Spotting an infestation early is the key to preventing expensive damage being caused by the invaders, there’s many signs to look out for an here we have compiled information on what the main signs are to look out for.
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Flying Swarmers
If you’re starting to notice many flying termites around your windows or garden then it’s likely there’s already a thriving colony nearby.
They tend to fly in large groups so they are easily noticed and usually emerge after a day of heavy rain fall.
If you don’t happen to notice the pests flying around then you want to look for discarded wings around your window sills and door frames, if you come across any then this means the termites may have already began to settle within your walls and began creating their new colony.
Mud Tubes
Termite mud tubes
If the infesting colony is a subterranean species then you are likely to find mud tubes around the outskirts of your building.
This is the way that the species navigate above ground, providing them a safe passage.
If you come across tubes like that leading into your home or against the walls then notify pest control as soon as possible to prevent major damage being caused.
Termite Droppings
Droppings are a key sign of a termite infestation and people often wonder what do termite droppings look like but these are the most identifiable sign as drywall termites like to keep their nests clean.
Termite Sounds
One of the primary ways of identifying termites in your wall is by listening out for a clicking sound. This is produced by the soldier termites banging their heads against the walls to give signals to the rest of the colony, this can be various reasons.
The worker termites are also quite noisy when they are eating away at the wood so this is another sound that you may hear.
A fun fact about termites, there has been research showing they work faster if there is loud music played – so if you’re a heavy metal fan and worried about an infestation it’s probably better so wear headphones for a while!
Termite soldiers clicking sounds remind me of the movie predator but here’s an example:
Hollow Wood
Tapping on wood around your home can help you identify a termite problem. If the wood sounds hollow and it shouldn’t, that is an indication that the termites have already begun eating through it.
Sometimes people completely miss this sign until they accidentally hit the wood with something and a gaping hole reveals the extent of the damage from the infestation.
Warped Wood
Often when you have an infestation the termites cause a lot of moisture and warmth to build up so there’s a chance that any tight fitting door or window frames can warp.
If you notice that your doors/windows are suddenly harder to open then this can be the cause.
Tunnelled Wood
Looking for tiny holes in your skirting boards and other bits of wood around the home can help you identify a problem earlier.
As termites navigate through many tunnels that they create inside rotting wood, if you look closely you are able to see where they have bore through.
Look out for these signs on rotten wood that you have broken apart too, it may give indication of a recent infestation.
Repair Costs
It feels like burning money….
I can’t say specifically what you will be paying as a result of your infestation but on average it’s around $4000 but there are handy calculators to help you get a better idea.
Before you start to consider the repair costs you must ensure that the invading colony has been dealt with properly first, this itself can range from $221 to over $2500 depending on the severity of the infestation.
