Termite infestation starts in the spring
when winged termites swarm and look for a new home to start a colony.
When they find a place to call home, their wings drop off and they begin
to dig in the ground. From this new location they routinely burrow into
the structure of your house to eat the wood. Here are some telltale
signs that you are hosting termites:
1. Hollow or Damaged Wood
Termites eat wood from the inside to the
outside. If you knock on wood and it sounds hollow, you may have
termites. As termites hollow out wood you may see holes in plaster or
drywall; these have dirt around the edges. The wood is weakened and may
appear sunken or rippled. You will also notice termite droppings along
the foundation that have been pushed out of the holes; droppings look
like dark powder.
2. Winged Termites
If
you catch sight of a termite swarm, or just see shed wings lying around
near your house, you may have termites. Winged termites are attracted
to light so you may see them near light fixtures or on window screens.
3. Dirt Tubes
Termites build dirt tubes along the
foundation of a building as a conduit from their underground nests to
the wood they eat inside the structure. If you see these tubes along the
sides of foundation walls, you have termites. Destroying the tubes will
not get rid of them.
If you notice any of these signs, or
have any other reason to suspect you have a termite infestation, have a
professional come to your home and give you a definitive answer.
Termites can feed undetected in your home for years, so an annual
inspection is the best way to prevent damage from these pests. Visit this website to learn more about termite control in Raleigh.
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