7F2A3739The warm Florida climate is a major draw for people, especially those who have living up north where it gets cold. Unfortunately, the same weather–constant rain, humidity, and warm weather–is also a major draw for termites as well. Because the damage inflicted by termites is focused on our home’s structure, it’s important that homeowners take precautionary measures against termite infestations. Termites can cause very serious and extensive damage to your home–the longer it goes on the worse the damage grows. If you think you might have an infestation, it’s best to act immediately and have an Orlando termite control inspection conducted. The earlier an infestation is found, the sooner it can be stopped, saving your home from further damage.

Homeowners should conduct periodic inspections of their homes to see if there are any hints of an infestation–signs to look for include:

  • Distinctive droppings known as frass. Frass looks like tiny wood-colored pellets and can often be found near the termite’s point-of-entry. Frass doesn’t always mean there is an infestation, but it does mean that there are termites nearby.
  • Discarded wings. Termites shed their wings after swarming, reproducing, or when finding a new nest. Again, finding wings near your house doesn’t always mean you have an infestation, but it does mean you have termites in the vicinity.
  • Mud (shelter) tubes. Mud tubes generally extend along external walls near the ground and are one of the most obvious and troubling signs of a termite infestation.
  • Sagging or hollow wood. Sagging or hollow wood are sure signs that termites have eaten away the wood behind a wall or under a floor. They burrow into wood eating away its structure, leaving it weak and in many cases unable to support the weight of floors or worse the home itself.

The best course of action is to try to prevent an infestation in the first place. By preventing the wood parts of your house from coming into contact with soil, keeping standing water away from the foundation, and ensuring there is adequate ventilation underneath your house, termite infestations can be prevented.

Catching a termite infestation early can help save you a lot of time and money. If you suspect termites have set up shop in your home, contact the Orlando termite control experts at Apex Pest Control immediately. If you’ve ever found termites in your home, share this post. Help your friends and family prevent a termite invasion in their home. Also, share some of your experience and tell us of any other noticeable indications that termites are taking up residence in your home.

Related content:

  1. Preventing Versus Controlling Termites
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  3. 5 Things that Termites Love
  4. Drywood vs. Subterranean Termites
  5. Identifying a Potential Termite Infestation