Even in low-risk zones, termites can decimate the foundation of a home. Knowing the signs of an infestation and when to call a professional is crucial.

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How to tell if you have a termite infestation

It is easy to miss a termite infestation in your home because they do most of their destructive eating inside your walls, floors, and wooden structures.

Luckily, termites do leave some evidence behind if you know what to look for. Warning signs of a termite infestation include:

Discarded wings: Winged termites swarm to find mates and start a new colony. After this, they will shed their wings, leaving them to accumulate near your foundation or on your windowsills.

Mud tubes: Subterranean termites build mud tubes to connect their underground nest to the wood inside your house. Mud tubes are created from dirt, wood, and termite saliva and are most often found along cracks or gaps in your foundation.

Hollow-sounding wood: Since termites like to tunnel their way through wood while leaving the outer layer in one piece, they can leave behind wood that sounds unusually hollow when you tap or knock on it.

Hard-to-open windows and doors: Termites leave behind moisture as they eat through wood. If they happen to be munching on your doors or window frames, the moisture can cause the wood to swell or warp and make them difficult to open.

Other signs around your house that might indicate an infestation include termite droppings, bubbling or peeling paint, visibly crumbling wood, and tiny holes in drywall.

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Are termites a problem in Wisconsin?

Wisconsin is located in Zone #3 of the US Forest Service’s

Termite Infestation Probability Zones

(TIP Zones) map, which means that the risk of a termite infestation is slight to moderate in the state.

While the risk of termite damage is lower in Wisconsin than in other parts of the country, termite colonies are still something to keep an eye out for.

Subterranean termites are the most common type of termite in Wisconsin, but drywood termites may also be a threat to your home.

Subterranean termites

Subterranean termites are the most destructive type of termite because they are the most common across the country and the easiest variety to overlook.

As their name suggests, they live in colonies underground when they aren’t feasting on wood inside houses and other buildings. To bridge the gap between their home and yours, subterranean termites build mud tubes that keep them hidden for the most part.

Subterranean termites in Wisconsin typically swarm on warm, wet days in the springtime.

Drywood termites

Wisconsin is outside of the typical range for drywood termites, but this type of termite can be accidentally transported to new areas via wooden items such as furniture or wooden crates.

Drywood termites tend to establish their colonies in places—like attics—that have lots of dry wood for them to feast on. A telltale sign of these insects is the droppings they leave behind, which can look like small piles of sawdust, salt and pepper, or coffee grounds.

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What to do if you have termites

A termite infestation is a serious problem that is best solved by contacting a termite control expert as soon as you see the signs of termites around your house.

Once an expert performs an inspection and confirms your suspicions, they will recommend a treatment based on the extent of the infestation and what type of termites you are dealing with.

The most common termite control solutions are installing bait stations, applying liquid termiticide, or doing a whole-house fumigation.

The best way to stop a termite infestation, of course, is to prevent a colony from moving in at all. Alongside professional treatments to prevent termites, you can do repairs and maintenance on your house to make it less appealing to termites.

Since most Wisconsin termites thrive in damp conditions, reducing the amount of moisture in and around your house can reduce the risk of attracting a colony of termites. Easy moisture-reducing measures include:

Regularly cleaning your gutters

Repairing leaky pipes and faucets inside and outside your house

Using a dehumidifier

Installing weather stripping around doors and windows

Removing debris like logs and fallen trees from your yard

How to save money on homeowners insurance

Unfortunately, homeowners insurance policies don’t cover termite damage. Even so, you’ll want to have a good insurance policy in place to protect your home from various other perils.

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FAQs

How common are termite infestations in Wisconsin?

Wisconsin isn’t home to many types of termites, but there is still a low to moderate risk of infestations across the state.

If you suspect you have termites in your house, you should call a termite control expert and get a professional inspection as soon as possible.

How often should you treat for termites in Wisconsin?

If you are using bait stations to treat or prevent a termite infestation, they will need to be checked and maintained by a professional every one to three months.

Liquid termiticide will remain effective for between five and ten years before it will need to be reapplied around your home’s foundation.

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