You probably know that termites are aggressive little brutes that like to chew walls until they’ve turned houses into crumbling piles of toothpicks, but these destructive insects have been known to cause damage in other, less expected ways that may surprise you.
So, what does termite damage look like?
Devoured Paper
Be careful, as termites can turn your most important records into deteriorated pieces of rubble. That’s right; cellulose-loving termites won’t restrict their diet to just the wood structure of your home and will gleefully forage on any sort of paper they come across.
This is especially worrisome for avid book-collectors, since, given enough time, termites will turn even the most revered volumes into nothing but piles of sawdust and lost memories.
Damaged Furniture
Your furniture is also vulnerable to unwelcome wood-eating guests. Chairs, bookshelves, desks, cabinets, and anything else tree-derived is at risk of damage if there are termites in the vicinity. Valuable antiques, whether they are rare books or pieces of handcrafted wooden furniture, are also targets for damage.
Lost Cash
By damaging property and creating the need for home repairs, termites can cost you a lot of money, but they can also eat your money in a very literal manner. Yes, termites have been known to actually ruin cash: in one incident, the Bank of India reported that termites damaged nearly $225,000 worth of paper currency.
Impaired Health
Worst of all, termites can also pose a threat to your family’s health. The obvious risk is damage to structural integrity, which is especially a concern for multi-story buildings and homes.
In addition, the tunnels that termites make in wood often carry spores of fungi into homes that can contribute to Sick Building Syndrome (SBS). The symptoms of SBS include headache, chest tightness, fever, chills, muscle aches and mild rash.
Termites: Beneficial in Nature, But Damaging in Your Home
Of course, termites do have their place in nature, where they play an important role in many ecosystems by helping convert wood-bound nutrients into a form that’s easier for plants to use. But when they’re around your home, termites are pesky nuisances that can do a lot of damage, whether it’s eating your house or the cash in your wallet.
Fortunately, termite treatment services are better than ever, and there are usually multiple treatment options available. If you’re dealing with a termite problem, a professional pest control service will be able to determine the best treatment for eliminating the problem, as well as preventive measures for keeping termites away in the future.
Avoid the damage caused by termites by calling U.S. Pest at (615) 590-1260.
