baseboards or sagging floors and ceilings.

 

MAKE SURE YOUR HOME STAYS PEST-FREE!

 

With 3 signs you might have termites in your home, you may still be unsure. That's why Best Home & Property Services are here to help you ensure your new home is pest free. Think you may have a pest problem? Give us a call at 1-843-236-3065 or get a FREE QUOTE right online