4 Signs That You’ve Got Termites
More so than any other insect, termites are a bane to the homeowner. While other infestations like ants and cockroaches are an unsightly and unwanted addition to any house, these pests mainly eat the same sorts of food as humans and do minimal damage to the building. On the other hand, termites consume the very walls themselves.
Here are four warning signs to watch out for:
- Swarmers. Much like ants, termites produce winged, fertile males and females when it comes time to reproduce and start new colonies. Spotting termite swarmers outside doesn’t necessarily mean that there’s a problem on your property, but if they start showing up inside, or if you find a pile of their discarded wings, then it’s time to call a pest control service to have a look around. Most termite mating seasons occur between March and May.
- “Mud” buildup. Termites produce a mud-like substance which consists of wood pulp, saliva, and feces. If a windowsill or other exposed section of wood is gathering an unaccountable amount of dirt and mud, it may be the result of a termite infestation.
- Mud tunnels. Termites use their mud to create tunnels to protect themselves as they travel through the wood and even across other surfaces like brick and concrete. Finding a mud tunnel on your foundation wall is a sure sign of an infestation, and even if you crack one open and you don’t find any white worker termites moving through, it may simply mean that the colony has moved on to another part of your house.
- Hollow wood. Termites often take care to avoid breaching the surface of the wood in order to avoid attention, making it hard even for professionals to get positive proof of an infestation. However, one test you can perform yourself is to tap a wooden surface with a hammer. Wood that’s been hollowed out by termites produces a distinctly different sound compared to healthy wood.
Once you’ve got a termite problem, it can be almost impossible to get rid of them, even with the help of a reliable pest control service. Because of this, your property value will likely dive even if you get rid of the obvious infestation.
However, like all living creatures, termites require a certain amount of water in order to survive. As such, waterproofing your basement or crawlspace not only protects your property against water damage, mold, and mildew, it also protects you against dangerous pests like termites and carpenter ants.
If you live in or around the state of Maryland, contact AA Action Waterproofing and we’ll put our 27 years of experience to work making sure that your basement or crawlspace is as moisture-free as possible. We also provide pre-construction consultations so that your home never has to worry about an infestation. After all, when it comes to pest control, the best offense is a good defense.