Spotting Termites in Your Home

las vegas exterminators: up close photo of termite

Las Vegas may be unbearable during the summer, but the beautiful weather in the winter makes it all worth it. The temperature is so perfect in the winter. It’s cold but not unbearably cold. Even the few times it does snow, the ground doesn’t become hard to walk on.

Of course, there is one huge downfall to perfect Las Vegas winters. Termites tend to live in places where the ground doesn’t freeze. That means Las Vegas residents have to endure the horrors of these pesky critters.

Remember the quote from the Art of War: “It is said if you know your enemies and know yourself, you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles.” If you don’t know anything about termites, they will take over your home.

Let’s take a quick lesson in termites.

Termites live similarly to ants. There whole lives consists of laying eggs, defending the colony and finding food. Unfortunately, their food is your house. Termites live off cellulose which is in most wood elements. Because most houses are made with wood elements, it becomes a feast for termite communities.

Termites live within the walls of your home, so how are you able to find them? Here are a few tips for detecting a termite infestation in your home.

Listen to your walls

Termites aren’t exactly quiet. There are usually hundreds of them in a community, so you should be able to hear a faint tapping within your walls. The muffled sounds you hear at night aren’t a figment of your imagination. You likely have a termite infestation.

Droppings

Just like you, termites like to keep their residence clean. Because they are constantly eating, they will have to dispose of their waste somewhere, so what better place to do it then inside your home? If you find tiny bits of feces or dead termites inside your house, it’s usually a sign there is an infestation in your walls.

Soft spots

If you find that some of the wood in your home is weakening, termites could have invaded. You can test if your wood is weak by scratching it. If it feels soft to the touch, it’s starting to fall apart.

Small holes

As termites eat through the wood in your home, often times small holes may appear in your walls. In most cases, the holes are very tiny. It may take some time to find them so inspect your walls thoroughly.

Unfortunately, if you live in an older home, you may see holes or soft spots that were formed from a previous infestation. Before buying your home, you will get a home inspection. Typically, they will be able to find a termite inspection. If you do find any suspicious activity in your home, seek the help of a professional.

The Las Vegas exterminators at R & C Pest Control can effectively rid your home of these pesky critters. Don’t wait to contact an expert. The longer the infestation takes over your home, much more damage will occur. This can get extremely costly. Call an expert as soon as you see any signs of termites. For more information about Las Vegas pest control services, contact 702.257.2847.