One of the more obvious signs that termites are in your walls is if you spot tiny holes along the surface of the wall. These are also called swarmer exit holes. If you see small round or oblong pinholes in your walls, it's likely that termites are living inside of the interior of the wall at that location.
Spotting a problem early on will make it easier to get the proper termite extermination your home needs. When you're able to recognize some of the early signs of these invasive insects, you can end up saving your home and your wallet from serious damage.
As the colony matures, they can do significant damage, destroying a home's structure in five to 6 years. The Formosan termite is one type of problematic subterranean termite, and they reproduce so rapidly that they can destroy a home in as little as one year.
Know When to Walk Away
Ask your licensed termite inspector or a pest control professional about the cost and feasibility of eradicating the termite problem. Depending on your budget and the extent of the damage, buying a home with termites may not be worth it.
Winged swarming termites emerge from cracks in your walls and foundation in large numbers. They can also come out though holes in the soil in your yard. They emerge through swarm tubes made by worker termites. Unfortunately for them, not every termite survives to form a new colony.
Combining half a cup of vinegar with the juice of two lemons creates an effective, acidic spray that is safer than boric acid but also kills termites.
Termiticides, including liquids, baits, or a combination of the two are commonly used. Termiticides provide a long-lasting barrier that prevents termites in the ground from entering the wood; termites already in the wood will die because they cannot return to the moist soil.
Active Termite Infestation
You may also notice their feces or frass. Subterranean termites use their frass to construct tunnels, while drywood termites produce pelleted frass. Even if you don't see pests, mud tubes surrounding the foundation, floor joists, crawl spaces, and support pillars are signs of an infestation.
You should pay attention to damp and warm bathroom places like drains of a bathtub, shower or sink, and under the toilet. Watch for swarmers coming out from your bathroom vent, but also termites in bathroom vanity, wall, and even the light fixture. It is often possible to see winged termites inside the drains.
One of the most common ways termites get in your home is through wood-to-ground contact, including doorframes, deck posts, and porch steps or supports.
Damage caused by termite infestations are known to emit a musty or fungal odor, similar to mold or mildew. In general, an area that's damp or moist is associated with this type of smell because there is decaying timber or other rotting wooden materials in this area which these pests aim for.
It is rare but possible for some termite species to damage a house beyond repair, if the infestation is left untreated for many years.
There are two main chemicals used to kill termites—fipronil and hexaflumuron. Fipronil is the specially designed chemical used as an active ingredient in many different liquid termiticides. In high enough concentrations, it can kill termites on contact. Pest control specialists apply it around the perimeter of homes.
Termites never stop eating wood because they feed on wood to survive. However, it has been found that termites do not like the smell of cedarwood, geranium, tea tree oil, cinnamon, clove bud, and garlic oils. Termites have antennae to smell and communicate for the food source instead of a nose like human beings.
Leaky pipes, improper drainage, and poor airflow all create moisture issues that attract termites. Dampwood and subterranean termites in particular thrive in humid environments. While dampwood termites prefer water-damaged wood, subterranean termites are unable to live unless surrounded by enough moisture.
Spring is the swarming season for most subterranean termites. Most species of subterranean termites swarm during the spring and summer months, typically on a warm day with calm winds after a rainfall.
Like most nocturnal insects, termites are attracted to the nearest light source, so you may spot them swarming under street lamps or near fluorescent lights. It is common to notice swarms around porch lamps, motion lights, utility lights, or light reflected from the interior.
It is quite common to see either a termite swarm inside of a house structure or just a few alates that accidentally ended up inside. If the termites are swarming inside your house or you have noticed their discarded wings around doors and windows, it's a clear sign that your home may have been already infested.
Swarming typically starts between March and May when the weather is really warm and humid. This activity indicates that termites are breaking off to begin new colonies. The chances of a new infestation occurring are high during this time.
If you suspect your home is infested with termites, you don't need to burn your house down, you just need the right help to remove the colony. Another thing you shouldn't be doing is using insect spray to solve your termite infestation.
In most cases, termite damage shouldn't be a deal-breaker, unless you find that: — There is an active and unresolved termite infestation. — There is extensive and unresolved structural damage to the home caused by termites.