Termites are often called “silent destroyers” because they can cause extensive damage to your home or business before you even realize they’re there. Knowing the signs of termites and learning how to check for termites early can save you thousands of dollars in repairs. But how do you know if you have termites? This guide will help you identify the 8 most common termite signs and what to do if you suspect an infestation.
1. Wood Damage: The Most Telltale Sign
One of the most obvious signs of termite damage is deteriorating wood. Termites consume wood from the inside out, so damage might not be immediately visible. If you tap on wood and it sounds hollow, or if you notice buckling wood flooring, sagging walls, blistering or peeling paint that resembles water damage, or dark spots and mazes inside wood structures, you may have termites. If you notice any of these potential signs of termites, it’s time to investigate further.
2. Mud Tubes: A Clear Indication of Termites
Mud tubes are small tunnels made of soil and termite saliva, typically found along foundation walls, crawl spaces, or exterior surfaces. These structures help termites travel safely and retain moisture. If you inspect the foundation of your home and notice small tunnels leading to potential entry points, or if you see them along wooden beams and other exposed wood, this is strong evidence of termites, and their presence should not be ignored.
3. Discarded Wings: A Sign of a Swarm
During certain times of the year, termites swarm to establish new colonies. After mating, they shed their wings, which can accumulate around windowsills, doors, and other entry points. If you find tiny, translucent wings near light sources or piles of discarded wings around entry points, or if you notice warming termites inside or near your home, these are signs of a termite infestation, indicating that termites are either in your home or nearby.
4. Termite Droppings: Frass as a Warning
Drywood termites leave behind tiny, pellet-like droppings called frass, which resemble small piles of sawdust and are usually found near infested wood. If you find small mounds that look like coffee grounds or sawdust near windowsills, wooden furniture, or baseboards, or if you notice these signs in attic spaces and wooden framing, this is a strong indication of termites in your home.
5. Clicking Sounds in Walls
Termites aren’t entirely silent. When disturbed, soldier termites make a sift-clicking sound by tapping their heads against the wood to warn their colony. If you listen closely to your walls, especially at night, and hear faint rustling or buzzing noises, or if you use a stethoscope or place your ear near suspected areas and detect unusual sounds inside walls, it could be a sign of termites in walls.
6. Tight-Fitting Doors and Windows
Termites produce moisture as they eat through wood, which can cause wood to warp. If you’ve noticed that the door suddenly sticks or becomes harder to open, windows feel tight when you try to slide them, or there are unexplained gaps in wooden frames; this could help you determine if a house has termites without visible damage.
7. Unusual Paint or Drywall Damage
Subterranean termites can affect the structure beneath paint and drywall, causing bubbling or peeling paint, small pinholes in walls, or warped and distorted drywall. These signs of termites in homes and businesses can sometimes be mistaken for water damage, but they should be checked for possible termite activity.
8. Finding Termites Themselves
While termites prefer to stay hidden, you might encounter them if an infestation is severed. If you see small, white, ant-like insects, soft-bodied insects crawling near wooden structures, or groups of insects inside hollowed-out wood, you likely have a serious infestation that requires immediate attention.
How to Check for Termites
There are ways to know if a house or business has termites. Tapping wooden surfaces and listening for a hollow sound, inspecting foundation walls and crawl spaces for mud tubes, looking for discarded wings around windows and doors, using a flashlight to examine wooden beans and hidden areas, and checking for frass near baseboards and wooden furniture are all effective ways to determine if termites are present.
How to Know if Termites Are Active
Even if you suspect past termite activity, it’s important to determine if they’re still present. Determining if termites are active involves breaking open mud tubes to see if there are live termites inside, checking for fresh droppings (frass) near infested wood, and looking for recently discarded wings from swarming termites.
What to Do If You Find Signs of Termites
If you’ve discovered any signs of a termite infestation, take action quickly. Contact a professional pest control service like Preventive Pest Control in Southern California to assess the damage. Avoid disturbing the infestation, as this can spread termites to new areas, and consider preventative measures like soil treatments and termite-resistant barriers.
Understanding how to tell if you have termites in your home is crucial to protecting your property from severe damage. Regular inspections and early detection can save homeowners from costly repairs. If you spot any signs of termites in walls, furniture, or foundations, don’t wait—take action immediately.
By knowing how to recognize termites and staying vigilant, you can keep your home or business safe from these destructive pests.
Protect Your Property with Expert Termite Control
Termites can cause serious damage before you even notice them, making early detection and professional intervention essential. Regular inspections and proactive measures—such as checking for signs of termites in walls, floors, and foundations—can help prevent costly repairs.
Identifying termites isn’t always easy, and DIY methods often miss infestations. That’s why working with experienced professionals is the best way to safeguard an infestation; a thorough inspection by a pest control expert can provide peace of mind.
At Preventive Pest Control of Southern California, we offer reliable termite inspections and customized treatment plans to protect your home or business year-round. Preventive offers pest control services in Orange County and the Inland Empire. Our team specializes in detecting and eliminating termites before they cause major damage. Don’t let termites take over—contact us today for a free inspection and protect your property before it’s too late.