If your home was made out of candy, how long do you think it would last before being eaten? All it would really take is a few local troublemaking sweet tooths for damage to begin. One day your cotton candy door would be gone and the next your taffy window frames, before long all that would be left are your black lickerish curtains. All jokes aside, your home is made out of one cravable substance, that a certain subterranean pest loves to eat. Termites are a big problem here in Modesto, and your home’s wood is the perfect treat for their never-ending appetite. How can you know if termites have invaded your home? Here is our step-by-step guide on how to spot a termite infestation.
Everything You Need To Know About Termites
California is home to three different species of termites, dry wood termites, subterranean termites, and Formosan termites. Since subterranean termites are the most common, we will be focusing on them today.
Subterranean termites are social creatures who live in nests dug deep into the ground. These nests, otherwise known as colonies, are often built near a source of harvestable wood. For subterranean termites, this is any wood that has been affected by water damage, rot, or decay. If your home’s wood has been softened by any of these three conditions, then you can be sure it is susceptible to a termite infestation.
Damage Termites Cause
Termites do not have to sleep. This allows them to harvest wood constantly. Despite this skill, it still takes termites quite some time to damage homes. To consume a 2 by 4 worth of wood it takes a fully mature colony of termites 6 months. That being said, it’s not how fast termites can eat your home that makes them the most destructive pest out there, it is how quietly and stealthily they do so. Termite infestations often go unnoticed for years. It’s not until more obvious signs of damage show up that homeowners become the wiser. Here are just a few signs that often clue homeowners into termite problems.
- Tight-fitting doors and windows.
- Overly squeaky floorboards or stairs.
- Dipping ceilings.
- Buckling walls and support beams.
- Bubbling wallpaper and/or paint.
- Soft clicking noises coming from inside walls.
- Other visible damage to structural wood.
Of course, by the time these signs are found, termites have already dealt tens of thousands of dollars in property damage.
How To Spot Termites Early
There is really only one thing that gives away termites early, and that is mud tubes. If you see pencil-sized mud tubes crawling up your home’s exterior foundation, you can be sure your home is infested by termites. Beyond this, the only real way to know your home has a termite problem is to either wait for more severe signs to pop up or to let a professional inspect your home.
Prevention Tips For Termites
If your home does not already have a termite infestation there are many things you can do to keep it that way. Here are some prevention tips the experts here at Peace of Mind Pest Control recommend.
- Fix leaks around your home.
- Address broken gutters.
- Eliminate sources of water build-up.
- Use a dehumidifier to keep humidity down inside your home.
- Repair or replace water damaged or softened wood around your home.
- Reduce soil to wood contact around your home’s exterior.
- Avoid using wood-based mulch products.
- Store firewood and/or lumber at least 30 feet from your home’s exterior.
- Remove dead wood, leaf piles, and other organic debris from your yard.
The Best Way To Eliminate And Keep Out Termites
Termites would like nothing more than to eat your home. Peace of Mind Pest Control is here to stop this from happening. If you suspect your home has a termite problem or are looking for the most effective way to keep it termite-free, we have a solution for you. With our termite control plans, you won’t ever have to worry about termites nibbling on things they shouldn’t.
Contact us today to find out more about our termite control plans or to schedule a service visit for your Modesto home.
