If you see one termite, there is probably a nest of them just waiting to be found. If you are suspicious that you might have a termite infestation, there are ways that you can find out. Ultimately, you should get an inspector to come over and check out your property for any signs of an infestation. If the inspector isn’t scheduled for a week, however, here are some signs that you can look into yourself:
You hear clicks in your walls
If you hear clicking sounds coming from the inside of your walls, you might be hearing the sound of termites banging their heads against the wood. They do this to signal danger to other termites in the colony. These guys are quite sensitive and can detect vibrations and noises using their antennae and legs. Normally, these noises will be made by the soldier termites who are the designated protectors of the nest.
You see them swarming around your lights
The first sign of an infestation is usually when you see them flying around or swarming about your lights. Chances are that you won’t miss it if one just flew by your face. It is kind of hard to not notice a large bug zooming across your home. Termites lose their wings right after they find their mate, so if you find any discarded wings on the floor, you might have termites somewhere nearby. This is a huge tip-off that you have an infestation.
You see light-coloured ants around
The shape of a termite is almost identical to the shape of an ant. However, termites are lighter in colour. It isn’t uncommon for people to mix up termites and ants since they look rather similar. Flying ants have two sets of wings, just like termites do. The one thing to remember is that white ants do not exist. Additionally, termites have straight antennae whereas ants will have a curved pair. Another difference is that a termite’s midsection is a lot larger on them than an ant’s.
You spot signs of your wood wearing down
Termites feed on wood and timber. Therefore, if you spot signs of the leftover veneer of timber or paint, you may have termites eating away at your wood. Termite damage will mean that the inside of your timber has been eaten away. If there are certain areas in your walls that sound hollow, there may be some serious termite damage that needs to be taken care of. Since they love to eat the wood out, you can spot this very easily visually as well as through sound. After some time, the pests inside the wood will cause the wood to rot.
Your doors and windows are warping
You want to make it so that there are no cracks and crevices that termites might be able to come through. Windows that are hard to open and warped doors may also mean a termite infestation. If you are seeing some window and door warping, you know it is time for a replacement. If you don’t want to pay for a replacement, you can at least get a professional repair. Infestations can cause wood to weaken, making your wooden products break down.
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