Five Early Signs of a Termite Problem

Termites work quietly. By the time most homeowners notice something is wrong, a colony may have been active for years. The good news is that termites leave behind clues long before the damage becomes serious.

1. Mud tubes on foundation walls

Subterranean termites build pencil-width tunnels of soil and saliva to travel between their nest and their food source. Check the outside of your foundation, crawl space piers, and any exposed concrete.

2. Hollow-sounding wood

Tap along baseboards, door frames, and structural beams. Termites eat wood from the inside out, leaving a thin veneer that sounds papery when tapped.

3. Discarded wings

Swarmers shed their wings after finding a mate. Small piles of identical translucent wings near windowsills or light fixtures are a strong indicator of a nearby colony.

4. Bubbling or uneven paint

Moisture from termite activity can make paint blister in a way that resembles water damage. If there is no obvious leak, it is worth investigating further.

5. Frass (termite droppings)

Drywood termites push their droppings out of small kick-out holes. The result looks like tiny mounds of coffee grounds or sawdust below infested wood.

What to do next

If you spot any of these signs, avoid disturbing the area — breaking open a mud tube can cause the colony to relocate and make treatment harder. Schedule a professional inspection so the species and the extent of the activity can be identified before treatment begins.