Learn the termite warning signs, before you need to call in the termite experts!
There are few things that strike fear in the heart of Georgia homeowners more than termites. Termites seem to become a massive and expensive problem overnight, and getting rid of them can feel like an impossible task. Are there ways you can stay one step ahead of a termite infestation? Yes, and if you keep an eye out for these five signs of termites in and around your house, you will be well on your way to keeping your house protected.
Here are five signs of termites for Georgia homeowners!
#1: Termite swarms
During the springtime in Georgia, subterranean termites will swarm. If you find thousands of insects with wings in an area of your home's interior or exterior, you've just had termites swarm. The somewhat good news is that the termites in a swarm are just the reproducers in the colony and they don't do any damage to your home. The bad news about spotting a swarm is that they likely came from a very mature termite colony that is eating away very close by, like in the walls and flooring of your house. You can get rid of the termites flying around your house, but after that, it's time to call in a professional pest control technician to perform a termite inspection on your home so they can locate the swarm's colony.
#2: Soft wood
Have you ever stepped on your hardwood floor, or leaned against a wall, and felt the wood give a little underneath you? As termites begin devouring the wood in your home, that wood will start to feel soft and spongy. Finding soft wood in your home is actually helpful, as this will give you a great place to direct your termite pest control technician to begin inspecting.
#3: Mud tubes
If you spot long, thin strips or tubes of mud on the exterior of your house's foundation, or on walls in your house's basement, you've discovered termite mud tubes. Termites are subterranean creatures, which means they need to regulate their body temperatures or else they will dry out and die. Building mud tubes helps termites maintain their ideal damp, humid environment to thrive in while they are devouring all the sources of cellulose your house has to offer.
#4: Pin holes in the wall
Are you finding tiny holes in your walls where you know you haven't hung a picture or pushed in a thumbtack? These little holes could be made by termites. As termites eat through the sheetrock in your house's walls, they will push through the paper and out into the open, just to turn around and head back in for more sheetrock. If you find lots of pin holes in a concentrated area, you likely have lots of termites eating away inside that particular wall.
#5: Paint flaking or peeling off the wall
When you eat a banana, you typically just throw away the peel after you're done enjoying the fruit inside. Termites follow the same eating procedure with your house's walls. Think of it as a termite "licking their plate clean." Termites love to eat anything with cellulose, which the wood and sheetrock in your house's walls are full of. The paint on your walls, however, do not contain cellulose, so termites will eat the sheetrock and leave the paint completely alone. With nothing substantial behind it anymore, the paint on your walls will start to flake or peel off. If you find paint on the floor and see mud on the walls where the paint used to be, you have termites.
If you've spotted any of these signs, don't panic! A termite infestation is alarming to find, but we assure you, this is a treatable problem. At BREDA, our termite technicians utilize top-of-the-line technology to locate and eliminate termites from your home. Our team uses advanced infrared technology to locate and inspect the exact location of termites. We combine cutting-edge technology with the industry-leading Termidor product to offer you the best termite protection in the market. On top of all of that, we offer the BREDA Pest Management Guarantee, which means that if live termites are ever found, not only will BREDA retreat and repair the damage the termites caused, BREDA will maintain the termite guarantee for the remainder of the contract FREE OF CHARGE. Call us today if you've spotted any of these termite signs around your house!
If you're tired of wondering what the pests in or around your home are doing and just want them gone, don't hesitate to give us a call. The BREDA Guarantee promises to protect your home and keep it protected—no matter the circumstances. Schedule an inspection online or give us a call at 770-466-6700.
