Termite damage to timber laden areas of a home, including its structure, may go unnoticed for many years, since these pests tend to eat away from within the wood. This is one of the reasons that it is recommended to get a timber pest inspection in Sydney through certified and qualified inspectors, who can detect signs of termite or other pest infestations.
Although most times the pests and the damage they do is invisible to the eye until it is too late, there are certain signs to keep an eye out for which may indicate that you have a termite problem in your home. These are:
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Noises in the walls – Termites are very sensitive insects and as such soldier termites start banging their heads and making a lot of noise if they think there is some form of danger, and the ones who eat at the wood are also noisy little creatures. Sometimes you can hear very slight nises coming from your timber laden walls indicating that there may be a pest infestation.
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Mud tubes – Subterranean termites generally build mud tubes at the base of walls which are very visible to the eye. If you notice any mud tubes in corners or at the base of walls you will need to get it checked out.
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Hollow sounding timber – These insects usually eat away at the wood from the inside out, leaving just a thin veneer visible to the eye and absolutely hollow inside. When you tap on an area with termite damage it will sound hollow or papery.
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Stiff or warped doors and windows – Although you might think that a stiff or warped door or window which is hard to open may be due to moisture, it could also be due to a termite infestation. While eating away and tunnelling through the wood these insects produce moisture which can warp the wood.
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Tunnelling – Tunnelling is not noticeable from the outside; however, you may see it on a piece of broken timber or wood, indicating that you have a termite issue.
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Flying termites – If you see any termite like creatures flying around, especially after rain, then you may have a serious issue and may need to get a pest inspection in Sydney to make sure.
