Termite infestation is one of the most common problems for homeowners. Also known as silent destroyers, these tiny insects can cause massive damage to your house.
If left unnoticed, the termites compromise the structure of your home. Research shows that homeowners spend more than $5 billion each year to repair their damaged houses caused by termites. If there are termites in your walls, you need to call an exterminator right away.
Different Types of Termites in Forney
Following are a few different types of termites found in Forney homes:
Dampwood Termites
As the name suggests, dampwood termites like to nest in moist, rotten wood and mulches instead of soil. They usually invade the decaying wood on the ground.
Drywood Termites
Unlike subterranean termites, drywood termites thrive in wood and do not create tunnels or mud tubes to travel inside the home.
Subterranean Termites
These termites dwell in the soil, foundational wood, and compost piles. They enter the home by creating mud tubes or tunnels in the wood and soil.
How To Tell If There Are Termites in Your Walls?
Here are several signs that may indicate the presence of termites on the walls of your house.
Bubbly or Peeling Paint
When termites damage the drywall, it allows moisture to enter between the surface of the walls and the paint. This excess moisture causes the paint to flake and form bubbles. But, remember there could be other reasons for your paint to peel, bubble, or crack, such as high temperatures, water leaks, or plumbing problems.
Frass or Termite Dust
Frass or termite droppings are perhaps the most telltale sign of termites living inside your walls. Frass resembles sawdust and is easily noticeable. The “termite dust” can be found on the wooden door or window frames, baseboards, attics, pantries, etc.
Hollow Wood
As termites eat through the wood, it hollows it out. If you knock on a wall and hear a hollow or paperlike sound, you may have a termite infestation.
If you press a screwdriver against a wall and it punctures the wall easily, you have good reason to suspect termites.
Keep in mind that termites are not the only insects that damage wood. Other wood-boring insects may be dwelling inside the wall, giving away a similar sound.
Mud Tubes
Mud tubes appear as small bridges made of wood and soil, particularly created by the subterranean termites around your home’s foundation to enter it.
However, if you do not notice any mud tubes around the house, it does not mean that your place is termite-free. Drywood termites do not need to make mud tubes to infest your home.
Termite Swarmers
Termites shed their wings when they reach maturity and leave their nest to move to a new colony. Hence, if you notice a pile of broken-off, scattered wings, you are likely dealing with a termite infestation.
Weird Clicking Sounds
If you hear strange clicking sounds within your walls, termites may be hiding there. When soldier termites detect a threat to their colony, they bang their heads on the walls to alert other colonies.
Stuck Windows or Hard-to-Open Doors
Termites gnaw through the wood on the doors and windows, creating moisture and causing it to warp. This gradually weakens them over time, thus making it difficult to open or shut them.
Sight of Termites
Perhaps the most foolproof evidence of termites is seeing them with your own eyes. However, you may confuse them with flying ants.
Note that termites have thick abdomens, straight antennae, and evenly-sized rear wings. In contrast, flying ants have bent antennae, and their wings vary in size.
How To Keep Termites Out of Your Forney Home?
If you suspect signs of termites in your house, do not ignore them and contact a termite examiner immediately.
Romney Pest Control offers advanced solutions and customized plans to make your home termite-free while preventing future infestations. Call us today for a free quote and book your inspection!
