Warning Signs Termites Leave Around Houston Homes
Of all the pests that bother Houston residents, there may be none more damaging than those you don’t even know are there. Termites cause billions of dollars in damage to homes in the United States every year. Part of the reason they get away with it is because they are so difficult to detect. When you live in Houston, a termite invasion is more a matter of ‘when’ than it is of ‘if’, so it’s important to learn the warning signs termites leave around Houston homes.
How To Identify Signs Of Termites
Although termites often go unnoticed until they’ve done substantial damage to your home, they do leave subtle signs of their presence.
You simply need to know what to look for:
Your best chance of noticing termites often comes in the spring when a swarm of them comes out to mate. When they’re done, they shed their wings. If you see a termite swarm or the discarded wings they leave behind, you’ll know there is a termite colony nearby.
Another sign of termites are the mud tubes they build. Termites do not come out in the open because they can easily dry out so, when they must travel in an unprotected area, they build a tube about the width of a pencil out of mud. If you see these tubes along the outside of your foundation walls or inside your basement walls, it’s a sign of termites.
Small holes in wood structures, as well as piles of a sawdust-like material called frass, are also signs of termites. These can be difficult to spot, however, because they are often in difficult-to-reach places, such as within your walls or in crawl spaces.
Doors and windows that don’t close properly, walls that bulge, or ceilings and floors that sag are also signs of termites. These signs indicate a well-established termite problem and extensive damage to your home.
What To Do If You See Signs Of Termites Around Your Houston Home
If you’ve noticed any of the above signs, you’ll need to call professional pest control experts as soon as possible. Termites must be thoroughly eliminated to prevent damage, and pest control professionals have the training and equipment to take care of the job.
Even if you haven’t seen any signs of termites, the best way to prevent them is to set up year-round protection. Houston’s climate provides termites with exactly what they need to thrive, so if they haven’t invaded yet, it’s only a matter of time.
Modern Pest Control suggests installing the Sentricon® System With Always Active™ whether or not you have a current termite problem. The Sentricon® System is an eco-friendly system that uses baiting stations to protect your home from invading termites and eliminates entire colonies. This system works 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to keep your home termite-free. To learn more about Sentricon® or to set up an inspection, give Modern a call.