Five Signs Your Huntsville Home May Have A Termite Problem
February 26, 2021
Did you know that termites are responsible for nearly five-billion-dollars’ worth of property damage each year in the United States alone? That’s because most people don’t know that they have a termite problem in their home until it is too late. Knowing the signs of a termite infestation can go a long way in protecting both your Huntsville home and your wallet from these costly pests. If your Huntsville home is infested with termites, you need to know the termite control solutions that you can rely upon to effectively eliminate them and keep them from further destroying your property.
Termite Basics
Termites are small ant-like pests that feed on the organic material that makes up wood. They are typically pale yellow, brown, or black. Termites live in colonies that are made up of three different castes. These are workers, soldiers, and reproductive.
The workers are the ones who cause damage to your home as they are responsible for finding food for the colony. The soldiers, on the other hand, are tasked with protecting the colony. The reproductives, which have wings, set out at certain times of year to create new colonies in a process known as a termite swarm.
Unless there is a termite swarm, you are not likely to ever spot an actual termite in your home. This is because the workers and soldiers tend to remain within the colony itself or in the wood that they are eating. This is why many people are unaware they have a termite infestation in their home.
If a termite infestation is not dealt with promptly, it can destroy almost any wood within a home. Though they prefer decaying or water-damaged wood, termites will eat structural wood, siding, decks, flooring, window and door frames, and furniture.
Five Signs Of A Termite Infestation
Because you are not likely to ever spot a termite in your home, you need to know the signs that you look for that can indicate an infestation. These include:
- Windows and doors feel tight in their frames.
- Soft-clicking noises coming from the walls.
- Floors are excessively squeaky or whiny.
- The appearance of the shed wings of swarmers in your home.
- Mud tubes in the soil around your home.
Termite Prevention Tips
To prevent termites from invading your home, your goals should be to address moisture issues and seal off any potential entry points. To accomplish these, you should:
- Partner with a professional for ongoing termite treatment.
- Remove or replace any water-damaged or decaying wood in your home.
- Fix any leaking pipes within your home.
- Use dehumidifiers to address humidity levels in your home.
- Keep gutter free of debris to prevent flooding.
- Create gravel or concrete barrier between the soil and any wood around the exterior of your homes such as deck posts and siding.
- Keep firewood stacked away from your home’s exterior.
- Fill in any cracks in the foundation of your home.
Effective Termite Control Options
If you do notice any of the signs of a termite infestation around your Huntsville home, contact the professionals here at Custom Pest Control and ask about a termite inspection. This is the most effective way to tell if you are, indeed, dealing with a termite infestation. If so, we’ll get to work eliminating them using Termidor liquid termite treatment. This effective treatment is applied to the soil around the exterior of your home’s foundation, creating a lethal barrier for any termite.
Termites destroy homes, but that doesn’t mean you need to let them destroy yours. Contact Custom Pest Control and let us help protect your home from these destructive pests.