Signs you need a termite inspection ASAP!

As a general guideline, don’t delay termite inspections. If you suspect termites in your home or office, call in professionals right away. Otherwise, your property could suffer significant damage before you manage to eliminate these stubborn pests.

This approach should also be applied when buying a property. It’s always a good time for a termite inspection. Don’t let your guard down even if there’s no obvious sign of infestation. Remember, termites are sneaky invaders. They can infiltrate your home unnoticed, but luckily, skilled inspectors know how to spot them.

Understanding the Adversary

Most buildings with wooden parts are susceptible to dry wood termites, which, as their name implies, inhabit dry wood. Many property owners and investors are unaware that these pests could be gnawing at the foundation, window/door frames, and other wooden elements (like furniture, skirting boards, etc.) of their building or potential property right now!

We can’t stress this enough: stay vigilant for these threats or your current investment could be in jeopardy. If there are reports of termite sightings in your area, don’t take any chances and have regular property inspections. Catching these invaders midway through their destructive mission is crucial to minimising termite damage.

So, when should you schedule termite inspections?

Flying Termites

One of the earliest indicators of a termite infestation is the sudden emergence of swarmers or flying termites. These are usually the females and males that have left their main nest to mate and start a new colony elsewhere. The issue arises when they establish a colony near or inside your building. Needless to say, you need to act quickly once you spot these relatively noticeable insects.

When watching for these winged termites, be aware that they tend to swarm after rain (during certain seasons). If you haven’t seen them swarming, look for discarded wings. These pests lose their wings shortly after mating, which is a clear sign that trouble is brewing.

A successfully mating pair often crawls into a suitable nesting site, seals themselves in, and starts a new colony, which can continue to grow for over a decade if left untreated.

Hollow-sounding Timber

Drywood termites typically eat wood from the inside out, often leaving a thin layer of timber or just the paint on the wood they’re consuming.

Tap on the wooden area they’ve eaten, and it’ll sound hollow. That’s mainly because part (or all) of the interior timber may have already been eaten. Running a vacuum cleaner against an infested skirting board or pressing a finger into a half-eaten door frame will cause them to break through.

This might sound alarming, but it’s often how property owners realise they’re dealing with a widespread termite infestation.

Faint Noise Inside Woodwork

Listen closely to a piece of wood you suspect is infested, and you’ll hear termites munching away! Surprisingly, worker termites eat loudly. Another sign of their presence is a quiet clicking sound coming from within your walls. This is the result of soldier termites banging their heads against the wood to warn other termites of danger.

It turns out, termites use vibrations to communicate, and any faint vibration on any woodwork around the home should prompt you to schedule a termite inspection ASAP.

White Ants Sighting

Unfortunately, some people confuse termites with white ants. It’s an easy mistake to make since both have similar shapes, sizes, and behaviours. However, remember that there’s no such thing as a “white ant”.

If you’ve recently spotted an insect that looks like a white ant around your house, this is a clear sign that you have a termite problem.

Seemingly immovable doors and windows

Although these could be attributed to damp and hot weather, warped doors and stiff windows could also indicate a termite infestation. That’s because the moisture these termites produce while eating and tunnelling through door and window frames often causes warping, making it difficult for you to open the affected windows and doors.

Mounds of frass

A sure sign of a drywood termite infestation is the presence of frass or termite droppings. Skilled inspectors often look for this when they suspect your place is dealing with a significant infestation.

Unlike their subterranean counterparts, drywood termites don’t use their feces to build tunnels. Instead, they often push those out of the holes near the entrances to their nest. Those dark, powdery substances and black spots you found in a certain spot in the house? They could indicate that a termite colony may be nearby.

Take action before it’s too late

Never postpone a termite inspection if you suspect an infestation in your property. Even a week’s delay can cost you hundreds of dollars (or more) in necessary repairs.

While it might be tempting to use chemical treatments from home improvement stores or try DIY solutions found online, don’t. For one, you can’t be sure of their effectiveness, and you might end up driving termites deeper into wooden structures and hidden corners.

Termites can quickly destroy homes or business premises, your best course of action is to address the problem as soon as you notice any of the signs we’ve mentioned. Unfortunately, your problem doesn’t end with a timely inspection and extermination.

To avoid dealing with the same termite problem repeatedly, schedule regular inspections and implement preventative measures. Both should give you peace of mind knowing that your residence isn’t being destroyed from the inside right under your nose.