5 scary facts about termite damage

Termites are stealthy pests that eat away at wood inside walls and other structures. Since they can be hard for homeowners to detect, they can cause significant termite damage before they’re found. Keep the following information about termite damage in mind to protect your home.

What Are the Signs of Termite Damage?

How do you know if you have termite damage in your home? There are certain signs to look for. These include:

• Hollow wood. Wood damage isn’t always visible from the outside. Tapping on wood walls, floors, and other wood structures can produce a hollow sound if termites have caused damage.
• Uneven door or window frames. Your door and windows frames might jam when you try to open and close them. This happens when termites feed on wood in these areas of your home.
• Mud tunnels. Some termites construct mud tunnels or tubes for safe travel between your home and their nest. You might see these tubes on your foundation or other parts of your home.
• Piles of wings. Some winged termites swarm in spring. This can result in piles of discarded wings inside or outside your home, especially near windows and doors.

What Kind of Damage Do Termites Cause?

Termite damage can range from mild to severe. In milder cases, these pests can leave tiny holes in your drywall and cause doors and windows to stick. Other kinds of damage can include sagging or creaking floors.

In more serious cases, which can happen over a long period of time, termite damage can include structural damage that makes your home unsafe. Keep in mind that termites will eat through almost any source of wood they can find. This includes joists in your ceilings and floors, support beams, and posts. They can also severely damage your home’s foundation, drywall, and roof supports.

How Are Termites Able to Cause So Much Damage?

Termites have an appetite for cellulose, which is found in wood and other materials, such as decaying vegetation. These pests spend most of their time feeding. They don’t sleep. They don’t take a break in winter to hibernate. When they’re inside your home, they have access to all kinds of wood sources. This provides them with plenty to feed on, which leads to severe wood damage.

Termite colony sizes are another factor to consider. Some termites establish large colonies with up to a million members. That adds up to a lot of termites crawling around inside your walls, feeding on wood. Since they mainly stay in hidden areas, it can take years to realize you have termite damage.

How Much Does Termite Damage Cost Homeowners?

The cost of termite damage can vary widely, depending on how severe it is and how large an infestation is present. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), United States residents spend as much as $1 billion to repair damage and control termites each year. The cost of damage to your home could be anywhere from a few thousand dollars to a lot more, depending on how severe it is.

How Can Homeowners Prevent Termite Damage?

One of the best ways to prevent termite damage is by having regular termite inspections. Professional technicians with Budget Brothers Termite and Pest Elimination can check your home for signs of termites. If any are found, you can then have termite control services performed to eliminate established colonies. This helps get rid of termites in your home and prevents other colony members from being able to invade.

Contact Budget Brothers Termite and Pest Elimination to schedule an inspection and prevent termite damage in your Arizona home.