How to Recognize a Termite Problem Before Disaster Strikes

Termites can cause devastation to your home or business and leave you with a hefty check to pay. Each year in the United States, termites are responsible for an estimated $5 billion in damage. 

Needless to say, it’s important to be able to stop and prevent termites from damaging your property before they start. Here’s what you can do to avoid a termite problem this year. 

Recognizing an Infestation 

In order to spot an infestation, you have to know how to spot a termite. Like ants, each termite in a colony has a specific role to play. Most are workers which are the smallest of the lot at about ⅛ of an inch in length. Usually, workers are grayish-white or all white in color. Next come the Soldiers. These yellow-brown headed bugs stand bigger than the workers and use their jaws to protect the colony. 

The largest type of termites are the Swarmers. If you spot a Swarmer, you most likely have a termite problem. These winged pests are about half an inch long and are the only members that travel outside of the colony. They can be black, brown, or yellow in color and leave their nests in the spring to start other colonies. 

If you spot a termite outside your home or workplace, it probably means that they came from a colony underground. If you see them around your place, exiting a crack in the wall or creeping through windows, then they most likely have begun eating away at your property. 

Spotting a termite anywhere is a good indicator of an infestation because they only leave their colonies if they’re full. Here are a few other potential indicators to look out for: 

• Winged Swarmers 
• Loose or weak tiles and floorboards 
• Tight-fitting doors and windows 
• Mud tubes, maze patterns, or clicking noises in walls 
• Wall holes the size of needles 
• Hollow-sounding or otherwise ruined wood 
• Bubbling or peeling paint that looks similar to water damage 
• Discoloration or drooping in your drywall 

Preventing Termites Before They Infest 

If termites are naturally drawn to the wood, light, and warmth of your home, what’s to keep them out? Preventing a termite problem is easier than you’d expect. Here’s what to do: 

• Keep any stored wood, including firewood, away from soil and distanced from your property 
• Keep greenery groomed and away from your property 
• Fix anything causing moisture to the wood in your property like leaking faucets or pipes
• Seal all cracks and crevices in your walls and/or utility lines 
• Maintain clean vents and gutters 
• Discard rotting wood, especially if it’s softened by water damage 
• Schedule regular pest control treatments around your property 

Vulcan Termite and Pest Control, Inc.: Preventing Infestations for Decades 

While there are some things you can do yourself to prevent a termite problem, no single home remedy can ensure your property’s safety. The best way to keep termites from damaging your home or workplace is to schedule regular preventative pest control treatment. 

At Vulcan Termite and Pest Control, Inc., we’ve been stopping termites in their tracks for decades. Our expert team of technicians use methods grounded in science and tested by time. Keep your home protected and contact us today!