Yay! Shopping Time.

We all love shopping, especially purchasing furniture from antique shops or thrift stores. However, don’t fall for the discounted price because second-hand furniture can also be home to termites, which can cause expensive destruction.

Yes! Termites are one of the most destructive insects and are notorious for causing substantial property damage and harming human health. The dangers of termite infestation are even higher when you buy used furniture.

Sure, used furniture comes at a bargain price, but it also carries the risk of infestation, which could mean that you are exposing your entire home and family to this group of pesky insects. So, it is essential to do a few inspections before you buy an item of furniture.

But how sharp are you when it comes to spotting termites in used furniture?

To make things easier for you, we have listed out four easy ways in which you can look for and locate termite damage before purchasing a used piece of furniture.

So, without much ado, let’s dive in.

Furniture Inspection Tips

• Visible damages: Used furniture often comes with damages of varying types. Damage caused by termites is usually easy to spot through some proven signs, such as chipped off and uneven surfaces or tiny holes.
• Hollow sounds: Wood damage isn’t limited to what can be spotted on surfaces. One of the easiest ways to check for termites in used furniture is to look for any hollow areas. Hollowed wood will make an empty sound upon tapping, which could be a sign of a drywood termite infestation. Drywood termites are known for eating through the wood from the inside out, making the wooden structure hollow and unsuitable for use.
• ‘Frass’ or Termite droppings:Since many termites usually dwell inside the furniture, you may be able to spot their droppings in specific areas in the nooks and corners of the furniture. Be sure to check the corners inside drawers or cabinets. Termite droppings are generally just like wood and can be found in the form of small pellets. Small pellets of termite droppings are called ‘frass’, and they can be found in small heaps in different parts of the furniture, which may sometimes end up resembling sawdust.
• Mud tube formations:Mud tubes are tiny tunnels located around areas of termite infestation. These mud tubes serve as a shield for the termites against the cool air, as they require higher temperature and humidity levels to survive. Mud tubes are brown in color, and coarse in texture because they are made of small bits of soil and wood.

Final Words

To sum it up, you can avoid a termite infestation in your property with proper checks before purchasing a piece of second-hand furniture. But if you have already brought used furniture recently and not sure if you have brought termites along with you, seek professional help from a pest control agency before the damage gets out of control.