Table of Contents
Termites can cause damage to the structural wood of your house as well as in areas around your windows and doors. Serious infestations can even lead to damage inside the walls of your home and to the wood furniture inside. This includes the wood under your house, the wood inside your walls, and inside the attic.
How quickly can termites destroy a house?
With about 2 million termites working in the right condition they can cause significant damage within the first few months. A home can be totally destroyed in a year or two.
Is your house ruined if you have termites?
Termites are known to cause severe damage to homes, sometimes costing thousands of dollars in repairs that are not typically covered in standard insurance policies. Discovering damage at your home is an unsettling experience, but a trusted pest control professional can help.
What are the signs of termites in your home?
5 Signs of a Termite Infestation Stuck Windows or Doors. Do you have a window or door that recently feels stuck, or suddenly became much harder to open or close? Damage under Paint or Wallpaper. Termite Swarmers & Discarded Wings. Mud Tubes. Termite Droppings.
What damage do termites cause?
Outward signs of termite damage include buckling wood, swollen floors and ceilings, areas that appear to be suffering from slight water damage and visible mazes within walls or furniture. Termite infestations also can exude a scent similar to mildew or mold.
Do termites bite people?
Essentially, termites definitely bite wood and do attack other insects, but they do not bite people. Although homeowners experiencing an infestation should not be concerned about receiving bites from termites, professional extermination methods should be sought and implemented to protect the structure of your home.
Do termites make your house smell?
Termites are also said to give off an odor that smells like mildew or mold; it is often mistaken as water damage. If you notice any unfamiliar smells, see if you can find where it is coming from; you may find the source being an infestation.
What happens if termites go untreated?
Since many species of termites build colonies in the ground, reach the foundation and floor joists of your home isn’t a very long journey. Termites that are left untreated can cause such extensive damage to your foundation and the supports of your subfloor that your floors could literally fall apart.
What are signs of termite damage?
These tell-tale signs include: Discolored or drooping drywall. Peeling paint that resembles water damage. Small, pinpoint holes in drywall. Buckling wooden or laminate floorboards. Tiles loosening from the added moisture termites can introduce to your floor. Excessively squeaky floorboards. Crumbling, damaged wood.
How many days do termite swarms last?
Swarms typically last a few weeks, although the start and finish can vary, depending on weather patterns and other local conditions. That said, seeing flying termites near your home is a reason for concern, as the closer these voracious pests get to your home, the bigger risk you run of having an infestation.
Are termites hard to get rid of?
Termites can be a difficult pest to deal with, especially in warmer weather. For smaller infestations, there are many DIY solutions that homeowners can use and apply to get rid of termites. However, when dealing with large infestations, homeowners should call a professional exterminator to handle the issue.
Should I knock down termite tubes?
Pro-Tip: If you see termite tubes, you might be asking yourself, “Should I knock down termite tubes?” The answer is no. You should call a professional to remove the tubes. Termites can easily and quickly rebuild their tubes.
How do you know if termites are in your walls?
Common signs of termite damage to a wall include: Small pin holes, where termites have eaten through the paper coating on drywall and/or wallpaper. Faint ‘lines’ on drywall. A hollow sound when you tap on the wall. Bubbling or peeling paint. Baseboards that crumble under slight pressure. Jammed doors or windows.
What does termite poop look like?
Drywood termite pellets are tiny, oval-shaped capsules with six concave sides and rounded ends. These pellets, which are about 1 millimeter in length, can form small mounds beneath kick out holes. The mounds may look like small piles of salt or pepper.
Do termites stay in one area?
A worker termite can live several years. But, termite colonies do no stay one colony for long. They send out swarmers and replicate. Each colony is able to produce worker termites that never sleep.
Will termites get in your bed?
As we’ve established before, they do. In fact, termites can wreak havoc on wooden beds and bedding items. Wood isn’t the only thing these tiny insects can feed on. As long as your mattress contains cellulose, termites will make tiny bites, resulting in pinholes on the mattress and bed sheets.
What is the natural enemy of termites?
Ants are the greatest predators of termites, and may have a considerable local impact on termite populations in some areas of the world. A few parasitoids of termites are known, but their potential for regulating termite populations seems negligible.
How do I get rid of termites in my house?
How to Get Rid of Termites in Wood #1: Exposure to Sunlight. Expose your furniture to sunlight often. #2: Make a Cardboard Trap. Cardboard boxes are effective traps for termites. #3: Spray Boric Acid. Keep your furniture clean and moisture-free. #5: Oil Treatments. #6: Distance between soil and wood.
