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Mud tubesUnlike ants, termites do not ramble around on the ground surface or out in the open. They'll either tunnel through the soil or into timber (or other material) or else traveling inside pencil-size (or bigger )"mud tubes" they build from dirt, wood particles and other substances. You'll find these tubes on foundation walls, floor joists or other areas of the home.

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

Tubes that are found on ceilings or on upper levels of a building may indicate that you have an aboveground ("aerial") infestation, i.e., the termite colony actually lives in the building and the termites are traveling from the soil. Mud tubes built by an aboveground colony normally contain materials other than soil, e.g., wood and sheet rock or whatever the termites are feeding on.

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In such situations, a thorough inspection may require elimination of siding or interior wallboards, etc.. More importantly for you, these aboveground infestations cannot be controlled using the usual soil treatment (see below) and therefore are typically deducted by 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 about termites as feeding/injuring wood only. Termites really feed on virtually anything that contains cellulose, the main component of wood, including wood paneling, paper products, cardboard boxes, art canvases, the newspaper covering of sheet rock, carpeting, etc.. While foraging and feeding, they may tunnel through non-cellulosic substances, such as plastic and foamboard.

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In reality, the amount of damage that termites cause depends on many factors. In regions with cold winter temperatures, termite activity (and feeding) often declines, but does not necessarily cease. 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 generally takes about 3-8 years. .

There's absolutely no accurate method for determining the age of recently found harm. You need some reference point, i.e., some point in time when it was known that there was no harm to this specific wood. This can be one reason why annual inspections (and keeping your records of those inspections) are important. .

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

If you have a termite protection contract, contact the pest control company quickly and arrange for them to take a look at the issue. Should you not have a termite contract, call 2-3 (or more) companies and have each one inspect your home and offer you the details of their findings and any recommendations for a plan of action to correct any termite conditions they found.

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

Can there be harm that should be repaired or at least examined by a contractor or engineer before control steps are done

Only spraying swarmers or the surface of accessible infested wood can kill the termites which 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" where a liquid insecticide ("termiticide") is placed on the soil surrounding crucial areas of your residence.

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The soil is trenched 6" deep and about 4-6" wide. For houses view with crawlspaces, the dirt along the interior foundation wall has to be treated at least within 4 feet of identified signs of termite activity. In some circumstances, the soil around supports (for example, piers) underneath the home are also treated.

When applied correctly, this treatment creates a continuous chemical barrier which 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.