Termite Signs And Prevention
Signs You Have Termites
Swarming Termites
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This is a mass of winged-termites that have grouped together to find and establish their new colony.
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Finding winged termites in your home is often the first sign of an infestation.
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Swarms usually occur in the spring and can have as many as 65,000 termites in the swarm.
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Check out the About Termites section to see the difference between flying ants and termites.
Mud Tubes
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Mud tubes are probably one of the more visible signs of subterranean termites. They use mud tubes to travel between the colony’s nest and their source of food and water.
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Mud tubes are about the diameter of a pencil and originate in the soil and move into your home as needed food sources are discovered.
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Check the woodwork, foundation walls, drywall, crawl spaces or any other type of surface for mud tubes. They can extend for many feet.
Discarded Wings
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After subterranean termites swarm, they will discard their wings. If you find piles of insect wings near your windows, doors, light fixtures or in spider webs, there’s a good chance there’s a swarm of termites nearby.
Wood Damage
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You need to look carefully for this as wood damage isn’t always easy to detect.
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Termites feed on the wood from the inside out, leaving a thin exterior layer intact.
Here are a few simple ways to check for damage:
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Break off a piece of the damaged wood. Small tunnels winding throughout are a sign of termite damage.
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Tap on the wood. If it has a hollow sound, there could be termite damage.
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Look for wood that appears weakened, has small cracks or is blistering
Termite Prevention Tips
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Termites need moisture to survive, so eliminate their access to water both indoors and out:
• Repair leaking pipes, faucets, etc.
• Remove any standing water near the foundation or on the roof of your home.
• Keep gutters and down-spouts clear of debris to allow water to flow out.
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Make sure shrubs, mulch and other landscaping elements are away from the foundation.
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Keep soil at least 6 inches away from the bottom of stucco, siding, wood steps, lattice work and door frames.
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Think twice about leaning that wooden trellis against your home.
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Stack firewood and scrap lumber away from any structures and eliminate old stumps and wooden debris.
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Keep crawl spaces and basements clear of wood debris, newspaper, excess cardboard, etc.
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Screen all exterior vents to prevent entry.
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Seal all cracks and holes in your home’s foundation to eliminate easy access to termites.
