Many homeowners have a terrible secret within their home–an expensive secret, which they do not even know about. Living deep within the wooden surfaces of thousands of homes, termites, living unnoticed, could be causing thousands of dollars of damage. There is nothing you can do; from Detroit to Denver, every home is at risk for a termite infestation. Check out these tips that can help you catch a termite infestation before it becomes a problem.
For starters, a little groundwork is necessary. Some owners miss the termites which are right in front of them! Many folks see these “white ants” as being just that–an albino ant. I’ve encountered many homeowners who were left scratching their heads and buying ant traps, while termites dug into their walls!
That “ant’s” coloration is the first warning. If the small creature you’re seeing looks white or yellowish, then it is not an albino ant, but rather a termite! To check yourself, termites do not have body segments, but rather have a long, uniform-width body.
It’s not always going to be that easy to track the termites in your home. Most termites spend their whole lives living in the shadows, deep inside the timbers of homes. There are a few subtle clues that can help you determine if you have an infestation.
The initial thing to check for is “mud tubes.” Typically found in basements, or outside the home, these tunnels can be seen running across seams in brick or stone. These tunnels serve as highways for termites to travel safely from their nests to their food sources.
Also, be on the lookout for wings on the floor and in the corners of your home. These wings indicate that a pair of breeding termites, “swarmers,” has been in the area. This sign can indicate that your home is the recent recipient of a new termite colony. It might also be the product of a long-standing colony already in your home which has just “swarmed,” a process which takes three years!
Be sure to isolate any changes in the acoustics in your home. An odd method of flushing out termites, noisier hardwood floors might indicate that those floorboards are hollow–almost a sure sign of termites!
Also, your plumbing bills may have something to do with your future extermination bills. Termites love wet wood, so any home with leaky pipes, and soaking wood is not only at risk for mold, but it is also at increased risk for termites. Make sure to keep an eye out after any plumbing remodels or repairs which might have caused seepage into your walls.
More than five percent of homes have termites, according to a statistic on termite extermination in USA, so always be vigilant when you look for the warning signs of these costly pests. Removing termites from the home can be a difficult proposition, so always make sure to call an exterminator anytime you think you may be infested. You could be saving yourself thousands of dollars.
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