How to Check for Termites!
Termites are probably one of the nastiest pests you can deal with and if you know for a fact that your house is prone to them, it is highly recommended to perform checks every once in a while! The time and effort you will invest in checking periodically is way less than what you will have to put in when actually dealing with an actual infestation, so be careful! As they say, it's better to be safe than sorry! Checking for termites is quite easy and straightforward and it is definitely something that you can do on your own, so there is no need to call the exterminator just yet! Save yourself some money and hang in there for a few more minutes until you know for a fact if there is a reason to call the pros! Method number 1: For this method, you will need a flashlight.
Grab the flashlight and go to every corner, especially in the attic or in the basement, or wherever there is wood, and start looking for traces.
All it takes is only little crack and termites can get in undetected! Use the flashlight to light the walls and corners properly and carefully check for holes in the wood.
If you find many small holes in the wood, then you are probably dealing with termites.
The most common termites a household deals with are dead wood termites.
This type usually damages the wooden walls or furniture, but it damages the hard to see parts, so you need to be really careful when checking! The good thing about them is that they are quite easy to spot sometimes, because they leave behind piles of termite pellets! If the wood has no termite damage whatsoever, do remember to check for pellets, as the termites might not have been there long enough to cause noticeable damage to the wood! Method number 2: Grab a screwdriver and start walking around.
With the screwdriver, gently hit the timbers and listen very carefully.
If a timber is damaged, even if it's damaged on the opposite side, it will make a much more hollow noise than all the others.
This might sound a bit ineffective, but it is actually a really good way to check for termites.
If a piece of timber sounds hollow, then the wood is damaged and it is highly likely that termites are the cause.
If you cannot reach a timber, use a torch light or a flashlight to check for visible damage or termite pellets! Use the above two methods together if you want to check more effectively.
It takes a bit of time, but it is well worth your trouble!
Grab the flashlight and go to every corner, especially in the attic or in the basement, or wherever there is wood, and start looking for traces.
All it takes is only little crack and termites can get in undetected! Use the flashlight to light the walls and corners properly and carefully check for holes in the wood.
If you find many small holes in the wood, then you are probably dealing with termites.
The most common termites a household deals with are dead wood termites.
This type usually damages the wooden walls or furniture, but it damages the hard to see parts, so you need to be really careful when checking! The good thing about them is that they are quite easy to spot sometimes, because they leave behind piles of termite pellets! If the wood has no termite damage whatsoever, do remember to check for pellets, as the termites might not have been there long enough to cause noticeable damage to the wood! Method number 2: Grab a screwdriver and start walking around.
With the screwdriver, gently hit the timbers and listen very carefully.
If a timber is damaged, even if it's damaged on the opposite side, it will make a much more hollow noise than all the others.
This might sound a bit ineffective, but it is actually a really good way to check for termites.
If a piece of timber sounds hollow, then the wood is damaged and it is highly likely that termites are the cause.
If you cannot reach a timber, use a torch light or a flashlight to check for visible damage or termite pellets! Use the above two methods together if you want to check more effectively.
It takes a bit of time, but it is well worth your trouble!
