Of all the potential pests you can get in the house, termites are some of the most destructive ones. Termites are small insects that eat cellulosic materials, or anything made of wood. This makes the structure of your house an ideal meal for them. To avoid damage and a huge repair headache, let Critter Control of West Palm Beach help you.

What Causes Termites?

Termites are drawn to damp, dark places. An ideal place for them would be a house that has dark corners, water damage that wasn’t properly taken care of, and wood that’s placed close to the house such as a wood pile or tree stump. If there are cracks in the foundation or other small openings in the home’s structure, they will find their way in.

How to Detect Them

Termites are very small, which can make it hard for you to realize if there’s a termite problem in the house. Fortunately, there are other signs you can rely on to confirm your suspicions of an infestation:

• Mud tunnels on the surface of the house are a clear sign of termites. These small mud trails are used by termites for traveling around. They’re typically found near windows and along the foundation.
• “Swarmers” are termites that are in the reproductive stage of their lives who have swarmed together to breed and start a new colony. If you see them inside your home, they’ve set up shop and need to be dealt with.
• You may see small holes in the wood that weren’t there before. Additionally, if the wood or paint looks contorted or bent, this is a good indicator of termite presence.
• Take initiative and investigate the wood. Go around and tap on the wood structure of the home. If you hear a hollow sound, that’s a sign the wood has been damaged by termites. If you want further confirmation, you can take a small screwdriver and poke the surface to see if it’s damaged.

How to Get Rid of Termites

The best way to fix a termite infestation is to call in the industry specialists here at Critter Control. We will effectively remove the threat and make your home termite-free once again.