Termites are wood-eating pests that cause expensive structural damage to any home they find their way into. They won’t hesitate to use your home as a place to live and forage for food. Termites are destructive insects and have no business living in or around our Bethesda, Maryland, homes.
If you think that termites have found their way to your property, it is imperative that you immediately reach out to a Bethesda termite control expert. Termites are not a pest you can try to control and eliminate on your own. Continue reading here to learn more about these unwelcome “carpenters.”
Unsubtle Signs Of Termite Damage
Unlike many household pests, termites are not pests you will see out and about. They won’t be crawling over your home’s counters, swarming near lights, or buzzing around your ear. Termites spend their lives under the ground or inside the pieces of wood they use as a food source. People refer to termites as “silent invaders” because of their ability to remain undetected for long periods.
To help you identify a termite infestation in its infancy and limit the damage these pests can cause, here are some signs that termites may be present and causing damage to your property:
- Mud Tubes: Some termites build mud tubes to travel above the ground. These pencil-width tubes allow them to stay out of sight of predators and help them maintain their moisture needs. If you spot mud tubes running toward your home or along the foundation or basement wall, you likely have a termite problem.
- Discarded insect wings: Reproductive termites are winged and emerge from mature colonies to find a mate and create a new colony. Seeing piles of insect wings on walkways, around windows or doors, or inside your home should alert you that a termite nest is nearby.
- Holes: Finding holes in wood and small pellet-like droppings under those holes is another sign that termites are in your house and feeding on its wood.
At any potential sign of a termite infestation or evidence of termite damage, immediately contact a Bethesda termite control expert and schedule a termite inspection of your home.
The Extent Of Damage Termites Can Cause To Your Property
Did you know termites eat about 2% of their body weight in wood daily? That is a lot of food for such a tiny insect. While a single termite getting into your home won’t cause much damage, the fact is that termites are social insects that live together in huge colonies. The damage can become extensive when thousands or more termites use your home as a food source. Each year, across the country, termites are responsible for causing more than five billion dollars in damage to structures.
When it comes to termites, it isn’t only the damage that termites cause to your home but the damage they can cause to your bank account. Most homeowners insurance policies don’t cover the cost of repairing termite damage because the damage they cause is preventable.
Reasons And Factors For Termite Infestations
The unfortunate truth is that termites in Bethesda can get into any home. However, the following things may make your property more susceptible to a problem with these wood-eating pests:
- You have a lot of wood-to-soil contact on your property. Termites often move directly from the ground and into a piece of wood.
- Your property has a lot of shade, overgrown vegetation, or irrigation issues that cause the build-up of moisture that causes damp wood and soil that many termites love.
- Your home has moisture issues, like poor ventilation, dripping pipes, or leaky roofs.
- Holes, cracks, or other small openings are present in your home’s foundation, allowing termites to move to and from your home.
Working with a local professional and removing or repairing things that can attract the attention of termites is the best way to avoid issues with these pests.
Professional Termite Control Is The Best Termite Control Solution
Professional termite control is the best way to control termites. Termites are not pests that DIY pest control solutions can successfully control. To eliminate termites, you need to find their nest and all their foraging sites. At Womack Pest Control, we will accurately identify a termite infestation and provide the effective solutions necessary to remove these pests from your property. We offer long-term solutions to termites and other common household pests. By choosing to work with us, you will have the peace of mind to know that you are receiving the best possible termite control in Bethesda. To learn more, please give us a call today.