How To Protect Your Home From Termites

Termites are a headache for homeowners for a good reason. The amount of damage termites cause is substantial – an estimated $5 billion a year in the United States. Even worse, termite damage is almost never covered by homeowners insurance. That means homeowners are responsible for the cost of any structural damage that termites cause.

Should I Worry About Termites?

Termites are such a concern that the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) has designated March 6-12, 2022 as Termite Awareness Week. The NPMA uses this period to spread the word about the importance of termite inspections and the potentially expensive damage that termites cause. The NPMA’s public service campaigns can be found online through the hashtag #TermiteAwarenessWeek.

Winter snow and sleet can damage wood and create a moisture buildup which makes it susceptible to a termite infestation when spring arrives. Then the termites can be an ongoing threat to the home’s structural integrity.

What Are the Warning Signs of Termites?

It’s not always easy to spot a termite infestation. Some signals are early warning signs of an infestation… and others indicate one has been going on for a while.

Signs of a Termite Infestation include:

• Swarmers.  These winged termites are often the first sign of a termite infestation. Swarmers are seeking a food source so they can form a new colony – and damp wood attracts them.
• Discarded Wings. These are another early sign of a termite infestation. They’ll often be found near doors and windowsills after being shed by swarmers.
• Mud Tubes. This is the next visible sign of a termite infestation. Termites don’t crawl on the ground like ants do. Instead, they construct mud tubes near a home’s foundation – so they have adequate moisture while traveling between their colony and the house which is their food source.
• Frass. Looking like small piles of wood pellets, these sawdust-colored droppings are produced by termites after eating wood.
• Hollow Wood. Because termites infest a building – and literally eat it from the inside out – this is an indicator that a termite infestation has been happening for some time. If you hear a hollow sound when tapping on wood in your home, have a termite inspection right away because structural damage may be occurring. (Bubbled paint can also be a sign.)

How Serious Is a Termite Problem?

Termites can be a very serious problem for homeowners. Once a house is infested, termites won’t leave on their own, and they can cause substantial structural damage that isn’t covered by homeowner’s insurance.

This is why a yearly termite inspection and (if necessary) termite treatment is a wise choice for Long Island homeowners. Ideally, you want termites to be found as soon as possible after seeing a swarm of flying termites – or when any harm they cause is still surface damage. A deeper infestation can lead to expensive repairs.

Fox Pest Control Can Protect Your Home from Termites

Termites can cause severe damage to your home, which you might not notice until it’s too late. For your peace of mind, call or contact the certified experts at Fox Pest Control to schedule a termite inspection and treatment. For more information, contact us today.