Are you worried that your house may have an infestation of termites? It can be difficult to recognize the signs at first, as they often hide behind walls and inside wooden structures. Unfortunately, if you don’t find out soon enough, a termite infestation can sometimes become too serious for you to handle. Termites are interesting creatures but can cause great damage to a home if left untreated. If you think that termites may have found their way into your walls, it’s important to take action as soon as possible before the problem gets any worse. But how do you know if there are termites on your wall? In this blog post, we will discuss the signs of a potential termite infestation and provide helpful tips on what you can do next if you believe you have an issue with these unwelcome house guests.
How to Tell if You Have Termites in Your Wall?
Through termites’ small size and the fact that they live inside of walls, it can be difficult to tell whether termites are present in your home. However, there are some telltale signs that termites might be in your walls includes.
Discolored or bubbling paint – When paint starts to bubble and peel, it’s not just a sign of humidity – termites can be drawn in by the excess moisture. Termites can cause paint to look discolored or bubbled due to the moisture they produce.
Mud tubes: Termites are notorious for their subterranean engineering, burrowing through the ground to create intricate mud tunnels. These pencil-width passages can be a telltale sign of an infestation near your home’s foundations. Termites travel through mud tubes, small tunnels that they construct using soil and their saliva.
Hollow-sounding wood – Hollow-sounding wood is a term used to describe wood that termites have potentially damaged. This damage usually occurs when termites tunnel through the wall inside, leaving a hollow space as they consume all the wood between them and their nest. You can detect this by tapping on the affected area and listening for a much lower pitch than solid or healthy wood.
Tiny pinholes on the wall: Termites are crafty creatures, often utilizing pinholes and crevices to exit or enter walls surrounding their colonies. Unexplained small holes in drywall can be a telltale sign of a termite infestation; sometimes, these pesky critters will even take the extra step of filling them back up to protect their colony inside.
Termite Frass: Drywood termite frass, also known as “termite droppings,” is the result of drywood termites eating away at the wood in your walls. This type of infestation can be hard to detect because they usually remain hidden deep within walls and joists. Frass often looks like sawdust or small pellets pushed out through tiny holes in the wall and can range from a light yellow to dark brown color.
Damaged walls: Termite infestations can cause a great deal of damage to the structure of your home. One telltale sign is walls that look chewed or cracked, as termites often target structural supports and load-bearing beams when looking for softwood to eat. Likewise, if you see any signs of buckling or discoloration in your wall, it could indicate that termites are present.
What to Do if You Have Termites on Your Wall?
If you think you have an issue with termites, it’s important to take immediate action as soon as possible. The longer the infestation is left untreated, the greater the damage can become. Here are a few things you can do if you suspect a termite infestation in your walls:
– Contact an exterminator:Professional termite exterminators are trained to identify and address termite problems. They can properly diagnose the infestation and provide effective treatments to eliminate it quickly and efficiently.
-Treat your wall: Depending on the severity of the infestation, you may need to treat your walls with a pesticide such as a borate-based product. This type of treatment is typically used for drywood termites and can be effective in eliminating the colony.
– Seal your home: After treating your walls, seal any cracks or crevices in your home, as this can help prevent further infestations. Also, inspect your home regularly for new signs of termites and address them quickly if found.
– Prevent future infestations: Finally, it’s important to take measures to prevent future infestations from occurring. This includes keeping firewood and other stored items away from your home and checking for signs of moisture in areas like the basement or crawl spaces.
These steps can help you ensure that termites stay out of your walls and out of your home for good. If you suspect a termite infestation, don’t delay in taking action. The sooner you address the problem, the better off you’ll be in the long run.
