With the arrival of spring, there is one type of infestation that will become more common in the coming months — a termite infestation. While having any type of pest infest your home is not ideal, having an infestation of termites can cause severe damage to your home (and wallet). If you’re walking around your home trying to find out if you have a termite infestation, here are a few common signs that point to yes.
Knock Knock
You normally won’t ever see termites out in the open, dining on a nice piece of wood. These wood-loving pests prefer to feed on wood from the inside out. This means that all of the wooden structures in your home will look normal, but go ahead and give each piece a knock. A telltale sign of a termite infestation is hearing a hollow sound when you knock on a piece of infested wood.
Mud-Filled Walls
If you find yourself knocking around the house but not hearing any hollow sounds, complete a visual inspection by keeping an eye out for specks of mud. What looks like mud splatter is actually a collection of mud tubes created by the termites. These mud tubes provide the termites with a moisture-filled environment as they look for wood to feed on.
Winged Things
Since termites eat wood from the inside out and stay hidden in the earth, you’ll never see one casually walking around. However, you will see reproductive termites with wings swarming throughout the spring. These “swarmers” will fly around until they find the perfect area for them to set up a new colony. If you haven’t noticed any swarmers flying around, keep an eye out for any discarded wings.
Of all the types of pests that can infest your home, having a termite infestation is usually the worst case scenario. When your home becomes infested with termites, immediately contact the pest management professionals at Knockout Pest Control. To learn more or to schedule an inspection, give us a call at (800) 244-7378.
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