How To Check If You Have Termites
Termites can be an incredibly irritating and expensive problem. If you find termites or signs of termites in your house, then you might be worried that you have an infestation on your hands. Here is a brief guide to figuring out whether or not you have a termite problem on your hands.
Diagnosing the Problem
Before you go about hiring any exterminators, you will need to determine whether or not you actually have an infestation. If you're lucky, then you might have stumbled upon a stray bug or two rather than actual signs of a serious termite problem.
Termite Bodies
If you've found some dead bugs near some wood, then you might be worried that you have termites. However, you should first check to see whether they are actually termites, since they are actually fairly similar in appearance to ants. Termites have two sets of wings that are equal in size, broad waists, and a whitish tan coloration. Ants are generally darker with a skinny waist.
Termite Tubes
Your first step is to check for features known as termite tubes, which resemble small trails made of mud and are usually less than an inch wide. Carefully check the entirety of the exterior of your house for these telltale signs. Termites use these tubes to move between the nest and the food source. If you do find some termite tubes, then there is a decent chance that you have an infestation on your hands.
Wood Damage
You will also want to determine whether or not your property has suffered wood damage. Remember to check the environment outside the house as well, since fences, sheds, and other wooden things often make prime targets for termites. You'll need to be able to determine the difference between wood that has naturally suffered damage and wood that has been the victim of termites. Non-termite damage tends to affect the outside of the wood, which means that there will be readily visible damage. On the other hand, termites actually damage the inside of the wood first. They eat wood from the inside out, so you'll need to check whether your wood is hollow where it shouldn't be.
Potential Nesting Places
You'll also want to check out any sources of wood near your home that could be used by termites. Piles of old firewood or any rotting wood are excellent places to start looking for termites. Basically, any source of wood that isn't sealed could be a breeding ground for termites. If you have to keep wood near your house, try to keep it as far away from the building as possible so that it will be much harder for termites to actually reach your house.
If you find that you do have a termite infestation, contact a company like Freedom Pest Solutions for professional help.