Nashville, Murfreesboro, Knoxville and Chattanooga TN
Did you know that the standard homeowner insurance policy does not cover damage from termites? That’s a scary fact to know, especially when you also consider that termites do $5 billion dollars in damage each year and the average cost per household to repair damage is thousands of dollars. Now, consider that termite damage is more common than residence fires, affecting approximately 600,000 homes each year.
Like most problems, prevention and early detection are key. Keeping your eye out for the warning signs of a termite infestation can help you to minimize the cost and damages. Below are 5 signs you may have the beginning of a termite infestation on your hands.
Sign 1: Swarmers
Also known as flying termites, swarmers are most often the first warning sign of an infestation. Swarmers are termites with wings that come out of nests in large groups. These are the termites that are looking for suitable mates. When these swarmers reproduce, they can form the basis for a new colony. Some swarm at different times of the day, but all drywood termites tend to swarm after rain at certain times of year.
Sign 2: Discarded wings
By the time you see discarded termite wings, it’s highly likely you’re dealing with a large infestation in your home. After swarmers take flight and land, they shed their wings and leave them behind. You may find piles of wings around your home.
Sign 3: Hollow or blistering wood
Termites eat wood from the inside out and can leave just a very thin layer of wood or only paint in their wake. When all of the wood on the inside is eaten away and you tap on the outside, it will sound paper-thin or extremely hollow. Termites can also cause cracks on the internal walls of your home, also potentially damaging laminate flooring and baseboards.
Sign 4: Frass
Frass is the term used for termite droppings, which are wood-colored. To the untrained eye, frass would be easy to mistake for sawdust. Drywood termites push their feces out of small holes near the entrance to their nest, resulting in small black marks and a dark, powder-like substance around the area they have infested.
Sign 5: Tight fitting doors and hard-to-open windows
Do you have a window that is hard to open? Is there a door in your home that sticks a little bit? You usually think of heat and humidity as the culprit behind such issues, but it can also mean termites are present. When they eat through wood, they produce moisture. If they are tunneling through your window and door frames, it can cause the wood to warp, making it more difficult to make your windows and doors budge.
Termite control in Nashville and Murfreesboro in Tennessee
Now that you know the signs of termites and the damage they can do, we hope you see the value in obtaining termite control to protect your home. Our experts at Ameri Care can conduct an inspection of your home to determine the best course of action to rid the property of termites and make sure they don’t come back. All of our termite control plans are covered under one of two warranties: a control warranty, that covers the cost of any re-treatments; or a repair warranty, which will compensate the customer for any termite-related damage up to $50,000. Termites won’t hesitate to do damage if they enter your home; don’t hesitate to purchase termite control! To find out more, give us a call at (615) 893-7111 or visit us online to schedule your free consultation today.