If you live in or around the Bay Area of California, you must be in love with the place and your beautiful home there. For you, the durability of your home is of top priority. However, issues like persistent termite infestation can damage both the interiors and the exteriors of your property. You would not want termites to eat away the wooden structures and furniture and make your home fragile.
As far as termites are concerned, the Bay Area and Northern California have a high probability of encountering infestation without adequate preventive and control measures. A study by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) shows that California falls in the termite infestation probability (TIP) zone 1.2. It means California has a high risk of getting infested by termites.
On top of it, California is one of eight US states with a significantly high risk of termite infestation according to the Council of American Building Officials, which published a probability map regarding termite infestation.
You may find it difficult to figure out if your home has a termite infestation. This is why in this post we will talk about spotting the six signs of termites so that you can take termite control measures immediately.
Six Signs to Spot the Presence of Termites in Your Home
1. Damp or Moist Areas
Termites like to build their colonies in damp or moist areas and they avoid places that have direct sunlight or are dry. So, look around your home to identify damp areas due to water clogging. If the soil underneath your home has moisture, termites will likely dig tunnels and reach the wooden structures.
Termites feed on moist wood because they get cellulose from them for nutrition. A termite expert can guide you about the areas that have termites and the measures you need to take.
2. Cracks or Entry Points to Your Home
You should keep doing surveys from time to time around your house to spot any cracks that may provide possible entry points to termites. If the structure of your house is predominantly wood, cracks may appear at the base or on the walls, which will make it easier for termites to get in and damage further. During the inspection, wherever you spot cracks, make sure you seal them to prevent possible termite movement.
3. Mud Tubes
While looking around your house, you may notice some tiny piles of wood cellulose or soil. Those are mud tubes that termites create while digging tunnels. Through those tunnels, termites infest various wooden structures. If you spot several mud tubes around your house, it is a sign of large-scale infestation. Inspect your wooden walls, floors, pipes, attic, and chimneys. Also, check your home foundation as you may see many of those tubes there.
4. Signs of Wood Damage
Take a stroll around your house and tap various sections that contain wood and listen to the sound. If you get a hollow sound instead of a solid thud, termites have probably already damaged those areas. The mud tubes we talked about before are potential signs of wood damage and the larger the tubes, the more the damage.
5. Termite Swarming
Termite swarming is a common sight in various parts of the US, including California. You may have seen a bunch of insects flying or hovering in the evening around the streetlights during spring or summer. Those are termites migrating to build new colonies. If you see such swarming close to your home, the infestation may already have started in your home as well as neighboring homes. In such cases, call a termite control company to stop infestation at the early stage itself.
6. Wooden Structures
If there are a lot of wooden frames or structures like firewood or fences around your house, termites may start nesting in the damp ones. Also, if there are dead or broken trees, try to clear them to prevent infestation. Once termites eat away those wood supplies, they will start seeking fresh sources of food and are likely to move towards your home. Check all the wooden stuff around your home, and if you spot signs of wood infestation, call experts right away.
Also Read: How to Get Rid of Termites from Hardwood Floors
Before We Go
If you survey your home as mentioned in this post, you are likely to spot signs of termites. To be sure, you can call us for a termite inspection. We are a leading termite control service provider in the Bay Area and our experts will spot termites easily.
If you wish to take termite control measures, we will block the entry points and lower the moisture content around your home. We use advanced microwave technology, along with state-registered chemicals like non-repellant Termidor for clean and efficient termite control.
For more details, give us a call at (888) 322-8889 or drop an email to info@hitechtermite.com, and we will assist you as soon as possible.
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