House fires and termite infestations both destroy your home. However one is 12 times more likely to happen than the other, and it’s also the one not usually covered by house insurance. Of course, we’re talking about termites.
While the only way to check for termites is with a qualified termite inspection, there are signs of a bad termite infestation that everyone should know about.
If your home does have any of these signs, the termite infestation is probably at a stage where you’ll have major structural damage, but you should be aware of them nonetheless.
Signs of a major termite infestation in your home
1. Clicking sounds from your walls
In a bad termite infestation you may hear clicking coming from your walls. Sometimes the sound is termites munching away, other times it’s the sound of them head banging! The soldier termites bang their head against wood when the colony is disturbed as a danger signal for the rest of the colony.
2. Tight-fitting doors and windows
If it isn’t hot or wet weather making your doors and windows hard to open, it might be termites. When the termites eat and tunnel through doors and windows, they weaken the wood which fills it with moisture. This causes them to warp in much the same way that damp weather does.
3. Flying termites and piles of wings
After three to five years, a termite colony will produce flying termites, who will leave to start a new colony elsewhere. These types of termites are known as swarmers, and you may notice them near lights or windowsills.
You may also notice piles of discarded wings near your doors and windows – a sure sign you need a termite inspection.
4. Mud tubes
Mud tubes are tubes of dirt, wood and debris, and you may notice them outside your home. Subterranean termites live underground, and build these mud tubes as a tunnel between the nest and their food source in your walls.
5. Hollow-sounding timber
Termites eat wood from the inside out, and so in a bad infestation, your walls will sound hollow when knocked. By this stage they would have severely weakened the structural integrity of your home.
How to spot termites before they have eaten half your home
Fortunately professional termite inspectors have specialised tools and techniques to detect termites when there are no visible signs of them, and well before they have cause any major damage. These tools include listening equipment, moisture metres, a borescope and thermal imaging. Read more about what happens in a termite inspection here.
Protecting yourself from termites
CSIRO recommends a termite inspection at least every 12 months to protect yourself from the headache and heartache termites can cause. It’s essential you get this inspection with a qualified termite professional who has a reputation for thorough inspections.
At Allstate Pest Control Adelaide, our qualified termite technicians use a set inspection checklist to ensure nothing gets missed. This covers your:
- Interior
- Exterior
- Roof void
- Subfloor
- Any outbuildings
- Grounds
On completion of the termite inspection we explain our findings to you in detail then send you a comprehensive report.
To book in a termite inspection before it’s too late, live chat now or phone us on 8371 1277.