Most of the time, signs of termite infestations appear only when home repairs already extend to the component. With proper knowledge of the warning signs of a termite infestation, one can timely prevent the serious damage and expensive repairs. Let's first talk about the vital signs you look for, how termites are dissimilar from all the other pests, and some measures to prevent such destructive insects from entering your home.
Why Are Termites So Hazardous?
Termites feed on cellulose, which is found in wood and plant-based materials. This means that the wood in your home - walls, floors, and furniture - could be a prime food source for them. They can weaken structural elements, often leaving behind little visible evidence until a lot of damage has already been done. While termites are yet a different kind of threat than, say, rodents, the damage they can cause is just as serious.
For instance, if you have rodents and termites, remember that Rat Control Services In Chennai exist to serve you and can handle pest control in various areas like stopping the chewing of your car wires by rodents. Knowing how pest control stops rodents from chewing your car wires and other essentials can make a lot of difference in your quest for keeping your home and your car safe.
Warning Signs of a Termite Infestation
- Mud Tubes
One common sign that termite invasion is happening in a building is the availability of mud tubes, one pencil-sized in diameter. These tubes are built by subterranean Termite Control Services In Chennai to ensure safe access from their nest to food sources. Mud tubes often appear near the home foundation, crawl spaces, and along walls. Mud tubes around your home are a pretty sure sign of termites in the building. - Discarded Wings or Swarmers
Swarming termites are winged and arrive in big numbers mainly during springtime to form a new colony. They are attracted to light, so you can find them near windows, doors, or any light source. Once they reach a surface, they lose their wings. A significant number of wings found near windows or other points of entry is a simple indication of an infestation. When you get this many wings, then it's time to get an expert in to inspect your property. - Wood Damage
Termites tend to feed from the inside out, so you won't necessarily see an obvious amount of damage at first glance. However, if you tap on wood and it sounds hollow or if you notice that wood is crumbling or seems "flaky" on the surface, termites may be at fault. You might also see "galleries" or long grooves in the wood. This primarily occurs where the ground is proximate or where water commonly collects, as termites are instinctively drawn to moist wood. - Bubbling or Peeling Paint
Termites require moisture to survive, so the moisture can collect behind the walls where tunnels have been done and creates the paint which appears bubbly or peeling. This may resemble water damage but might be a sign of termites. Check all odd bubbles in your paint and get a pest control professional if you suspect termites. - Frass or Termite Droppings
Drywood termites excrete droppings known as frass. Frass usually looks like small pellets made from wood-coloured material. The heaps of frass tend to appear in small quantities around the termite nest due to termites pushing the excrements out of their tunnels. The existence of the heaps around the wood might be a sign of the presence of drywood termites. - Small Hole Inside and Outside
The termites tunnel through the wood; it becomes twisted, warped, and swollen. Due to this, doors and windows often become hard to open or close. So if you find that some of your doors or windows in the house are suddenly hard to fit into place, this could just be proof that the silent termite is working behind the scenes. - Head Banging Sounds
It is very odd, but the truth is, termites make noise! Soldier termites beat their heads on wood or shake their entire body to warn the rest of the colony's inhabitants to danger. You can even listen for a faint clicking or rustling sound in your walls if there are active termites nearby.
Preventing Termite Infestation
Knowing the warning signs of termites is pretty important, but actually preventing them is probably the best defence. Here's some preventative tips on how to keep these pests out of your home:
- Moisture Reduction: Termites are attracted to moisture. Fix any leaks, ensure that proper ventilation exists, and install a dehumidifier in damp areas.
- Eliminate Food Sources: Do not heap wood or any cellulose-based material close to your house. Remove dead trees, stumps, or rotting wood in the yard.
- Seal Their Entry Points: Just like you would seal rodents' entry points, fill all the cracks, holes, and crevices. It will be much more challenging for termites to come inside.
- Invigilate Frequently: Keep an eye out for signs of damage from within or near the ground or in wet areas.
- Professional Pest Control: For some, termite inspections are done on a regular basis by professionals to be better protected against possible termite infestation.
Rodents End
While the termites are busy destroying the wood, rodents can do the same job in different ways. You might hear people complaining that their car wires are chewed by the rodents. Believe it or not, many car wires have a soy-based coating which attracts rodents.
How Pest Control Stops Rodents from Chewing Your Car Wires
Pest control services in chennai can install rodent barriers around your garage or provide repellents that make your car's wiring less appealing. Professional pest control specialists can identify how rodents are entering and set up traps or deterrents to keep them away. If you've had trouble with rodents targeting your car, you owe it to yourself to see how to stop rodents from chewing car wires with a good pest control provider.
When to Call for Help
When you find any of the given signs of termite infestation or when you notice a rodent infestation that can't be dealt with, this is the time when you call for professional assistance. The pest control expert will assess the problem at hand and give you the exact solution that you require. Whether you need help with termites, rodents, or both, an expert service will use the safest methods that will ensure the required efficiency at preserving your property.
Conclusion
Left unattended, termites might become a significant issue. And hence, it's crucial that you identify the signs well in time to save your property from major damage. Look out for mud tubes, discarded wings, broken wood, and all such signs that might indicate termites are nesting within your property. And if rodents to become a problem, specially targeting your car's wires, seek expert help to seal your property.
JCS Pest Control provides these services so your home is termite-free and rodent-free.
Naijamatta is a social networking site,
download Naijamatta from Google play store or visit www.naijamatta.com to register. You can post, comment, do voice and video call, join and open group, go live etc. Join Naijamatta family, the Green app.
Click To Download