Staying Safe Around Pest Control

Determining If You Have Termites: How To Tell

Termites can be winged or wingless pests that look very similar to a larger type of ant. These pests are classified as a pest because they feed on moist wood and can do damage to your home if you have moisture-damaged wood somewhere around your home. If you have termites in your home, there are a number of signs you can watch for. If you aren't sure what to look out for, read on for some of the signs to help you determine if you have termites. 

Living Termites

You may see the actual living pests around your home. You may see them flying about, or you may see them crawling in and out of the wood that they have been feasting off of. These pests may be seen in an area where you have had water damage and could have moisture problems in this area as well. If you have seen living pests in or around your home, you need to do some investigating to see if you have water damage. Water or moisture-damaged wood is what is going to attract these pests to your home in the first place.

Sawdust Or Hollowed Wood

You may also have hollowed wood or sawdust around your home. If you have seen living termites, you need to start looking around for this sign and start tapping on wood to see if any feels or sounds hollow to you. If you feel that a piece of wood feels or sounds hollow, you should cut a piece of it out if possible and inspect the wood from the inside to see if there are termite holes that have been burrowed through it. If you find termite holes or see living termites in the wood, you need to remove the wood, inspect any surrounding wood, then replace it with brand-new wood. You'll also need to spray the entire area to kill any termites that may be remaining. Wood that has been removed should be burned immediately to kill any termites that are still in the wood.

If you have any inkling that you have a termite problem, you need to pay close attention to any signs that you may have spotted and get rid of them as quickly as possible before they cause any more damage to your home. Hire a professional pest control expert to help you get rid of this pest issue.

Contact a termite control company to learn more.


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