No homeowner wants to deal with destructive vermin. One of the worst forms of pest infestation to have is termites. According to the CDC, termites can destroy your home in as little as three years. Look out for the signs that your home may have a termite infestation and should call an exterminator. Here we will discuss the seven signs that you have termites.

1. Damaged Wood

According to OneDesk, each year ends with about $5 billion in property damage due to hungry termites. A termite infestation can strike fear into any homeowner because, unlike other pests, termites don't want food or water — they want to eat your wood! Termites will eat your wooden foundation, fences, furniture, windowsills, floors, etc. These bugs will feast on your wood from the inside out, which is even more alarming as your structure will gradually weaken and you may not realize it until something sinks or caves in. Pay attention to hollow-sounding walls or floors that didn't sound that way before. Some of the areas you should focus on are wooden beams, door frames, and window frames, according to Family Handyman.

2. Clicking Sounds

When you think of termites, you may not think of sound. However, those clicking sounds that you hear aren't necessarily a grasshopper outside. Termites may tap their head against wood and if there's enough of them, you may hear a soft, clicking noise. They tend to do this head banging when they are disturbed or feel threatened. According to Terminix, drywood termites create a sound similar to rustling paper as they tunnel near the wood surface.

3. Ruined Paint

Did you know termites could affect your paint job? You may notice that the paint begins to blister or bubble. That normally happens due to moisture buildup from humidity or weathering. However, when it comes to termites, your paint may have such an appearance because of the tunnels going on underneath. Remember, termites use tunnels for protective travel from their nest to wherever else they want to feed.

4. Discarded Wings

Those discarded wings you see this summer may not be from mosquitoes or flies. Those old wings may be from termites. Termite swarmers shed their wings every time they mate. You may see these wings in areas where there's a lot of activity. Some of the most active areas that termites may swarm in are your entry points, such as doors and windows. Once they get rid of their wings, they often move on to a new location.

5. Swarmer Sightings

Speaking of swarmers, expect to see more of these mature adults during the termite mating season. They tend to resemble flying ants, except they hold their wings straight out from their bodies. When you see them inside, you should quickly call local pest exterminators because it means you have a very active termite colony that may have already caused extreme damage. As your termites continue to mate, even more termites can damage your home faster. Now that spring is here, termites will be most active, especially in high humidity. According to Orkin, drywood termites mostly mate from August to November.

6. Mud Tubes

Termites understand how to protect their little bodies during travel throughout your property. The way they do it is by building mud tubes. Termites create these tubes in areas where they commonly move around. Prepare to find them along your foundation, window sills, or walls.

7. Droppings

Like any other pests, termites can leave evidence through their droppings. Termites are tiny, so their droppings are equally tiny. These droppings resemble tiny wood-colored pellets. Some people may even mistake them for sawdust. When there's a large colony, a buildup of their droppings may look like a pile of sawdust.

You shouldn't have to live with termites as a responsible homeowner. If you put so much into your home, you don't want it to become worthless and unlivable because of hungry termites. If you see any of the above signs, don't hesitate to call your local experienced exterminators. When you contact us, you have a pet and child-friendly team of pest control professionals who have been in business since 1981. We proudly serve the New York area and provide a free home evaluation with same-day service. Contact our team at Northeast Pest Control Inc anytime to protect your home from these destructive insects.