Five Easy-To-Spot Signs Of Termites Around Your Los Angeles Area Home
Each year, Los Angeles homeowners suffer thousands of dollars in damage from termites. The sad fact is that most of this damage could be prevented by early action. Typically, homeowners don't even realize they have termites until the damage is already done. If you notice any of the following signs, seek professional help before it's too late.
1. Termite Droppings
Also referred to as frass, termite droppings are a definite sign of termites. But how can you identify termite droppings? After all, many Los Angeles pests leave behind feces as a sign of their presence.
Typically, you can identify termite droppings by their location. Most termites push droppings out of their tunnels, which causes a pile to form near a tunnel entrance. If you see a mound of droppings, the odds are high that you could have termites.
Whether or not you can positively identify the droppings as termite droppings, you should call for a residential pest control inspection if you suspect them. Regardless of the species, any insect or rodent droppings are a sign of trouble. To correctly identify the culprit, you need the help of an expert.
2. Tight-Fitting Doors And Windows
This is one sign of termites that you might not expect. Over time, houses seem to deteriorate. You may not think much of a door that doesn't open well, of a window that seems too tight in the frame. However, time might not be the cause of your trouble. If you have termites in your walls, they could be responsible for your tight-fitting doors and windows.
The reason for this is how termites chew through your wood. When they eat wood, termites produce moisture, warping, expanding, and damaging it. When you try to open your windows or doors, they just might not seem right.
3. Hollow Wood
As you already know, termites chew through wood. But you might not realize that they often leave behind an outer layer. When they do, the termites in Los Angeles create a tell-tale sign of their presence - hollow wood.
If you knock on your walls and the wood behind it sounds hollow, you could have termites. This isn't always obvious, so you should check for termites occasionally by knocking on your walls.
4. Clicking In Your Walls
Although not all household pests communicate with one another, termites do. They make clicking noises to send messages throughout the colony. If you hear such a sound coming from your walls, there's a very probable chance that termites have taken over.
You can check for this sign of termites by placing your ear up to the wall. While termites aren't loud enough to keep you awake at night, they are noisy enough to be heard without any special equipment.
5. Termite Swarmer
Generally, the first sign that you have termites is the spotting of a termite swarmer. When it's time to mate, some termites fly away and form a new colony. They don't go very far, so you might spot a swarmer invading your property.
Can You Prevent Termites?
On your own, there are a few precautions you can take to prevent termites. Fixing moisture-damaged wood is a start, as is limiting wood to soil contact. However, the best form of termite prevention is working with a pest control technician.
In any case, it's essential to work with an experienced pest control professional. Hesitating only wastes your time and your money. The longer you wait, the worse the infestation will become. To save yourself from costly repairs, you need help from the Excel Pest Management team. Contact us today to learn more about our pest control treatments!
Tags: termite control | damage from termites | termite infestation |
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