Bellingham
Dampwood termite swarmers under a basement shower near WWU
Heads up: these job stories may include photos of real pests and wildlife. Not for sensitive viewers.
We got the call when Pacific dampwood termite swarmers started coming out from under the bathroom shower in a basement apartment near WWU.
Dampwood termites only infest wood that's already damp or rotting. Under a shower, that usually means it wasn't installed with a proper water barrier, so water has been soaking into the wood and rotting it out.
A true fix means replacing the shower along with the damaged wood. We killed off the termites, and the owner is going to handle the repairs.
The lesson: if you see termites near a shower, tub, or sink, look for a leak too. Fix the water and you take away what they need to live.