Termite Season: Signs of an infestation

This Termite Awareness Week, March 3-9, the National Pest Management Association shared helpful tips for homeowners to be aware of to protect their property from infestation.

(KTAL/KMSS) — As the weather warms across the nation, every year, termites cause $6.8 billion in property damage, emphasizing the importance of proper prevention, according to Jim Fredericks, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs for the National Pest Management Association (NPMA).

“The serious damage to the structure of a home caused by a termite infestation is usually not covered by homeowners insurance, which can leave Americans with a hefty bill to pay,” Fredericks said.

A survey online by The Harris Poll on behalf of NPMA found more than half (54%) of U.S. homeowners are aware of the damage that termites can cause to buildings and structures.

Only 31% of U.S. homeowners take preventive measures to protect their home from termite infestations and 27% of homeowners have had a professional termite inspection conducted at their home. 

This Termite Awareness Week, March 3-9, NPMA shared helpful tips for homeowners to be aware of to protect their property from infestation.

The most common signs a home is infested with termites are the following:

• Presence of large numbers of flying termites (often confused with flying ants) 
• Mud shelter tubes (used by termites to reach a food source)  
• Damaged wood containing mud or dirt 
• Discarded wings near doors or on windowsills  
• Wood that sounds hollow when tapped 
• Blistered paint on wooden surfaces 
• Small piles of pellets near or underneath damaged wood 

“While this pest is especially problematic in warmer states, they can be found almost anywhere in the U.S., and every home is at risk. This is why it is critical for homeowners to have regular termite inspections, as pest control professionals know the signs to look for and can get into the hidden areas of a home where the infestations often occur just out of sight," explains Fredericks.

“Diverting water away from your property and reducing moisture in general is a great first step, as these pests are attracted to damp habitats. Additionally, be sure to keep firewood stored away from the building to avoid attracting termites to the structure, don’t allow mulch to cover the bottom of siding, and make sure wooden parts of the structure are not in contact with the soil," adds Fredericks.

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