5 Early Warning Signs Your House has Termites

Termite infestation is one of the most frustrating occurrences to homeowners. People who have suffered this ordeal face discomfort, property loss and rising expenses for repair. Termites are known to cause great damage to wooden structures, and this can go out of hand if not detected early enough. To shield yourself from losing your entire property to termites, pest control experts www.pestworks.com.au reveal  five most important signs you should look out for to detect a termite infestation early enough.

1. Holes on surfaces

Termites can drill holes the size of a nail in wooden structures. You might notice multiple holes on your wood, which are definitely not due to construction. This is a good indication that you might be facing a termite infestation in your home. Such holes are known as termite shelter tubes because this is where they hide from predators. These holes are also humid and dark, creating the perfect environment for termites to live..

2. Droppings from termite drilling

You might notice some sawdust droppings on the floor, which results from termites drilling your walls. This will mostly be noticed for houses that are infested by dry wood termites. Termite droppings, also known as frass, is a clear indication of the termites’ entryway. If you are planning to use any kind of treatment to get rid of the termites, then this is the most appropriate place to target them. Some black marks and a dark powdery substance is usually found near the infested area.

3. Hollow sounding timber

One of the simplest inspections you can do without the help of an expert is tapping or puncturing the wood to check whether it is hollow. Termites usually eat the wood from inside, which makes it difficult to notice their presence by just looking at the wood. The wood might appear intact from outside, but on tapping it, you will notice some hollow sound.

You might also notice sagging wood because once the termites attack, the wooden is eaten from inside. This makes the wood weak and it will easily break even with a single tap. The most unfortunate thing is that the only option with a wood that is already eaten up is that it must be replaced. That is why early detection is crucial.

4. Presence of termite wings

Flying termites that are involved in reproduction are usually called swarmers. This is because they are often involved in multiple flights when searching for places to establish new colonies. During this movement, the termites shed some small wings that can be easily noticed. If you come across such wings, then this is a clear indication of the possibility of termite infestation.

5. Termite sounds

If you pay close attention, you will notice some tapping coming from places that are heavily infested by termites. This noise usually arises from the soldiers when they use their heads and mandibles to tap on the wood. The tapping is usually to convey a signal to the entire colony. Continued tapping by the entire colony makes the noise audible enough for a person to notice.

Once you notice any of the above signs, contact your local pest control experts for assistance immediately to schedule an inspection and advise on the most appropriate termite treatment.