Termites are a pest that can ruin your home. Termites can leave your house to the point where it needs extensive work and repairs from the damage they cause from chewing through the wood on your home. Chances are the wood that is being damaged was damaged to begin with, but their chewing and damage can leave your home un-level, and it can create a dangerous situation for anyone living in your home. If you aren't sure if you have termites, you should know where to look for them and signs to watch out for. Read on for some tips to help you inspect for these pests and what to do if you find any.

Look For Sawdust

If you find sawdust around your home, there's a chance that it is from termites. It could also be from carpenter ants or carpenter bees, but it could also be termites. Termites will leave behind traces of sawdust where they have been chewing through the wood. They burrow their way into rotten and moist wood and will leave behind sawdust in their wakes. If you see sawdust, look for any holes and look for living termites.

Check For Hollow Wood

If you suspect termites, check to see if any of the wood around your home appears hollow. Simply tap onto wooden beams or trusses, or other areas and feel to see if it appears hollow. If it is, you may want to remove the wood altogether and inspect it thoroughly. The wood will need to be replaced anyway, but you should also inspect it for termite signs as well.

Look For Termites Themselves

Look around for termites themselves and watch for any living pests that may be flying about or crawling in and out of different areas of your home. You may also see mud tunnels that may indicate a pest issue as well. Termites live in the mud tunnels, carrying the wood they have chewed to the rest of their colony. If you spot living termites, you need to spray them immediately with a termite pesticide and look for where they may have been coming from to find the problem in your home.

If you suspect you have termites, they can be difficult to get rid of. The damage to your home may have already been done and you may need to do some repairs. Getting rid of the pest issue before it makes your home repairs even more expensive is key. Hire a pest control expert to exterminate these pests for you to ensure the job is done right. For more information on termite removal, contact a professional near you.