There’s an old saying that one should believe none of what they hear, and only half of what they see. This can definitely be applied to pests. Of course, College Station homeowners know they have a problem when they spot an insect or creature on their property. The visual absence of critters doesn’t always mean the coast is clear, though. Many creepy crawlers can infiltrate your space and quickly build a packed nest under your nose. The specimens might be tiny, or operate out of sight. Termites are a perfect example.
Termites do their dirty work from inside walls, and worm their way out. The wreckage they create is expensive to recover from. Annually, Americans spend a combined $5 billion on related blockage and repairs. Insurance companies will often refuse to mediate this cost. Your abode doesn’t have to fall apart, however. Once you know what the major signs are, you can help prevent these bugs with D. Lee Pest Services and these four signs to be on alert for.
Termite Sign #1: Waste
The colonies of termites have three live components: workers, soldiers, and swarmers. In many cases, workers are white or grayish white and are no longer than 0.12 of an inch. They are the beings who cause the substantial bill for homeowners. Soldiers are yellow-brown and have rectangular heads. They use their defined jaws to defend their relatives. Swarmers are black, brown, or yellow, and ½ of an inch long. The winged insects fly away from full nests in the springtime to start new colonies with fresh mates. You are most likely to see them by light sources. All termites drop peppery feces, specifically called frass, outside of their damage. Swarmers shed their translucent and scaly wings in addition.
Termite Sign #2: Deteriorating Walls & Paint
With their grinding, termites form tiny pin-point sized holes in walls. They also craft maze-like patterns and mud tubes. Your foundations will ultimately be hollow, and you’ll hear it if you tap on them. The interior drywall and paint will begin to appear damaged by water. For the former, you may notice wilting and discoloration. The latter will be frothy and bloated, and chipping and peeling will occur as well. A crucial way to prevent termites is to improve your wood care, such as:
- Fire logs, carpentry panels, and other pieces of free wood should be kept a couple of feet away from the property. The more distance, the better.
- There should never be contact between loose wood and soil. When termites aren’t inside a foundation, they are rummaging beneath earth.
- Decaying, water damaged, and bad wood should be removed or restored immediately.
Termite Sign #3: Broken Down Fixtures
If your tiles are falling away seemingly at random, termites may be gradually destroying your home. Another significant warning signal are screeching floorboards that submit a little when you walk on them. Having a tough time operating doors and windows is also a strong indication of activity as well. Fixture maintenance is an important part of termite deterrence too and you should be sure that:
- All exterior doors have screens
- That you wash all gutters and vents frequently
- Repair moisture malfunctions and those that are wetting wood right away
- Close gaps in foundations and utility lines
Termite Sign #4: Noises
Termites rustle as they go about their demolition.
D. Lee Pest Services Termite Extermination
The experienced technicians at D. Lee Pest Services will use Termidor® treatments to eradicate termites from your home. It’s a leading industrial solution, designed especially to kill these bugs. All of our approaches are safe for humans, domestic animals, and vegetation. Pre-construction options with BoraCare are also available. Our Wood-Destroying Insect Reports (WDIR) will provide you with all the information you need regarding property and devastating organisms and warranties are attached. Call us today at D. Lee Pest Services for a free inspection!