The importance of regular termite inspections: How to protect your home and property
Getting regular termite inspections, as well as keeping a close eye on your property in between scheduled professional inspections, is one of the most important things you can do to protect the value and integrity of your home. Not only are termites incredibly destructive, but they can live in your home for long periods of time before they are usually detected. This is unfortunate, as termites are a pest best caught and stopped in its tracks before it has time to proliferate throughout your home causing untold amounts of damage. To catch termites before they make you the victim of such calamities, you should always remain vigilant.
It is important to make yourself familiar with and pay close attention for any signs of these destructive little pests. Here are five ways to watch for termites in your home:
1. Zig-zagging patterns in wooden furniture, floor boards or beams – A trait most characteristic of termites is that they feast on wood in zig-zag like patterns. These patterns act as their tunnels that they use to burrow deeper and deeper in the wood that they infest. If you see strange markings similar to maze’s on wood throughout your home, then you are deep in the midst of a termite infestation.
2. Wood that sounds hollow – One of the most notable traits of termites is that they eat the wood of your home from the inside out. Termites love dark and damp conditions, both of which are found within the center of large beams or other wooden structures. If you knock on wood and it sounds hollow, then termites are the most likely cause.
3. Keep an eye out for small pinpoint sized holes in your home’s drywall – These pinpoint sized holes are a tell tale sign of termite infestation. Termites make these holes as they burrow in and out of the drywall. They make these holes as escape routes, and they are indicative that there is already a surmountable colony of termites proliferating within the structure of your home.
4. Piles of wings (they resemble fish scales) – You may find small insect wings in large quantities throughout the darker corners of your home. These wings resemble loose fish scales, and they are the remnants of what is known as a “swarm”. Swarms occur when colonies become overgrown, so sexually mature termites develop wings and “swarm” off to start a new colony elsewhere, where they have access to a more plentiful food source (like your home). They finally shed these wings when they mate, signifying that they have chosen a new area for their colony.
5. Be cautious of sagging or discolored drywall – Termite’s can seriously damage the structure of your home. By eating away at the supports that your drywall panels are attached to, it can leave your drywall looking droopy or otherwise damaged.
As you can see, the consequences of a termite infestation are quite severe. Contact Hopper Termite and Pest Management today!
