Most people view their home as safe, sturdy and secure. However, the reality is that even the most modern, expensive homes can easily be taken apart by some of natures tiniest creatures. The fact is that wood destroying organisms like fungi, ants and termites destroy more homes each year than tornados, floods and fires combined.
What is Termite Inspection?
A variety of pests can either cause actual damage to your home or just plain gross you out. Unwanted pests like, mice, rats, spiders, scorpions, snakes, cockroaches and bats can potentially spread disease or create psychological distress for homeowners. However, the most alarming types of pests that inspectors generally focus on are the ones known as wood destroying organisms. These types of pests include, fungi, certain types of ants and especially termites. While the sight of a large, gangly spider or a hairy mouse scrambling across your living room floor may make the hairs on your neck stand at attention, the pests you should be most concerned about are usually no bigger than one of the smallest buttons on your shirt. Pests like ants and termites tend to remain hidden within a home’s walls, silently expanding in numbers and slowly devouring the structure’s core from the inside out.
Who Needs Termite Inspection?
Virtually every home undergoes inspection when it goes on the market. If you’ve recently bought a new home, you should have received paperwork detailing the results of a general pest and termite inspection. However, homeowners that have lived in their house for a few years, may be unaware of problems brewing behind their home’s sheetrock. It is generally recommended that a home be inspected for wood-destroying organisms once every few years.
A homeowner should look for that might indicate that he should contact an exterminator right away. If you notice any of the following signs, you should immediately act:
Mud tubes
These are basically termite tracks. They will generally appear as tiny winding pencil marks in the dirt around the exterior of your home and in the crawlspace beneath your house. These pathways usually lead from the food source, which is your home, back outdoors.
Wood damage
Since termites eat wood, it’s sometimes quite easy to see where they’ve been feeding. However, often, termites hollow out wood from the inside, leaving honeycomb-like remnants that are hidden beneath paint and a thin layer of wood skin. Try tapping on trim, baseboards and walls. If they sound hollow, try breaking a piece off to inspect for signs of termite damage.
Live termites
Termites are generally quite easy to recognize. They are light-colored; their bodies appear soft; they’re generally no bigger than 10 millimeters in length and they tend to retreat from direct sunlight. Many homeowners don’t ever see an actual termite until their home is rife with infestation. If you see an actual termite within the walls of your home, call an inspector or an actual exterminator as soon as possible.
Benefits of Termite Inspection
Because of the covert nature in which termites conduct their feeding, it’s often impossible to recognize their presence until a large portion of the home has passed through their digestive tracts. A thorough inspection conducted by a qualified agent can not only provide you with peace of mind, it may very well save you tens of thousands of dollars in repairs.
Risks Associated With Termites
Many people just don’t realize how destructive termites can be. A female termite is capable of laying an egg every 15 seconds and and adult termite’s lifespan can exceed 14 years. These amazing traits allow termites to multiply quickly and maximize their damage potential.
The Bottom Line
Many people are shocked to learn that an average termite colony is capable of destroying an entire house in about two to three years. Some people mistakenly believe that their home is safe from possible termite infestations because they live in colder climates. However, the fact is that termites are found in every U.S. state except Alaska. If you own a home, you simply must take the necessary steps to protect it from the threats posed by wood- destroying organisms.
