Do Termites In Western Massachusetts Eat Drywall?

Drywall problems can be an ugly but effective way to get your attention concerning a problem with your home. While termite tunnels in the drywall of your home aren’t as easy to see as other signs, this damage can alert you to a termite problem.

Termites primarily look for two things in a home: moisture and cellulose. A better source of cellulose is wood, but termites will happily eat through the paper in drywall. It’s already difficult to see the signs of a termite infestation in wood, and it can be even more challenging to see the signs in drywall.

Keep reading to learn more about termites in western Massachusetts, the signs of termites in homes, and why it’s important to handle a termite problem right away.

What Do Termites Eat In Western Massachusetts?

Termites eat cellulose. Cellulose is found in plants and vegetable matter, including cotton. What this means for the termite diet is that anything from books to fabric to animal feces is fair game. Theoretically, this means termites could settle for next to anything in your house with a hint of history as a plant, but wood is a better long-term solution than your collection of paperbacks.

How To Identify Termite Damage On Your Western Massachusetts Property

Now that you know termites can infest and damage drywall, you need to look out for two different kinds of damage. When termites have infested wooden structures, signs of termites in homes usually manifest in hollow-sounding, buckling, splintering, or swollen wood.

Unfortunately, damage can also appear in drywall. This kind of damage looks a little bit different. Signs of drywall damage include drooping, discoloration, and even peeling paint. A lot of this damage will look like water damage, and that’s because it kind of is! The moisture trapped in the wall with the termites will eventually bleed through to the other side.

Discoloration and drooping are obvious, bad signs, but termite tunnels in the drywall of your home are harder to see and can grow to extensive lengths.

The Extent Of Termites & Structural Property Damage

The drywall of your home is an added layer of defense between you and the pests outside. Not to mention, if the termites are in your drywall, they’re definitely in your wood. If left unattended, this kind of damage can become irreparable, not only because of the monumental cost of repairs but because there’s too much damage to undo.

Across the U.S., termites cause over five billion dollars worth of damage each year, often not covered by insurance. Even the average $3,000 repair bill for damage is a lot for an average family to manage. It’s unlikely for a termite colony to have enough time to ruin a house beyond repair, but it can be easy to ignore the signs of a problem and let it go on one year too long.

Things like windows that are hard to shut, squeaky floorboards, and water damage are often seen as signs of an old home, yet these are all signs of a termite problem that may have progressed significantly.

Don’t wait to get rid of termites in Western Massachusetts, not just because they’re annoying to you, but because they can easily become other people’s problems, too.

Why Termite Control In Western Massachusetts Is Necessary

Termite prevention in Western Massachusetts isn’t just about saving you money and keeping you safe. It’s an insurance policy for the entire neighborhood. A lot of termites travel through the soil and scope out other houses in the vicinity of one they’ve infested when expanding their colony. In suburban areas, a termite will travel up to 130 feet, leaving a trail for others that will lead directly to a new food source. Surely you don’t want that food source to be your neighbor’s house.

The best way to get rid of termites for yourself and the integrity of your neighborhood is through American Pest Solutions. Not only can we get rid of termites in Western Massachusetts, but we can teach and facilitate termite prevention in Western Massachusetts, too.

Everyone’s home and habits are different, so no one-size-fits-all pest control solution will work. That’s why we have customized pest control solutions to fit your needs, all with the assurance of follow-up appointments and emergency visits to keep your home safe throughout the year. The best way to get rid of termites is also the easiest one. For a free evaluation or immediate assistance, give us a call or visit us online.