How can you check your home for termites? 

Out of all the common issues you may face as a homeowner, termites are probably one of the biggest headaches. Termites cost more than $5 billion in property damage every year as infestations can have huge consequences on your home and furniture. Unfortunately, repairing this damage or getting rid of termites are typically not part of homeowner’s insurance, making it important to learn how to check for termites.

Protecting your home from termites is possible by knowing what signs to look out for and how you can address potential infestations. Detecting the problem early and solving it immediately can prevent significant damage and expensive repair costs.

It’s best to do a termite inspection every quarter, on top of scheduling an annual professional inspection, since professionals know where to look and have the proper equipment to complete a termite inspection.

To keep your home safe and free from termites, here are some of the ways to check for termites.

How to Check for Termites at Home?

Staying on top of termite control begins with being alert for potential signs of these insects. In terms of appearances, termites often look similar to winged ants. However, their wings are the same size, and they have straight antennae instead of those that bend at a certain angle. To check for termites at home, you generally want to keep your eye out on two key areas:

Areas Where Soil Comes into Contact with Wood

Termites thrive on wood, so you have to watch out for areas where soil may have direct contact with wood. This is especially true for your home foundations since any vulnerabilities like possible cracks since these are easy entryways for the termites. Mud tubes and tunnels, which are found where your house meets the ground, are especially prone to termites since they often work their way up from the bottom.

Wooden Structures with Moisture

Every house is built differently and has varying structures, but if you want to check for termites, the most probable areas to examine would be wooden structures that collect moisture. Termites practically feast on these areas, so wood fences, patios, mulch beds, or even drip lines from your air conditioner are some of the most likely to attract infestations.

Inspecting these areas and your whole home, in general, can help you catch termites early and seek professional help for termite control immediately. The more attentive you are to these areas, the higher the chances that you can avoid any major damage in your house.

Common Signs of Termite Activity

Another way to be proactive about your home and possible termites is to watch out for signs of an infestation. Aside from checking the two key areas mentioned, you can also keep an eye out on this evidence:

Wings from Swarms

Termite swarms may sometimes invade homes once or twice a year, depending on weather conditions and other factors. This happens when termites leave their nests to start a colony elsewhere. Some evidence of a swarm includes discarded wings since the termites get rid of them at this time. It can be hard to detect swarms as termites often do this when your home is relatively empty but try to look out for piles of wings that may indicate termite swarms.

Termite Droppings

Drywood termites often leave droppings behind after eating and infesting on wood. Since their food source is wood, their droppings are also wood and look like several mounds of pellets. If you notice these mounds somewhere in your home, it may be a sign of a termite infestation.

Mud Tubes

Subterranean termites need to live in specific temperatures and humidity levels, so they often build mud tubes underground. The tubes serve as bridges between their food, which is essentially wood, and colony. You might notice the mud tubes climbing up the foundations of your home, such as in drywall surfaces or even coming out from the ground.

Hollowed and Damaged Wood

Wood gradually weakens as termites chew on them, so over time, they may become damaged. In some cases, you might notice some surfaces like your floor, walls, and other wooden structures sounding hollow when tapped.

While the signs above can give you some indication of possible termite activity, you may not always be able to spot them. At the same time, even if you do not notice any of these signs, there is still a chance that termites are present in your home. Thus, contacting a professional company for a termite inspection will be best to save money from potentially huge repairs caused by termite damage.

Call a Professional to Get Your Home’s Termites in Control

Take charge of your home by keeping termites in control with professional inspections and repairs. Call ProHealth Pest Control today at 727-310-0521 to request a quote for our services. Our insect control services are up to standard to ensure high-quality service to all clients. If you need help getting rid of or checking for termites at home, do not hesitate to schedule an appointment with us!