Apr 19, 2016, 08:30 AM by Fred Speer

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It's estimated that termites and other similar wood-destroying pests wreak havoc on buildings and crops in the U.S. to the tune of about $30 billion per year, with the average homeowner swallowing about $3,000 of that.

Termites snack around the clock, and some species can lay up to 40,000 eggs per day, so it's important to catch them early. Termites often aren't discovered until your wooden surfaces begin revealing the damage they've caused.

Even if your home is built with brick or vinyl, termites can bypass the exterior to enter and feed on ceilings, floors, cabinets, furniture – and even cardboard boxes or canvases.

How do you know if you have termites? At Clark Pest Control, we call termites the “hidden invaders” for a very good reason: They leave virtually nothing visible to the untrained eye that tells you they’re eating your ceiling joists or kitchen cabinets for lunch.

The Clark Man has visited more than his fair share of crawlspaces and attics during inspections, and has come up with the following signs that termites could be threatening your most valuable investment:

• Discarded wings left on windowsills, or flying termites inside your home, are a major red flag.
• Wood that is buckled or swollen can be a sign of a termite infestation. If you find or break open a piece of wood and it is honeycombed or carved out, the damage was likely caused by termites, or another wood-destroying organism. You can probe suspected wood with a knife or flat-blade screwdriver to see if it's been hollowed. Severely damaged wood may sound hollow when tapped.
• Unexplained piles of what appear to be coarse grains of sand, which can be found almost anywhere throughout the structure, may actually be termite fecal pellets pushed out of wood members.
• Mud tubes on walls, along baseboards, or in cracks and crevices that connect underground nests may also indicate termites.
• A moldy scent can also be a sign that destructive termites are present.

How do you beat the destructive yet elusive termite at its game? If it’s been more than three years since your home was inspected by a pest management professional, I strongly recommend that you call or text the Clark Man and have one performed on your home.

Our team of highly trained inspectors will give your home a thorough top-to-bottom inspection and tell you if it is playing host to termites or other wood-destroying pests. Clark Pest Control offers a wide range of termite services, which include:

• Termite inspections
• Residential termite control
• Structural fumigation
• Damage repair
• Termite Indemnity Program
• Termite Home Protection Service (a monitoring program)

If you have questions about termites, please don’t hesitate to call or text (800) WE-NEED-YOU (936-3339) or drop me an email at clarkcares@clarkpest.com.

Until next time I’m the Clark Man, and thanks for helping me keep unwanted pests out of your home.