Pest Control Advice

Termites are some of the most destructive pests you can ever have in your home. They feed on wood, and they can be quite hard to notice. In fact, many homeowners only realise they have a termite infestation when the damage has already been done. If you have a termite infestation in your home, you will have to plan for an inspection.

An inspection will determine the extent of the infestation and the best possible treatment option. However, unless you are buying a house where a termite inspection would be part of the whole building inspection, you will need to know the signs of a termite infestation before you schedule an inspection. Therefore, here is what you should look for.

Hollow Sounding Timber

Termites feed on wood from the inside out. Therefore, if you notice some of the wooden components in your home sounding hollow or papery when you tap or knock on them, chances are you have a termite infestation. This is usually quite hard to tell and, in most cases, you will only notice it when you hit over your door frame or wooden chair, or when your vacuum cleaner knocks on the legs of your wooden chair or couch.

Sticky Doors and Windows

If your doors and windows are becoming sticky when you try to open or close them, don't be quick to dismiss that as a moisture issue. It could be a sign of a termite infestation. Wood is susceptible to moisture, which is why your doors and windows may become tight-fitting and quite hard to open if you have moisture problems.

However, if you don't have a moisture problem but your doors and windows are still sticky, it could be due to the termites. As termites move through your door and window frames and eat, they tend to produce moisture. The moisture can lead to dampness that will, in turn, cause your doors and windows to become sticky when being opened or closed.

Galleries in Wood

You should also look for galleries or tunnels in pieces of wood around your home. You can do this when cleaning around your yard or garden. The pieces of wood will also feel papery because termites can consume wood leaving only a thin layer of timber on the outside. As you check for galleries in wood pieces around your home, watch out for frass or termite droppings too for confirmation of the infestation. They are tiny pellets, which won't be hard to tell because in most cases, you will find a pile of them.

For more information, contact your local pest control service.