4 Common Signs You Have Termites in Your Home

It starts the moment you shut off the television for the night. In the silence, you can hear the ominous sounds of munching and skittering.

Are you hosting ghosts, or are you experiencing signs you have termites?

Thousands of homeowners each year wake up hoping that their house is haunted. After all, a termite infestation can cause major structural damage, requiring thousands of dollars in repairs. Ghosts are much lower maintenance! 

You can save yourself a lot of money by becoming aware of the signs of termites. The sooner you pursue termite removal, the less damage there will be. 

Keep reading to learn how to spot the signs, so you can start getting rid of termites before it’s too late!

1. Sounds in the Walls

Termites may be tiny, but they aren’t silent! Biting through wood is noisy business, and it’s common to hear nibbling when your house is quiet. If you can’t shake the feeling that you’re not alone at night, you might have termite guests!

Alternately, you might be hearing the sound of termites headbutting the walls. This is a form of communication that termites used to alert to danger. It sounds a bit like persistent clicking. 

As termites move, it sometimes sounds like rustling paper. 

2. Little White Ants

While most people have seen an ant or two, very few people have seen most types of termites in the flesh. That’s why termites are often confused for white ants. There shouldn’t be ants of any color swarming your home, so if you notice unusual pests, call an exterminator. 

At certain stages of their development, termites can fly. If you notice an unexpected swarm of little bugs (especially inside your home), they could also be termites. 

3. Disembodied Wings and Frass

Maybe you haven’t seen any termites, but have you seen discarded wings? Termites only have wings for a brief portion of their lifecycle. They shed them as they develop.

If you see a bunch of wings inside or outside, it means a colony is getting comfortable in your home! 

You might also notice what looks like sawdust. This is actually frass (or termite excrement). If you notice both frass and discarded wings, go to elevatepestcontrol.com ASAP. 

4. Doors and Windows Are Sticking

Have you noticed that your doors or windows are sticking and have become harder to open? Termites tend to produce moisture as they live and eat inside of your walls. 

Other structural signs of termite infestation include:

• Hollow spots in the walls
• Sagging drywall
• Buckling on wooden floors
• Soft wood
• Blistering paint

These are signs of damage, and if you notice them first, you need to seek help quickly! It’s less expensive to call in an emergency exterminator than it is to replace the majority of your home!

Common Signs You Have Termites

You’ve paid good money for your home, whether you’re buying or renting. A crew of hungry termites shouldn’t get to live in your space rent-free! If you’ve noticed these signs you have termites, it’s time to evict your tiny squatters before they can do serious damage!

A termite-free home is a happy, healthy home. Are you looking for more tips that can help you live a healthy lifestyle? Check out the rest of our blog for more posts like this one!