Peeling Paint Might Be A Warning Sign Of This Invasive Bug In Your Home

Oftentimes, peeling or bubbling paint can indicate that there may be water damage, moisture, or high humidity in a home or that the paint job simply wasn't executed properly. Unfortunately, peeling paint in your house could mean more than you realize, and might be caused by termites living inside the walls. As these destructive insects eat away at the wood of your home, they can end up right behind your wall. Termites will track in water as they tunnel through the material, and this is what causes the paint on your walls to bubble, peel, or even crack.

While peeling paint can be a sign that you have a termite infestation, you'll need to determine that nothing else is causing this issue. Start by thinking about what type of paint was used on the wall and if it was recently painted, if the room has a lot of sun exposure, or if the room was painted a long time ago. These could let you know that the issue lies with the paint itself and the conditions of the room.

Once you know the problem isn't with the paint job, check your house and the areas around the wall with peeling paint for leaks or any sort of water damage. For those that discover no liquid in sight, you may have a termite problem. As termites bring little bits of water into your walls to control the humidity and make themselves at home, this moisture can be absorbed by your walls and eventually reach your paint. In other cases, the termites could actually be in the wall, munching away on the other side of the paint. Since these invasive bugs will eat away at the structure, there may not be anything supporting the layer of paint, causing it to crack.

Inspect the area with the peeling paint for any extremely small holes in the wall. This could be a spot where termites actually ate all the way through. You might also carefully knock on the wall to hear if it sounds hollow. These issues, along with the peeling paint, will show that termites are the real problem.

Some people use boric acid or borax as a way to get rid of termites and kill them by spraying or spreading it inside the walls. While boric acid or borax can kill termites, it will take a long time to work and likely won't put a dent in a legitimate infestation, only killing the few that come across it. Additionally, various species of termite may respond differently to certain treatment options, and it's best to be sure your method will get these pests out of your home.

Termites can create serious structural damages to homes, including tunnels running through the foundation and making walls or ceilings start buckling. Because these insects are so destructive, DIY options may not be the best choice if they're already ruining your paint and munching through your walls. With severe infestations, it's best to contact a professional to determine what type of termites you're dealing with and how to exterminate them quickly and effectively.