Subterranean termites get into the house from the soil then make foraging tubes. The tubes – oftentimes referred to as “mud tubes” – are around the width of one pencil and are brownish in colour. They’ll offer shelter for foraging termites. As termites are inside your house, they’ll feast on the wood inside of it. In addition, drywood termites feast on wood within your house; however, don’t need contact with soil.
If termite activity is left neglected, noticeable wall and wood damage may result. Here, in this blog post, the commercial pest control services of Gilles Lambert Pest Control discusses the signs of termite damage in walls.
Indications of an Infestation of Termites
- Swarming ones are attracted to light and sometimes can be spotted close to doors, windows, lighting fixtures, and vents.
- After they enter a new house, they’ll shed their wings. You may see those shed wings among dust close to heating vents, windowsills, doors, in bathtubs and sinks and inside spider webs.
Indications of wall damage that is caused by termites may include Paint blisters, mud tubes, damage to wooden trim or wood paneling, pinholes in the wall, and hollow-sounding wood.
Some of the above indications are a sign of a subterranean infestation of termites, while other ones indicate an infestation of drywood termites.
Do Termites Feast on Drywall?
Termites feast on any substance that’s composed of cellulose — an ingredient discovered in wood. Drywall also is covered by cellulose. Therefore, termites may feed on the drywall’s paper covering, making your ceilings and walls prone to termite damage.
How to Eliminate Termites in Walls
If you see indications of termite damage on the walls or any other areas of your house, it is vital that you treat the infestation immediately before it grows worse. The treatment method depends upon several factors, which include the kind of termites which are infesting your residence. The procedure almost always includes treating spaces other than the area in which termites are in plain view.
Since correct identification is critical and do-it-yourself methods for control and treatment oftentimes fall short, it is suggested that you call a termite control professional like Gilles Lambert Pest Control. An experienced termite control expert will inspect the house for termite damage and activity, correctly identify the termites then suggest a course of action based on your circumstances. If termites aren’t found, that’s the best time to treat termites – before they’ve produced any damage.
How to Prevent Termites from Invading Your Home?
Once termites settle in, exterminating them doesn’t happen without using chemicals, and avoiding property damage is almost impossible due to the quick spread of the infestation. This is why prevention is the easiest and most cost-effective way to protect your home from these nasty insects.
Alexander Crawley is an entomology consultant for a fellow Australian pest control company, and he claims that the key to termite prevention is to eliminate the excess moisture in the house and in the outdoor areas because termites are drawn to water.
Here are a few handy tips he has for homeowners:
- Inspect the roof at least once a year, and fix or replace broken roof tiles and gutter sections.
- Seal off any cracks in the foundations of the house.
- Use plastic to encapsulate the crawl space beneath the house to protect the foundations from soil and debris.
- Repair leaky pipes and faucets as soon as you notice them.
- Store your firewood away from the home and keep it elevated from the ground.
- Keep any mulch and organic materials away from the house walls and foundations.
- Throw away any unused newspapers and cardboard boxes from your garage, basement or attic. Use plastic boxes for storage.
- Invest in a dehumidifier if your home is prone to moisture and mould.
Advantages of Professional Gilles Lambert Pest Control Termite Treatment
Because termite activity may be difficult to spot if homeowners are not scheduling routine inspections of their house, termite activity may remain undetected for quite some time. That is why it remains critical to arrange an inspection with an expert Gilles Lambert Pest Control termite specialist who’s experienced with looking for warning indications of termite activity. Further advantages of arranging an inspection with a specialist include the identification of the unique termite invader to the residence since it’s important to identify the termite species to use the suitable methods to rid the home of these extremely costly and damaging insects.