* Discarded Wings. Often present after a swarm, they are typically found in small piles near window ledges and other light sources.

* Mud Tubes and/or Tunnels. Because they prefer dark, moist conditions, foraging termites construct mud tubes as protective runways from the earth to the wood inside a home. Look for mud tubes along the foundation of your home, around doors and windows and on wood posts.

* Small Holes in Wood or Drywall or Blistered Paint. When termites swarm within your home, they often create small exit holes. Because termites eat wood products from the inside out, they usually hollow the wood along the grain. This can cause ripples in the exterior of the wood itself, or cause the paint to blister.

* Structural Damage. This could include soft spots in walls, sagging floors, loose trim and cracked plaster. Also, check for “hollow” sounding wall studs.

For additional information, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions section or call us and we’d be happy to help.

Termites swarm when they are trying to expand their colonies.  They typically swarm from February through June, depending on where you live and the climate.  Unfortunately – this is probably the only time a homeowner will ever see termites and know they have a problem.   That’s why it’s so important to have an annual termite inspection every year.

But an annual inspection is only part of the solution.  Having a preventive termite protection plan is the best way to ensure your home and belongings are protected.  Now granted, I’ve worked in the Pest Control Industry for almost 10 years so I know I’m a bit biased.  But I have seen the damage that termites can cause first hand  (bathrooms having to be remodeled, houses having to be tented for days to eliminate termites, windows having to be repaired from damage) and don’t want to see this happen to anyone I know.

Just remember, even if you don’t see termites swarming – the best way to protect your home is with a preventive treatment plan.

The holiday season is quickly approaching and I can’t wait to purchase gifts and decorate my house for the holidays! Plus, with guests coming over, I was thinking it gives me time to tidy up and maybe even buy a few new things for my own home for decoration.

Then, the other day I heard an unbelievable story about a termite infestation inside a home that made me really think about what I am buying and bringing inside.  A woman bought some new baskets and decorative items to brighten up her home before her holiday guests began arriving. The items were made of wood and unbeknownst to the owner, they were infested with termites.  She started noticing small piles of dust around the wood floors of her home within a few months of the purchase but couldn’t figure out what it was.

After about one year of a growing problem, she finally contacted us and we discovered a complete termite infestation in her home – all caused from this one little purchase!

Now, I’m not saying I won’t decorate my home or buy anything new, but I’ll definitely be inspecting anything made of wood for traces of termite damage. And I’d recommend to anyone that they do the same. If you see start seeing tiny piles of powder around your house or small holes in your drywall, don’t wait to call!

Now who’s ready for some shopping?

Identify Wings and Protect Your Home

Termite infestations are often difficult for homeowners to detect because they feed and travel inside the walls of your home, which means you can’t see them!  Here are a few signs you can look for to spot a termite infestation in your home:

• Winged Termites -  swarm into the home through a tiny hole in the wall. These termites will fly toward a light source, like a window or sliding glass door. If you find dead termites or just their wings near window sills or sliding glass doors, it is an indication of an active infestation in your home.
• Small holes or tiny spots of dirt on a wall or baseboard – as mentioned earlier, swarming termites enter into your home through small holes in the wall. These “exit holes” can be either packed with dirt or left open.
• Mud tunnels – Subterranean termites will build tunnels out of soil to safely travel to food sources above the ground. These tunnels  are about the size of a pencil and are most often found outside on the foundation of your home. However, it isn’t uncommon to find them inside the house and garage, as well.

Identify Mud Tunnels and Protect Your Home

• Damaged wood – termites will eat all of the wood behind a wall and leave just the paint that covers the area! Lightly tapping wood surfaces that appear undamaged with the handle of a screwdriver may lead to the discovery of damaged wood behind painted surfaces.
• Pellets – Drywood termites push tiny pellets out of small holes in the wood they are living in. The pellets accumulate in small piles under the areas where they are feeding.

Identify Signs of Termites and Protect Your Home

If you think you have a termite infestation, or want to learn more about Massey’s Termite Protection, schedule your free inspection or call us at 1-888-2MASSEY (262-7739).

There are two types of termites of economic importance. Both eat cellulosic material, wood and wood by-products like paper and cardboard, and both are responsible for causing extensive damage to buildings.

Subterranean termites live in the soil in colonies that can contain hundreds of thousands of termites. They tunnel through the soil looking for food and can enter buildings through tiny cracks in the slab and foundation. When they find a food source, a tree stump or your home, they establish a feeding trail back to the colony.

Drywood termites live and feed in dry wood and do not have any contact with the soil. They swarm over a building and enter it through unscreened soffit vents, gable and ridge vents, or they can enter through small cracks and crevices around the exterior of the building. Once they have established their colony, they live and feed in that area and it is possible for them to swarm into other parts of the building.

Because the two termites have very different habits, it is important to remember that they require very different treatments to control them. Contact Massey Services to get a Free Termite Inspection and to find out what termite treatment option is right for your home.

We call the Formosan the Super Termite for these reasons:

• Their colonies include millions of individuals
• The territory of a single colony can spread out to 300 feet in diameter
• They infest a wide viariety of structures (including, but not limited to: boats, living trees, potted plants and high-rise buildings)
• They devour wood at a rapid rate
• They turn wood into a goo called “carton”

Formosans cause millions of dollars in damage to homes each year and continue to spread to new areas in the United States.

No two homes or two termite problems are exactly alike. That’s why we inspect your home – inside, outside, over and under. Only then can we create the right program for you. Your home is unique and our detailed inspection is free! Contact us for a Free Termite Inspection of your home and to find out about our termite protection programs.

Every year, termites cause millions of dollars in damage to homes in the US, damage that is not covered by homeowners insurance.  These tiny insects find cellulose material in any home construction type, including brick and steel framed homes.

Subterranean termites reside in the soil and can form tunnels, called mud tubes, up the base of the foundation and get into homes.  Once in the home, they tunnel their way into baseboards and wall studs without you even knowing.  Subterranean termites can also gain entry through plumbing openings in bathrooms and kitchens.

Drywood termites live in the wood they eat and find their way into homes through cracks and gaps in the eaves.  Once in the home, they are typically found in attics or rafters.

In both cases, termites eat wood from the inside out and most homeowners don’t know they have termites until the damage is discovered.

So no matter what your home construction is, you should have a termite protection program in place.  Contact Massey Services to get a Free Termite Inspection and to find out about our termite protection programs.

Even in these colder times, termites are not greatly affected because homes are built with the ability to control the temperature inside.  So, when homeowners turn on their heaters, the conditions inside the home become favorable for termite activity to continue.

This is why it is important to have your home inspected annually by a professional company.  Trained Termite Inspectors can identify signs of termites that may not be seen by homeowners.

Massey Services provides Free Termite Inspections and we’ll provide you with a written report of our findings along with recommendations for Termite Protection programs customized for your home.  Sign up for a free inspection or call us at 1-888-2MASSEY.