An unfortunate fact about termite infestations is that a majority of homeowners assume that this will never happen to their home. Despite knowing that termites are one of the biggest threats posed to Australian homes, some people still assume that having a brand-new home or never seeing these insects crawling around automatically means that their property is safe. The reality, though, is that termites are stealthy creatures. Thus, by the time you do suspect you have an infestation, your house has likely suffered extensive damage that will warrant exorbitant repair costs. For your own sake, here are structural damages to be wary of that are indicative of the need for an immediate termite inspection.
Hollow calluses on your trees
Termite infestations typically begin outdoors. Therefore, if you are suspicious of termites inhabiting your property, a good place to start your investigations will be on your trees. Subterranean termites usually will create their nests in soil, but they can also make their way into the inner parts of the tree roots and trunk. Since termites are prey for other critters, invaders can attack the infested trees, and this causes the termites to burrow through the tree trunk in an attempt to escape. After a while, the termites return, and the worker termites proceed to seal the areas that were burrowed through, which causes a callus on the trunk. If you inspect your trees and find multiple calli that sound hollow when you knock on them, it is definitely time to seek a termite inspection.
Crumbling timber in your home
The primary source of nutrition for termites is the cellulose in timber. Thus, if you have timber elements in your home, perhaps ceiling beams or structural beams, then the termites will likely have made their way indoors after infesting your trees. Some people underrate the potential anger termite cause since these tiny critters may seem like merely a bothersome pest to have in their home. However, since termites eat through the timber from the inside, they pose a massive threat to the structural integrity of your entire house. Investigate the condition of all the episode timber in your house by tapping against the wood to check for hollow sounds. Moreover, if the timber is crumbling at your fingertips when you touch it, it is a clear sign of the presence of termites, so you should seek pest inspection and control services immediately.
When the cold days of winter start to strike, you may be lulled into thinking that pests go into hibernation at this time of year. However, I can assure you that this is not the case. In fact, if anything, you are more likely to see pests in your home during winter because they are looking for somewhere warm to hide. My blog is all about pest control. I share my thoughts on topics like how to spot if you have a pest problem, and how to stop pests getting inside. If you are looking for some pest control tips and tricks, then check out my blog posts.