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Mud tubesUnlike ants, termites do not roam around on the soil surface or outside in the open. They'll either tunnel through the soil or into wood (or other stuff ) or else travel inside pencil-size (or larger)"sand tubes" that they assemble from soil, wood contaminants and other substances. You will find these tubes on foundation walls, floor joists or other parts of the home.

Break open the tubes to see if termites continue to be busy. An empty tube doesn't necessarily mean that termites are gone; they may have simply abandoned this specific tunnel. Termites often rebuild damaged tubes, which can be another indication of current action. 'Old' tubes are dry and crumble easily, leaving behind"etching" on the surface that could be visible for years (an indication that a house had termite activity at some time).

Tubes that are found on ceilings or on top levels of a building may indicate you have an aboveground ("airborne") infestation, i.e., the termite colony really resides in the building and the termites are traveling from the soil. Mud tubes built by an aboveground colony usually contain materials other than soil, e.g., wood and sheet rock or anything the termites are feeding on.

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In such situations, a thorough inspection may require removal of siding or interior wallboards, etc.. More importantly for you, these aboveground infestations cannot be controlled using the customary soil treatment (see below) and are typically deducted from a termite contract warranty. In these situations, finding and correcting the moisture problem is the first step to eliminating the termites. .

We tend to think of termites as feeding/injuring wood only. Termites actually feed on virtually anything which contains cellulose, the main component of wood, including wood paneling, paper products, cardboard boxes, art canvases, the paper covering of sheet rock, carpeting, etc.. While foraging and feeding, they may tunnel through non-cellulosic materials, such as plastic and foamboard.

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In reality, the amount of damage that termites cause depends on many factors. In areas with cold winter temperatures, termite activity (and feeding) often declines, but does not necessarily stop. If the termites are well-protected from colder temperatures (e.g., underneath a slab), then activity may continue year-round. From a practical perspective, serious termite damage usually takes about 3-8 years. .

There official source is no accurate method for determining the age of recently discovered harm. You need some reference point, i.e., some point in time when it was known there was no damage to this particular wood. That can be one reason why annual inspections (and keeping your records of those inspections) are important. .

NOTE: All these inspections are not a guarantee that you do not have termites or damage in areas that are not covered or not easily seen, such as inside walls. However, the inspections can reveal conditions that might suggest that harm does exist and additional investigation is needed.

In case you have a termite protection contract, contact the pest control company immediately and arrange for them to check out the issue. Should you not own a termite contract, call 2-3 (or more) companies and have each one inspect your house and offer you the specifics of their findings and any recommendations for a course of action to correct any termite conditions they found.

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Termites do not cause significant harm in a short period of time, so spending a few extra days or even a couple weeks will not make any real difference in terms how much damage occurs. .

Can there be damage That Needs to Be repaired or at least examined by a contractor or engineer before control steps are performed

Simply spraying swarmers or the surface of accessible infested wood may kill the termites that you see now, but it does not stop the infestation nor does it protect your house from future attacks by termites. The most common type of termite treatment involves a"trench and treat" in which a liquid insecticide ("termiticide") is placed on the soil surrounding critical areas of your residence.

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The soil is trenched 6" deep and about 4-6" wide. For homes with crawlspaces, the dirt along the interior foundation wall must be treated within 4 feet of identified signs of termite activity. In some cases, the soil around supports (for example, piers) underneath the home can also be treated.

When applied correctly, this treatment creates a continuous chemical barrier that should prevent termites from reaching the foundation and piers in your house. .

Concrete slabs which attach to the home, as an example, a garage floor, or the slab of an earth-filled porch.