Signs of a Termite Infestation

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Finding signs of a termite infestation can be devastating to many homeowners. Termites are responsible for over $5 billion in damages to homes each year, eating through important structural pieces of wood within a home’s walls. Vigilantly watching for signs of termite infestations can save you thousands in home repairs.

How Do You Know If You’re Dealing with Termites?

Knowing the signs of a termite infestation is important for any homeowner. A termite infestation can lead to headaches and costly repairs. Besides seeing termites in your home, there are a few important signs you should watch out for if you suspect you have termites in your home:

• Piles of droppings: Termite droppings are called frass. They often look like small piles of wood chips or shavings.
• Irregularities in paint: As termites burrow in your walls, you might see signs of damage beneath your paint such as bubbling, holes, and sunken tunnels.
• Finding wings: Reproductive termites will shed their wings, often leaving them in clusters around your home.
• Mud tubes: Subterranean termites live underground and will build mud tubes up the sides of your walls and foundation to get to your home.
• Sticky windows and doors: When termites begin to damage the wood around your doors and windows they will start to warp the wood causing them to become sticky and difficult to open.
• Hollow wood: Since termites eat the interior of wood, hearing a hollow sound when tapping on wood can be a sign of termite damage.
• Tunnels in wood: Termites will create a system of tunnels as they eat through wood.

Treatments for Termite Infestations

There are a few treatments an exterminator might use to get rid of termites in your home. The type of termite and severity of the infestation will determine which method is used. The most common types of treatments used are:

• Wood treatments
• Soil treatments
• Fumigation
• Barriers
• Bait stations

An extensive drywood termite infestation may require a complete home fumigation while other infestations may only need wood or soil treatments. Only a trained professional will be able to determine the type of infestation you have and what type or types of treatments will be needed to keep your home termite-free.

Treating a Termite Infestation

It is important to call a professional exterminator as soon as you see signs of a termite infestation. These tiny insects can lead to large home repair bills if not treated. There are a variety of treatments an exterminator might use to get rid of termites like fumigation, bait stations, and soil or wood treatments. Only an experienced terminator, like those at Rocket Pest, will be able to create a treatment plan to quickly and effectively eliminate termites in your home before they become a bigger problem. Contact us today for a free quote and expert advice on dealing with and getting rid of termites for good!