You’ve probably heard, or noticed, that many pests tend to slow down in cooler weather. So, you might be wondering whether you even need to worry about termites during the winter. Can you hold off on prevention efforts or stop bothering to check for signs of termites?

Unfortunately, no. While many insects (such as mosquitoes) do slow down or go dormant over the winter, termites don’t exhibit this trait.

For one thing, our weather in Southern California is hardly “wintry”, compared to many other geographic locations. We don’t exactly suffer a lot of sub-freezing weather, anyway. But even if we did, termites tend to infest homes. And homes tend to be heated. So a pest that lives inside your walls isn’t going to suffer too much in a location with mild winters and heated houses. If a termite colony has already established itself within your home, their activity won’t really slow down over the winter. They’ll continue to eat away at the wood structures and damage your home.

So, this means that you must always be on guard against termites, even during times when other insects are more dormant. Since they tend to live in dark, hidden areas, you might not see the termites themselves. But you will notice other signs of a problem, like

  • grooves or channels on exposed wood
  • little piles of debris that look like sawdust
  • mud tubes along the foundation of your home or other potential entry points
  • small piles of discarded wings
  • doors that are difficult to open and close (due to changing shape of the frame as wood is destroyed)
  • squeaking or buckling floors
  • sagging ceilings
  • bulging or discolored walls

In the spring, you might also notice swarms of an insect that look like flying ants. Termites are more likely to emerge during warm seasons because it’s mating time.

If you notice any of the above signs of a termite problem, don’t discount them just because it’s cold outside! Yes, you can still have an active infestation in the cooler months. Call us right away, so that we can address the problem – hopefully before your home has sustained expensive damage.