Signs of Termites in Furniture

Written by Posted On Wednesday, 05 June 2019 12:13

A termite infestation can be a constant nightmare. These uninvited guests can chew on your furniture, destroy structural elements and spoil the look of wooden surfaces. They’re able to do this so carefully and silently that sometimes you’ll only notice when it’s too late. Nonetheless, there are several telltale signs that you may be dealing with a termite infestation. Here are some of the signs of termites in furniture.

Signs of Termites in Furniture - Prevent an Infestation

A few of the signs of termites in furniture include looking out for frass, damaged wood, mud tubes, swarms and much more.

Different Termites Have Different Signs

Visible signs of termites in your furniture will often differ depending on the type of termite. For instance, drywood termites are more likely to be found in furniture that’s in active use in your premises. Subterranean termites, on the other hand, are more likely to damage furniture that has been stored in an area with high humidity.

What are the Signs?

Frass

The presence of frass (small balls of termite droppings) is a clear indication that you have a drywood termite problem. Termites will push these droppings out of small holes near their nest while they nibble through furniture. Frass looks like sawdust and may be hard to detect.

Damaged Wood

Damaged furniture may have varying appearances. The most conspicuous sign of termites in wooden furniture is characteristic small droppings since they eat woodwork. This type of damage is easy to notice with a simple visual inspection. Other signs of damage that may not be so obvious include sunken or ripped wall coverings, buckling paint and general wood damage of any kind.

Mud Tubes

Mud tubes are a typical sign of a subterranean termite infestation. The chances are they won’t be on the wooden furniture itself, but more likely on the walls where you’re storing the furniture. Inspect your furniture for any hollowed wood and you’ll be more likely to trace where they’ve nested.

Swarm

Even if every wooden piece of furniture in your home is infested, seeing alive termites can be difficult. However, swarmers (winged reproductive termites) are a sign that your furniture may be infested. For instance, if you see a large swarm emerging from under the ground near your premises, that’s a good reason to schedule an inspection for termites.

Hollow Sounding Furniture

Drywood termites will consume wood from the inside out, often leaving just the paint or a thin layer of timber. Therefore, when you tap or knock furniture that you suspect to be infested and it sounds hollow or papery, that could be a sign of a termite infestation since they can eat through wood relatively quickly.

Wet Spot

When termites are forming a colony, their nest may look like a big wet spot near the furniture they’ve infested. The spot may look like a water leak and may be an indication of Dampwood termites which thrive in high moisture environments.

Bottom Line

Once you know the signs of termites in furniture, you can take active measures to deal with the infestation. If you’re not sure how to deal with an infestation using home remedies, reach out to professionals for help. Experts will often have the technology to detect termites even when there are no visible signs and come up with solutions to deal with them once and for all.

 

Rate this item
(3 votes)
Dalia Rotrammel

Cleaning business for over 20 years. Property Management. Mother of 2, grandmother of 1 beautiful girl. Foster parent.

www.healthycarpetcleaningstl.com/

Agent Resource

Limited time offer - 50% off - click here

Realty Times

From buying and selling advice for consumers to money-making tips for Agents, our content, updated daily, has made Realty Times® a must-read, and see, for anyone involved in Real Estate.