Pest Control Cedar City | Harmful Signs that You Need a Termite Inspection ASAP in Utah.
Termites are a common pest in the United States, with over 30 species of termite native to North America. These pests can cause damage to your home or property by eating away at wood and other organic material. They will often infest areas that have moisture problems like leaky pipes or wet basements. Termites can also be attracted to buildings that were built close together because they produce higher levels of carbon dioxide than single-family homes do. When choosing between an annual service contract and full-termite inspection, homeowners should opt for the latter if they believe there is any chance their house might be infested due to these factors or others not mentioned here.
A professional inspection can help you detect indications of live termites in your house, allowing you to take appropriate action. Termite activity peaks during the spring and summer months. Termites may be detected by a qualified inspector using devices that can sense moisture under dry wood next to floor joists, windows, or siding without insulation. Single-family homes built on concrete slabs are particularly susceptible to infestation because there is a higher level of moisture underneath the home. Depending on the findings from your inspection, you may opt to implement a variety of treatments to eliminate termites.
Visible termite droppings
Termites are one of the most destructive pests in North America. They feed on wood, paper, and other cellulose-based materials by gnawing through them with their powerful mandibles. Termites cause billions of dollars worth of damage every year to homes and commercial buildings across the country. And they can be found anywhere you live or work – even if you don’t see them at first! One way to tell if termite droppings are present is to look for wood that is riddled with thin channels (called galleries) which typically run parallel to each other (though sometimes they will branch). These channels may be filled with sawdust residue called frass expelled from tunnels made by the insects as they burrow through your home’s walls and forage for food. Termites tend to eat the parts of the wood that is more easily digested, such as cellulose and hemicellulose, leaving behind the denser part of the wood (such as lignin).
Hollow sounding wood
As they eat their way through the wood, termites hollow out behind them creating tunnels that weaken your home’s structural foundation, making it more likely to collapse in certain areas such as around doorframes and windowsills. If you hear sounds like knocking or scratching coming from inside walls, floors, or ceilings it may be because termites are starting to chew away at the wood there; try putting an ear up against the wall and listen closely. You should also keep an eye on outside doors and windows and see if they sag over time.
Mud tunnels under siding or wood slabs
Termite mud tubes attach their nests to surrounding structures so they can come and go while avoiding predators and other enemies. You may see these narrow wooden tubes (usually about the size of a dime) extending out from the ground like stalagmites; this is where the termites travel to gather food which they bring back to their nest underground. If you spot mud tubes on porches, decks or steps leading into your home, there is likely an active infestation taking place inside your walls. Termites eat through wood quickly when left undisturbed so don’t wait to call in a professional.
Swarmers inside the home
If you’re unlucky enough to spot swarmers indoors, it’s time to consider calling in a reputable pest control service for an inspection. The only way that termites can reproduce is if both wings are intact, which makes them pretty easy to identify when swarming occurs outside near structures or trees. Swarms often take place in spring and summer due to mating activity in late fall, but there are other signs you should look out for. If you find the telltale droppings or see mud tubes crawling up your exterior walls or foundation, it may be too late for treatment options because the infestation has already taken hold inside your wall voids.
Wall Fungus
Termite damage often goes unnoticed until it gets worse because of the hollowing effect they have on wood. Wood-destroying fungi can also cause similar symptoms of the damage, but there are some clear differences between the two when inspected closely. You may notice mushrooms or other types of fungus growing on the surface of drywall; if this is present beneath baseboards when you remove them for inspection, it’s likely termites not fungi at work here (although both could be present). Also, keep an eye out for brownish blisters forming in the area of the damage; this is called algal staining and can be identified with a microscope. If you’re seeing these symptoms, call in a pest control service for an inspection immediately.
Piles of droppings
Another surefire sign that you have termites at work on your home is piles of their tiny white feces dropping down from above onto floors, furniture, or other surfaces indoors. These fecal pellets are about the size of pencil point lead and are usually accompanied by wing casings for identification purposes. Although other insects, rodents, and even reptiles can produce droppings that look like this (and the termites themselves eat away at insulation sometimes), these insects are easy to identify once an inspection takes place.
Mold on subfloors or exposed wood
Check for discoloration near any exposed or subflooring; if you see moldy-looking spots, it’s likely because termites have already begun eating away at the surrounding wood, which can lead to an increased risk of collapse in certain areas of your home. Once again, call in a professional pest control service for an inspection; it’s better to be safe than sorry when dealing with something as serious as infestations indoors.
A professional pest control service will be able to identify termites after seeing one of these signs in your home. If you’ve recently spotted any of the symptoms mentioned here, it’s time to contact a reputable pest control service for an inspection. You may have other insects or rodents causing damage on your property, but termites are usually easy to spot once an inspection takes place. The major difference between fungi and termites is the presence of a hollowed-out shape in infested areas, which can be identified by trained professionals during an inspection. If you spot any of these telltale signs on your property, call in a Vision Pest Control – Pest Control Cedar City, UTAH service for an inspection immediately to catch infestations before they get worse.