The news that you have a termite infestation can be overwhelming and worrisome. If a termite infestation goes on for an extended period of time, it is very possible that the termite damage ends up being very expensive to fix. Termites can quietly eat away at your home without your knowledge for months. Depending on the size of the colony and how soon you discover these home destroying insects, you could be left with costly damages and even a structurally compromised home. Understanding why you have termites in the first place and knowing where to look for signs can help you avoid having to do expensive repairs to correct the damage done by termites.
How do termites get in my home?
Knowing what attracts termites into your home can help reduce the chances of these little destroyers from coming in. Like all creatures, food and water are the main attractors for termites. Termites need a wood source for food and have some sort of access to water. Basements and leaky roofs can be perfect spots for termites to set up shop and start chomping away at your home.
Keeping the foundation clear of being touched by any organic matter can help keep termites out. Flower bed mulch that touches your foundation without any kind of barrier between house and flower beds can quickly become infested with termites, giving them food, cover, and time to find all the cracks, holes, and crevice access straight into your walls.
Wood piles also attract termites. If you have a wood pile near to the house, you may be bringing termites close enough to entice them to move in with you.
Like wood piles, old, dead stumps can also attract termites if near to your home.
Signs of termites
Watching for signs of termites can help you catch the infestation sooner, reducing damages and the heavy strain on your wallet if damage is extensive. A few signs for termites are:
- Mud tunnels on or around the exterior foundation
- Small piles of sawdust looking excrement under wooden furniture and woodwork.
- Warped or seemingly water damaged floors
- Thin or hollow sounding woodwork
- Light clicking sounds at night. Though this indicates a severe infestation
How expensive is termite damage?
Obviously, the sooner you identify and begin treating a termite infestation, the cheaper the repairs will be. But in today’s economy, just getting to the hardware store can be expensive. Termite damage can easily be upwards of $1000 and depending where the infestation is, can cause severe damage to your home. If left unaddressed for years, the house can even be deemed unlivable.
To protect yourself from costly damages from termite infestations, have a termite control professional inspect your property at least once a year. For those living in northern New Jersey, give Abarb Pest Services a call to prevent termites from causing expensive damage in your home.
