How Common Are Termites in Homes?
The answer to how common are termites in homes depends on the structure of your home. If you have a wood foundation, you are more likely to have an infestation than if your house is made of concrete.
To avoid a termite infestation, keep the surrounding area around your home dry and free from plant debris. It is also best to trim any shrubs and trees away from the perimeter of your home.
Besides causing structural damage to your home, termites can also cause you financial losses. The average cost of termite damage repairs is thousands of dollars.
If you are considering purchasing or building a home, you should invest in termite protection. The best way to do this is to enlist the services of a pest control company. They can set up baiting traps to decrease the numbers of termites in your home.
A good indicator of a termite problem is the presence of swarmers. Swarmers are winged adult termites that look similar to flying ants. They usually have two unevenly sized pairs of wings. After taking flight, they will shed their wings and leave a pile of wings around your home’s foundation.
You should also look for mud tubes. These tubes are a type of passageway for termites to get to the above ground wood. They run along the exterior of your house, usually toward exposed wood.
Once you notice signs of an infestation, you should contact a pest control expert to remove them. You may be able to get a warranty on the treatments you’ve performed, but if you sell your home, you’ll have to pay for the work.