Our perceptions of things can sometimes be incorrect, particularly when it comes to pests. You may not see any insects or creatures around your New Braunfels home or business, but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist on the land. Many species are able to begin a nest and fester without humans realizing it. If they are small or live in a difficult place to reach, it’s possible you won’t know they are there. In the meanwhile, they could be procreating in volume and creating damage that you’ll notice later. This is the case with termites. Termite destruction is profound and costly. Thanks to these bugs, Americans fork over $5 billion each year to eliminate or recover from their intrusion. Many families have lost their residence, and entrepreneurs have missed out on investments. On top of that, most insurance companies do not allocate coverage for termite expenses. Once you understand the signs of termites, you’ll know when to contact the experts at Pinnacle Pest Defense.
Sign #1: Finding Termite Waste
Workers, soldiers, and swarmers are the three main classes in a termite colony. As their title hints, workers generate the most rubble. Many are white or grayish white, and a small 0.12 of an inch long. Soldiers are often yellow brown, with the striking features of prominent jaws and rectangular heads. Swarmers are ½ of an inch long and have yellow, black, or brown bodies. These are usually the only termites you will see because they fly out in the spring for mating and nest formation. They are very attracted to lights. Shedding their scaly wings is a regular occurrence and an indication of infestation. Regardless of class, these bugs drop fecal frass of a peppery consistency.
Sign #2: Seeing Changes in Walls & Paint
Termites make almost microscopic holes in walls; they’re about the size of a needle point. They also build mud tubes and maze patterns. If you knock on a foundation affected by these pests, it’s bound to sound hollow. The drywall will begin to take on a different look as well. It will be off-color, pale, and rather droopy. You might think that it’s water damaged, given its appearance. The interior paint of your home or business will alter too. It will crust, bloat, and peel as if it were impacted by liquid. The first rule of termite prevention is being careful with wood:
- Loose pieces, like carpentry panels and fire logs, must be stored two feet or more away from the property.
- It’s essential to keep loose wood off of the soil.
- Ruined, rotting, or water spoiled wood needs to be refurbished or removed.
Sign #3: Having Malfunctioning Fixtures
You can bet that termites are present if tiles are disengaging all of the sudden. It’s not promising if the floorboards are squeaking and seem to be caving in, either. Additionally, the windows and doors will be fitting tight out of the blue. Tending to fixtures can decrease the chances of a termite intrusion by:
- Adding screens to all vents that face the outside
- Cleaning gutters and vents frequently
- Repairing moisture faults; doing those dampening wood first
- Sealing crevices in utility lines and foundations
Sign #4 Noticing Noises
If you listen attentively, you may hear the clicking and rustling of termites behind walls. You may also hear tapping, crackling and popping.
Call Pinnacle Pest Defense For Termite Extermination
The trained technicians at Pinnacle Pest Defense will conduct a thorough examination of your property and provide you with a Wood Destroying Insect Report (WDIR). State-of-the-art termite treatments will be applied. Termidor® liquids and foams are designed to trench and quickly eliminate these bugs. The Sentricon® with Always Active™ baiting system consists of products that will disassemble colonies. Our New Braunfels pest services have warranties attached and pre-construction solutions are available. Call us at Pinnacle Pest Defense today for a free inspection!