Don’t Panic, But Don’t Wait: What To Do If Termites Are Eating Your House

I’ve been in the pest control business here in Jasper, Georgia, for a long time. I’ve seen a lot of folks walk out into their garage or look at their baseboards and feel that sudden sink in their stomach. You see a little pile of wings, some “mud tubes” climbing up your foundation, or—worse—you actually see the wood crumbling.

The first thing I want to tell you is: Take a deep breath. Your house isn’t going to fall down by tomorrow morning. But, you can’t ignore it either. Here in North Georgia, we deal primarily with Eastern Subterranean Termites. They are hungry, they are persistent, and they work 24/7.

If you’ve spotted signs of these “silent destroyers,” here is exactly what you should do.

1. Stop and Observe (Don’t Spray the Raid!)

Your first instinct might be to grab a can of bug spray and soak the area. Please, don’t do that. Subterranean termites live in massive colonies deep underground. If you spray the ones you see on the surface, you might kill a few hundred, but you’ll alert the rest of the colony. They’ll simply seal off that tunnel and pop up somewhere else in your house where you can’t see them. You want a professional to see the active “trails” so we can track them back to the source.

2. Save a Sample

If you see winged insects (swarmers), try to catch a few in a jar or a plastic baggie. Termite swarmers look a lot like flying ants to the untrained eye, but the treatment for ants is a whole lot different than the treatment for termites.

• Termites have straight antennae and equal-length wings.

• Ants have “elbowed” antennae and wings of different lengths.

3. Check for the “Mud Tubes”

Termites are soft-bodied insects. They need moisture to survive, so they build little tunnels made of mud and saliva to travel from the dirt into your wooden floor joists. Look along your foundation, in your crawlspace, or behind your HVAC unit. If you see what looks like dried veins of Georgia red clay climbing up your wall, you’ve got a highway leading straight into your home.

4. Look for the “Hidden” Signs

Sometimes you don’t see the bugs; you see their leftovers. Keep an eye out for:

• Bubbling paint: It often looks like water damage, but it’s actually termites eating the paper backing of the drywall.

• Hollow-sounding wood: Tap on your baseboards or windowsill. If it sounds like a drum, the inside has likely been hollowed out.

• Piles of wings: After they swarm, termites shed their wings. You’ll often find these on windowsills or near light fixtures.

Why “DIY” Doesn’t Work for Termites

I’m a big fan of folks being handy around the house, but termites are one area where you really need a pro. To actually protect your home, you have to create a continuous barrier around the entire perimeter or use a specialized baiting system that the termites take back to the queen.

At Faith Pest Control, we don’t just “spray.” We investigate. We look at the moisture levels in your crawlspace and the “conducive conditions” (like mulch piled too high) that invited them in to begin with.

The Faith Pest Control Promise

If you’re seeing activity in Jasper, Talking Rock, or anywhere here in Pickens County, give us a call. We offer a 100% “Make You Happy” Money Back Guarantee. If you aren’t satisfied with our service, we’ll come back and make it right, or we’ll refund your money. It’s that simple.

Your home is likely your biggest investment. Don’t let a bug the size of a grain of rice eat away your equity.

The post Don’t Panic, But Don’t Wait: What To Do If Termites Are Eating Your House first appeared on Faith Pest Control.