It must already be known to you that termites are called ‘silent destroyer’ because they can damage your wallpaper, flooring and wood, without even being detected. On average, termites can cause a massive impairment to your home, that might cost thousands of dollars to be repaired later on.
Most of the time, you’ll be able to find termite damage inside your home, after it’s too late. Moreover, they’re extremely hard to see with the naked eye and can easily take up to three to eight years before you can see the infestation symptoms. However, if you can learn about the symptoms, then you’ll have the chance to mitigate the problem before it runs its course.
What Do You Mean By A Termite?
A termite can be defined as a wood-boring insect. This type of insect generally feeds on the cellulose material found in plant materials such as dead leaves and wood. Professional home inspector in Keene states that a colony of termites can consume almost close to a pound of cellulose on a per-day basis.
These insects generally come out during the spring season and are usually confused with flying ants. They eat wood starting from the inside to outside, so there are few chances of finding much evidence.
Termites have three different roles, to begin with:
- Worker termites come in grey-white colour and create the largest termite colony population. They can eat away wood or any other plant-based material.
- Soldier termites come in brown-yellow colour and they protect the homes of the termites.
- Swarmer termites come in yellow-brown colour and have wings. They tend to be the colony breeders.
Where Can You Find Termite Damage?
There’s no doubt that crawl spaces tend to be very notorious for all kinds of moisture problems. Moisture issues can happen due to multiple reasons such as ductwork condensation, stormwater runoff and inadequate ventilation. A damp environment makes it easy for wood boring insects such as termites to perform their job efficiently.
Some of the other locations inside the house that you can find signs of termite infestation:
- Ceilings
- Window Frames
- Inside Wall Cavities
- Wood Siding
- Any Landscape Material Near The House
- Placement Of Firewood Near The Home
If your hired home inspector detects any signs of termite damage, then it’s necessary to call in professional pest infestation services. The pest control company will likely assess the situation and then take relevant measures as required.
Finally, we are listing the popular symptoms that will tell you that there’s termite damage:
- Sawdust-like residue inside your home
- Buckling floors
- Damp or softwood
- Termite swarms around outdoor & indoor lights
- Dry rot inside the wooden floor
- Rot inside wooden window frames & doors
