The Telltale Signs Of Termite Activity In Your Home or Business

Termites usually conduct their destructive activities outside of human eyesight or earshot. They get away with causing billions of dollars in property damage in the U.S. every year because termite damage usually isn’t noticed until a considerable amount is incurred.

Every homeowner dreads a termite infestation. And while it’s largely thought of as a residential problem, commercial properties are just as vulnerable to termites. Both residential and commercial properties are built with similar materials and both contain the wood, cardboard, and other cellulose materials that termites love to eat. Termites will locate the smallest ways to enter your home such as gaps in windows, doors, or where the foundation meets the wooden structure.

It’s important that homeowners and business owners alike learn how to identify the telltale signs of termites so steps can be taken to kill them before significant damage is done.

Signs of Termite Activity

1. Swarming Termites or Discarded Termite Wings: In the spring after a rain, male and female flying termites leave their nest to find mates and establish a new colony. Because these swarms are short-lived, you might miss seeing a swarm. But, if you find discarded wings in your home, on window sills or patios and decks outside, this is a sign of termites either in your home or business, or near it.

2. Hollow Sounding Wood: Because termites eat wood from the inside out, they leave a thin veneer of timber or paint. So, when you tap or lean on an area that has termite damage, it sounds or feels hollowed out.

3. Frass: This is the term used to describe termite droppings. Termites push their feces out of their nests resulting in small pepper-like substances on the ground or on windowsills near the area they are infesting. These droppings can also look a bit like sawdust.

4. Mud Tubes: Termites create mud tubes along foundation walls to travel into your structure. These tubes can be pencil-thin. Inspect all around your foundation as well as the insides of any crawl spaces and basements.

5. Visible Structural Damage: Bulging walls, drooping ceilings, and sagging floors can all be signs of termite damage.

How to Prevent and Remove Termites

A termite infestation can happen to anyone. The best way to handle termite control is to rely on experts to conduct a termite inspection. Ecola has technology that can detect termites even when there are no visible signs. When you call Ecola, a professional will inspect your property for signs of termite activity and termite entry points. If termites are discovered, a treatment plan, including natural termite control, will be created. If you have no termite activity, there are preventative steps you can take to protect you from the cost of any future termite activity.

Call Ecola at (800) 332-BUGS (2847) to schedule your free termite inspection.