Buying a Home? Check for Termite Damage

Buying a home is an exciting process. However, there are quite a few things to pay attention to when choosing the perfect house. One of the most important is ensuring your soon-to-be home doesn’t show signs of termite damage. 

Though termites in Arizona offer some benefit to the ecosystem, most people know them as pests that eat drywall, wood foundations, floors, and furniture, slowly and secretly causing damage to homes. Each year, it is estimated that termites cost property owners in the United States at least $5 billion in damage. These costs typically aren’t even covered by homeowners insurance, so you’re on the hook. That’s why it’s so important to know the early signs of termite infestation before investing in a home. 

What are signs of termite damage?

An easy way to check for signs of termite damage is to get a termite inspection done. At Responsible Pest & Scorpion Control, we offer residential termite control. Our experts know the signs of termite damage and will provide quotes and recommendations for pest control. 

What does termite damage look like?

Since termites eat almost exclusively wood, damage to wood objects near or around the home can indicate an infestation. If you tap on wood floors or walls and they sound hollow, that is worth investigating for termites below. If wood baseboards or trim are damaged or crumbling, they may be a food source for termites. 

You may also notice other signs of termite activity. Termites often leave behind droppings, which can look like piles of sawdust. If you find one of these piles, known as frass, drywood termites might have a nearby colony. Other telltale signs of termites include swarmer wings and mud tubes on your property.

What are swarmer wings?

Flying swarmers are part of a termite colony that are the reproductive termites. Groups of swarmers break off from main colonies to form new colonies, usually in the summertime. Swarmers have two large, pale wings and look like flying ants. Swarmers indicate a termite colony nearby, so they are a good warning sign of termite infestations. 

Swarmers also leave behind their wings when they’ve created a new colony and no longer need them. Piles of these wings are discarded from the colonies’ tunnels and indicate that a new group of termites has taken up residence in or near that property. 

What are mud tubes?

Another sign of termites to look out for is the presence of mud tubes. Termites build tunnels between their shelter and food source so they can travel between them without drying out. These tubes often consist of dirt and wood particles held together by their saliva. These are usually only a few millimeters wide but indicate an active termite colony. 

What should I do if I discover termite damage?

If you notice signs of termite damage during the homebuying process, make sure to have a full inspection performed on the property, so you can understand the severity of the problem. If the damage will require extensive repairs, make sure that gets factored into your offer, should you continue the buying process. If you do end up buying the house, or if you discover termite damage on a property you already own, make sure to call a professional pest control company to assess the situation, and make sure you don’t have an ongoing termite infestation.

How do I prevent termite damage?

Since termites can potentially cost homeowners many thousands of dollars in damages, it is always a good idea to perform preventative termite control. At Responsible Pest & Scorpion control, our experts enact solutions that prevent termites from ever considering your home as a potential food source. 

Contact us today to learn more about our effective four-step pest control solution that will leave your home (or future home) free from destructive termites.