Termite Inspections are a crucial step to prevent or eliminate termites in your home. A professional can do this job for you based on his experience with different species of Termites. 
A termite inspector can detect the entry points of Termites, level of infestation, type of termite activity and can suggest the best termite treatment method possible to get rid of Termites in your home.
Whether you are planning to buy a new property, residing in a property or vacating one, consider a termite inspection. Here’s how termite inspection can help you.
- Detection of entry points
The exterior of your property is one of the main entry points for termites. This particular area is made up of exterior siding, dirt-filled porches, cracks and voids in foundations, and even mud shelter tubes. You must monitor the condition of these areas carefully to identify any pest problems or an actual termite infestation.
- Identifying hot spots
Hot spots are essentially places in your property where termites build colonies. These hot spots are found near exterior walls, patio slabs, and attached wooden decks. A termite inspector will also look for cracks or gaps in expansion joints. The gaps in these areas create perfect entry points for termites. Subterranean termites live in the ground and build mud tunnels up to a structure. These tunnels are about 1/4 to 1/2 inch wide. If you spot termite colonies, you may have an active termite infestation that needs termiticide treatment into the soil.
- Modern equipment: thermal imaging cameras
Besides helping with termite inspection, thermal imaging cameras can help you detect moisture in your home. Moisture is one factor that can help termites breed and multiply in number. These cameras are highly targeted, they can detect only small areas of your home. This way your entire home or office including hard to reach places can be identified with termites, if any. The cameras don’t actually see the termites but they can detect the heat produced by the termites thus indicating a termite infestation.
- Right inspection can save you from health hazards
Termites are quite a mess in your property. Not only are they unsightly but also a cause of many illnesses. It is advised that you consider termite control to protect the health of you, your family members and pets.
Here’s how to detect termite infestation
Some of the early signs of termite infestation are as follows
Stuck doors and windows
Do you suddenly see a door or window that is hard to open or close? Termites target areas where wood is easy to access. Your doors or window may be jammed because termites have started to eat away the wood. You may also notice crumbling baseboards or sagging floors and ceilings.
Termite swarmers or termite wings
Termite swarmers are a sure shot way to tell about the presence of Termites in your property. Swarmers have two pairs of large wings that are about the size of 1/4–1/2 inches. After leaving a colony and finding a mate, a swarmer sheds its wings. The lifespan of swarmers is really short, so you may find dead swarmers or the discarded wings most probably near entryways in your home.
Damaged paint or wallpaper
Termites leave behind tiny pin holes (called exit holes) during feeding on cardboard and wooden panels below the surface of your walls. Bubbling paint, Discolored wallpaper or peeling wallpapers, sunken areas, pinholes, buckling wood are all signs of a termite infestation.
Mud tubes
Mud tubes are one of the common signs to identify termite infestation. Noticed narrow vein like structures starting from the ground level to the wood in your home? They are mud tubes which are made by termites to protect themselves from dryness in the air. Remember termites love moisture. They can safely travel back to their colonies along these mud tubes. Try breaking off a piece of mudtube to find an active termite colony.
Termite droppings
Termites like most pests leave behind droppings and this is an important piece of evidence for you. They eat through the wood, digest it and push it out of the colony. Their droppings are called frass. It can appear like wood dust or shavings.
How to prevent termite infestation
- Remove all wood, cardboard and cellulose from around the foundation of your home.
- Store firewood about 20 feet away from your property.
- If you have a wooden fence surrounding your property, consider a termite proof paint.
- If you have plants, trim them occasionally and keep them away from moisture. If this is not possible, keep them farther away.
- Keep the grass in your lawn cut short and neat.
- Check for gutters, water leaks and all plumbing leaks in your home.
- Make sure you direct the condensation from ACs and other appliances away from your home.
- Don’t leave cardboard boxes lying around.
- Seal cracks around water and pipes.
- Get your roof checked for water damage.
If you are thinking of doing termite inspection, think again. You can mess the termite colonies and by using DIY termite control treatments you are only going to worsen the existing termite infestation. An inspection from a professional termite inspector is important so that you can treat the existing termites effectively and prevent future infestations. Termite inspectors are professionally trained, certified, licensed and extremely experienced in detecting and treating termites. Maybe it’s time to schedule a termite inspection to protect your home from termite damage.
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