How To Spot Termite Damage On Your McAllen Property 

There are primarily two types of termites that get into McAllen structures and damage wood. If you're not familiar with them, they are subterranean termites and drywood termites. Of the two, drywood termites cause damage that is more easily seen (though still, in many ways, is difficult to detect). Take a moment to read through these quick tips for spotting termite damage in McAllen, Texas. They may save you thousands of dollars in repair costs.

Drywood Termite Damage

When drywood termites get into McAllen properties, they feed on hardwood. You need to closely inspect window and door frames, baseboards, cabinets, and other hardwood building materials. Here are a few things to check:

• Look to see if there are drywood termite pellets leaking out of cracks or gaps. This material, also called frass, is hard, about the size of coffee grounds, and the same color as the wood the termites are eating. Often, drywood termite pellets are a mixture of dark and light droppings. If this material is present, you can pull things apart and search for hidden damage.
• Look for tiny kickout holes. Drywood termites create kickout holes in order to push frass out of their tunnels. If they create these tiny holes out in the open, you may be able to detect them.
• Look for trenches. You might see termite tunnels when drywood termites attack your property. While rare, these tunnels are sometimes exposed. Look for trenches that stack on top of each other. Keep in mind that drywood termites feed across the grain of wood and termite damage may just look like wood rot.
• Drywood termite damage is usually not visible. You may have to detect it by other means such as tapping on wood to see if it sounds hollow or by looking for visual warning signs of hidden damage. If you notice wood that appears dented or sunken, you may try using a knife to dig at the spot and remove the surface layer to expose the tunnels underneath. 

Subterranean Termite Damage

When subterranean termites get into McAllen properties, they're going to feed on softwood. This damage is much more difficult to detect because softwood is often hidden underneath other building materials, such as hardwood floors, sheetrock, plaster, etc.

• Look for the appearance of tiny mud spots on softwood timbers. Subterranean termites bring soil into their tunnels and patch holes with soil and saliva.
• Look closely at your hardwood floors. If you see spots where the wood is buckling, this is a possible sign that subterranean termites are damaging the subflooring.
• Look at ceilings and walls. If you notice drooping drywall or surfaces that look like they are being damaged by moisture underneath, subterranean termites may be to blame. 
• Look for peeling paint. If moisture is causing paint to peel, the wood behind the paint is ideal for subterranean termites. This is not definite proof that you have termite damage, but it is definitely time to call in a professional.

What Do I Do When I Find Termites In My House?

If you do an inspection and find evidence that termites have gotten into your home, there are many ways you can fix the problem, but we don't recommend treating termites yourself. This is a serious problem that should be completely addressed.

When you take on the task of treating termites yourself, you could spend a lot of money only to have termites continue to damage your property. Professionals use trusted products and field-tested methods to make sure no termites evade the treatments.

A professional may also install products that help with termite detection, such as bait stations. When the process is done correctly, termites can be stopped and your property can be protected. That having been said, what are the many ways you can fix the problem?

• Termiticides can be injected into the soil around your property to eliminate colonies that send workers to feed on your home.
• Bait stations can be installed to not only monitor termite activity but also to eliminate attacking colonies.
• Products can be injected into your walls to address an infestation.
• Fumigation can be used to treat the entire structure or to treat individual hardwood furniture items.

Are Termites In Your McAllen Property?

The service team here at BUGWORKS Termite & Pest Control specializes in termite control. We would love the opportunity to discuss with you the industry-leading termite control methods we use and to guide you in selecting the right options for your specific needs and budget.

Reach out to us today and speak with one of our agents. We'll set you up with an inspection and connect you with one of our certified termite control technicians. This is the best way to deal with termites in McAllen.