Termites burrow deep in wood framing and other hard-to-reach areas and weaken home structures. Many homeowners don’t catch them until significant damage has been done, so it’s essential to recognize early signs of activity and contact termite control professionals promptly.

How to Identify Termite Activity

1. Doors Won’t Fully Close

Wood framing bows and warps as it weakens. Doors may not fit or become stuck in their jambs. The issue is often mistaken as a temporary result of high humidity levels. However, it may be from termites releasing moisture as they burrow, rotting the wood from the inside.

Termites often destroy exterior door jambs first because that’s where they initially enter a home. Carefully seal around your doors and maintain the bottom weatherstripping. Make sure the soil in nearby flower beds properly drains and remove debris piles to avoid attracting termites.

2. Frass

Termites push their droppings, called frass, out of the burrow. It collects at the entrance and looks like wood shavings. When you spot this sign, call termite control professionals. They can treat the wood with preventive chemicals to drive termites away and eliminate those that attempt to nest in the wood.

3. Sounds in the Walls

Worker termites knock their heads against burrow walls to alert the colony if they feel threatened. You can hear this sound if the colony is big enough. It helps termite control professionals find tunnel entrances and identify termite activity in different parts of the home.

Many termites enter walls by climbing across shrubs and brush adjacent to a home. Maintain a three-foot clear area between your home and landscaping. Clean your gutters twice a year to remove another potential nesting spot.

If you suspect you have termites, contact the termite control professionals at Acme Pest Control. Based in Concord and Charlotte, NC, these professionals address various pests, including bedbugs, roaches, and rodents, with more than 70 years of experience. Learn more about their capabilities on their website, or call (704) 786-4166 to schedule an inspection.