What To Do If You Spot Signs Of Termites In Your Ventura County Home

You have recently seen some insects around your home and find yourself wondering whether they are termites and the extent of possible damage to your home. Termites are small, wood-destroying critters that live in colonies like ants. The US Environmental Protection Agency warns that termites cause yearly billions of dollars in structural damage. Thus, it’s crucial to consult with a Ventura County pest control company if you suspect you have a termite infestation.

Clear Signs Of A Termite Infestation In Your Home

Early detection of termite infestations can help reduce the cost of repairs. Here is evidence of termites invading your home.

Blistering or hollow wood: Blistering or hollow-sounding wood is one of the top signs of termite activity. These insects consume wood from the inside, leaving a thin layer of timber or paint. When you tap or knock a section of wood with termite damage, it will sound hollow. Remember, termites can also damage baseboards and laminate flooring.
Flying Termites or Swarmers: These are winged termites that often emerge from their nests in groups. They are often females and males that have left their nests to find suitable mates – which could be in or near your house. If you see these flying termites, it’s possible that termites are invading your home.
Discarded wings: This is another visible sign of a termite infestation. Once swarmers take flight, they eventually shed their wings. If you have a termite infestation, you will likely find piles of wings around your home’s foundation, yard, or inside your home.
Frass: This is a wood-colored termite droppings often confused with sawdust. It is an indicator of an infestation, especially dry wood termites. Remember, it takes a trained professional to identify these tiny droppings.
Chewing Noises and Head Banging: Another sign of termites in your home is clicking sounds coming from wood or walls. Soldier termites often bang their heads against surfaces or shake their bodies whenever their colony is disturbed to signal danger to their peers. Also, worker termites love eating woodwork and are noisy eaters. If you listen carefully to a wooden structure infested with termites, you will hear them eating the wood away.

Other signs of termite infestation include:

Crumbling drywall
Mud tubes
Sagging floors
Unusually tight-fitting windows and doors

Sure, it’s possible to identify these signs of termite infestation on your own. It’s in your best interest to consult with a termite control expert.

The Extent Of Damage Termites Can Cause To Your Home

As a Ventura County homeowner, you should know the risk of termites to your house, particularly because most home insurance policies don’t cover termite damage. In fact, the National Pest Management Association estimates that the annual termite damage amounts to over five billion dollars. Remember, every home in Ventura County and across the United States is at risk of termite infestation.

There are three types of termites that cause extensive damage to Ventura County homes. Subterranean termites are destructive to various tree types. Most of those tree species are used for timber widely used in construction. Drywood termites are responsible for a larger percentage of drywood damage across the county. Lastly, damp wood termites attack all wood types, especially if the wood is in contact with soil. An expert can help check for signs of termite damage on your property.

Identifying Factors That Attract Termites To Your Home

There are many things in your yard and house that can attract termites. These include:

Moisture: Termites cannot digest cellulose or other organic materials without moisture. If some areas within your yard or home have excessive moisture, termites are likely to find it a perfect place to establish their nest or colony.
Mulch and other Organic Materials: Most ground decorative covers like mulch often attract termites because they are thick, dark, and often hold moisture well. Some homeowners pile mulch on top of the old one when freshening up their gardens and flow beds. This creates a perfect environment for termites.

How To Get Rid Of Termites In Your Home

It’s unlikely that Ventura County homeowners will execute effective termite control on their own. Termites are elusive when you disturb them; their survival instincts will allow them to sense danger and move to another location (within your home) to build a colony site. This makes DIY termite control highly infective.

Therefore, it’s in your best interest to partner with a licensed termite control company like Ventura Pest Control. Such companies can perform a thorough inspection, identify the termite species, determine the infested areas, and create an effective control strategy. Also, termite control experts have the resources, expertise, and time to eliminate termites in your home and implement various measures to prevent future infestations.

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