5 Signs that Your House Has Termites

Termites are destructive pests that eat through wood, causing extensive damage to homes. Termites are found in about a third of all Australian homes, and many people don't even know that they have them. Here are five signs that your house is infested with termites.

Your neighbours have termites

If your neighbour is battling a termite infestation, there's a good chance that your house is infested, too. This is because termites build large underground nests, with a radius of up to 103 metres (340 feet). When you find out that your neighbour has termites you should assume that the entire neighbourhood is built on top of a termite colony. 

You have a dirt mound in your backyard

Some types of termites expand their nests upwards, not just outwards. A tall mound of dirt in your backyard might not be an innocent pile of dirt; it could be a termite mound. These structures are usually a couple metres tall, but some can be much larger. 

You have mud tubes on your exterior walls

Termites build mud tubes between their underground colony and your house. This lets them travel to their food source (your house) safely. The mud tube keeps them moist, cool, and safe from predators. These tubes are much wider than the termites, so they are easy to see. Walk around the perimeter of your home and look for mud on its exterior. 

Your wood sounds hollow

Tap on a wooden surface in your house. Does it sound solid, or hollow? Undamaged wood should sound solid, but wood that has been damaged by termites will sound hollow. Termites eat wood from the inside out, so a piece of wood looks fine from the front could be nearly destroyed on the other side. 

You see termite damage

Eventually, termites will eat right through the wood, and you'll start to see damage on the front of wooden surfaces. This is the most obvious sign, but it's a very serious one. Many people don't realize they have a termite problem until they see damage, and at this point, it could be too late to fix. Severe damage can cause your house to collapse.

Termites are a major problem in Australia. Your home could be a victim, so watch out for these five signs of termite infestation. It's also a good idea to hire a pest control company to inspect your house for termites. For more help on diagnosing and fixing the problem, talk to pest control agencies such as Dunrite Termite & Pest Control.