You may move into a new home or get your home deep cleaned with the thought that your home can never fall victim to termites. However, you can never be too sure. Remember, it is always better to be safe than sorry. Hence, make sure to conduct termite inspections on and off.
Failing to inspect for termites can result in a costly loss. Once termites infest your house, you will have to spend a lot of money to deal with the damage. The best way to protect your house and your family is to approach a pest company that can conduct termite inspections every year.
Signs of a Termite Infestation
We would recommend nothing less than a professional expert who can inspect your house for termites each year. However, in between visits, it is best to keep an eye out for termites. This will lower the probability of a termite infestation in your home.
Here are some signs of a termite infestation you should look out for:
Mud Tubes
Mud tubes look like mud tunnels. If you find these near a wood source in the soil around your house, you are dealing with a termite infestation.
Discarded Wings
Did you know that once termites establish a new colony, they get rid of their wings? It’s true! If you see a number of wings left abandoned in the middle of your house, there is a huge possibility that there are termites close by.
Termite Excrement
The most common way to determine whether you have termites nesting in your home is to look for termite excrement. This is commonly called frass and looks like tiny wood pellets. Termite droppings resemble the size of a coffee bean.
Damaged Wood
This is one of the most common ways to check for termites that you may have seen on television commercials. All you have to do is knock on wood in your home. If you hear a hollow sound, you can suspect that termites are eating the wood of your furniture.
Bubbling Paint
Usually, bubbling paint is considered to be a sign of water damage in the house. However, sometimes it can indicate a termite infestation. The best way to determine the cause of bubbling paint is to get an insect professional to take a look at your house.
Best Time of the Year for a Termite Inspection
Termite protection for your home is a must. However, we would recommend that you get a professional to inspect your house once a year. The most common question asked is when to get a termite inspection. However, the truth is that there is no wrong time to check for termites.
That being said, each season has its benefits. In case you get a termite inspection in the winters and find out that you have termites at home, you can get rid of them before the weather starts to become warmer again. Even though termites are super active during the year, they are the most active in the summers. Of course, it is no surprise that active termites result in more destruction.
During the spring season, termites start to swarm. This is the best time to determine if you have a termite problem. Any professional can notice the shed wings of swarmers. Moreover, as spring progresses and the weather gets wet, wet wood is created. This attracts termites to lay their eggs. If you get a termite inspection during this time, your termite inspector will immediately be able to pick up the signs and deep-clean your home.
Should You Get a Termite Inspection Before You Buy or Sell a House?
When purchasing real estate, it is always best to get a termite inspection. This will benefit not only the buyer but also the seller. If you are thinking of buying a new home and find out that there is a termite infestation, it could save you from wasting your hard-earned money. Similarly, if you are about to sell a house and find out about the termite problem, you can fix it before a buyer gets to know about it.
If you, as a seller, find the termites first, you can add the costs for pest control and repairs into the asking price of the house. Think about it- wouldn’t you wait a few months before you can find a bunch of buyers than finding one buyer who refuses the house at the end moment?
Remember, termites do not rest. You can get a termite inspection done at any given point by a professional. AntsPlus is a certified pest company that will help guide you and your family and will professionally get rid of termites while protecting your house and family. Remember, it is always better to be proactive than to suffer the costs of dealing with an infestation. Be regular with your checkups!