Termite Warning Signs Most Homeowners Miss

The damage is invisible by design

Subterranean termites feed inside wood and leave a thin outer layer intact. That is why a beam can be structurally compromised while looking completely normal from the outside.

By the time visible damage appears, the colony has usually been active for a long stretch. This is the argument for scheduled inspection rather than waiting for symptoms.

Mud tubes

Pencil-width earthen tubes running up a foundation wall, pier, or basement wall are the clearest sign. Termites build them to keep moisture around themselves while travelling from soil to wood.

Check the foundation perimeter, crawlspace piers, and anywhere wood meets soil. Tubes are sometimes hidden behind stored boxes or landscaping.

Discarded wings and swarmers

Swarms release winged reproductives that shed their wings shortly after. Finding wings on window sills or near light fixtures — especially inside — is significant.

Swarmers outdoors can travel from elsewhere. Swarmers or wings inside the structure mean a colony is close.

Hollow wood and sticking doors

Tap suspect trim and framing. Wood that sounds hollow, or paint that looks blistered or rippled, can indicate feeding underneath.

Doors and windows that suddenly stick without a humidity change sometimes reflect frame damage. It is not conclusive on its own, but combined with other signs it is worth an inspection.

How often to inspect

Annual inspection is the general standard, and it matters more for homes with crawlspaces, slab-on-grade construction, or wood in contact with soil. Regions with heavy termite pressure warrant staying on schedule.

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