Everything you need to know about termite inspections

Key points

• Biannual DIY and annual professional termite inspections can help identify a problem early.

• Remove exterior termite food sources, including stacked firewood, rotting tree stumps and wood in contact with soil.

• A professional can devise a personalized termite prevention plan or treat a current infestation.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, termites cause billions of dollars in property damage each year, and property owners collectively spend more than $2 billion annually to treat them. 

“Termites eat through anything containing cellulose, which means wood, drywall and even wallpaper. If an infestation takes hold, termite damage could cause serious risks to the structural integrity of the home,” said Jim Fredericks, chief entomologist for the National Pest Management Association.

However, Fredericks continued, home insurance policies don’t typically cover this severe damage, leaving homeowners to pay out of pocket for repairs.

A DIY termite inspection is a good way to detect termites before they do immense damage to your home, but hiring a professional for a termite inspection and treatment is the best way to confirm the presence of termites and treat them effectively.

“Termites [are] known as silent destroyers,” said Jim McHale, entomologist and president of JP McHale Pest Management in Buchanan, New York. “[They] operate discreetly by tunneling through the soil, mud tubes and even food sources. [They] can overtake your home for months or even years before you detect them.”

If you’re concerned about termite damage, understanding how to prepare for a home inspection and knowing what your professional will look for is a good place to start. Here’s what to expect during a termite inspection.

What are some signs you need a termite inspection?

Termites are notoriously difficult to detect because they work from the inside out, but there are a few signs that could indicate an infestation. Call a pest pro for an inspection if you notice any of the following.

Poor window and door operation

“Termites tend to target locations like windows and door frames, where wood is exposed and easy to access,” explained McHale. “As termites begin to eat through the wood, it may cause your windows and door frames to warp, making it difficult to open or close them properly.”

Stuck doors and windows and doors could signal a termite issue. But also note that doors and windows can swell due to changes in humidity levels, so issues with them opening and closing aren’t always due to termite activity, especially during summer. 

If your windows and doors continue to give you problems and you can’t identify another underlying cause, schedule a termite inspection.

Discarded termite wings

“As the ground begins to warm during the spring, termite populations emerge in search of mates to start new colonies — this process is often referred to as swarming,” Fredericks said. “When this happens, termite colonies send their winged reproductive termites, also referred to as swarmers, in search of hospitable habitats — access to soil, moisture and cellulose food source [i.e. wood].”

Once they find a new food source, such as the wood components inside your home, “they intentionally twist their wings off because they won’t need them again,” McHale said.

Piles of wings left by windows and doors are a good indication that you have a budding termite infestation. A professional termite control company can confirm their presence before beginning treatment.

Mud tubes

According to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, subterranean termites often enter homes after feeding on outdoor sources of food, including piles of firewood and damaged trees.

Some varieties of termites can enter through mud tubes, which “help to block out cool dry, air so that termites can thrive,” McHale explained. “Mud tubes look like narrow veins along the side of your home. These tubes start from the ground and tend to run toward areas with exposed wood.”

You can check around the perimeter of your home for mud tubes as part of a routine termite inspection process. Look for mud tubes as evidence that another symptom, such as stuck doors or windows, is due to termite damage.

Termite droppings (frass)

As termites feed and cause wood damage, they “digest it and push it out of their nest,” McHale noted. “It lands on window sills or floors and can create small mounds of pellets that look like sawdust or coffee grounds.”

If you find these droppings, also called “frass,” contact a pest management company to have an inspection and treatment done.

Swollen floors and ceilings

The framing behind your floors and ceilings can swell from termite activity. Research shows that termites introduce moisture into their food source to make it easier to consume. Wood expands with higher moisture levels, so bulging floors or ceilings could result from termite activity.

Damage to your wall coverings and walls is another sign. “Uneven or bubbling paint is often a sign of moisture buildup, which could mean one of two things: water damage or termites,” Fredericks explained.

Visible swarms

The most obvious sign of termite activity is a visible swarm, which occurs when termites are mating. Wood-destroying carpenter ants also swarm in the spring and can be confused with termites.

As you examine the pests, check for the following as you identify:

• Termites have straight or drooped antennae, while a carpenter ant’s antennae bend at a 90-degree angle.
• The front and rear wings of a termite will be roughly the same length, whereas carpenter ants have longer front wings.
• Termites have a straight waist, and carpenter ants have a waist that pinches inward in the middle.

If you cannot identify which pests are swarming in your home, call a professional for an inspection.

How do you prepare for a termite inspection?

Termite inspectors scrutinize the wood and other materials in the areas where termite activity is suspected. These include your crawl space, attics, basements and the garage.

To prepare for an inspection, clear clutter so that your expert can access the spaces freely and conduct a thorough examination. “Finding termite evidence is difficult, even for a trained inspector under the best circumstances,” Fredericks said. 

Your termite inspector should also check under sinks, where plumbing leaks can create elevated moisture levels that attract termites. Prepare the area by removing cleaning products and other belongings.

What happens during a termite inspection?

A termite inspection should include a thorough look at each room in your home, including the garage and crawl space, as well as an exterior inspection to look for possible termite food sources, mud tubes and termite activity. Your inspector will likely walk through a termite inspection checklist that includes the following:

• A visual inspection of the ground around the foundation to identify mud tubes
• A visual inspection of stored firewood, particularly if drywood termites are a concern in your area
• An inspection of nearby trees for damaged wood that could be the original source of termites inside your home
• Gutter inspections that focus on clogs and leaks that could promote termite activity
• A test of windows and doors for proper functionality
• An inspection of exposed studs, floor joists and rafters, especially in the garage, attic and crawl space or unfinished portions of your basement
• An inspection of the areas under your kitchen and bathroom sinks for signs of leaks and elevated moisture
• “Sounding” wood around windows, doors and sinks. This involves tapping the wood and listening to hear if it sounds hollow. “Termites tend to eat wood from the inside out, so wood that sounds hollow when tapped often signifies a termite infestation,” Fredericks said.
• Checking rooms for bulging floors and ceilings, peeling paint and damaged wallpaper
• Inspecting visible plumbing for frass or mud tubes

If termite activity is confirmed, your professional should provide you with a quote for eliminating them in and around your home. 

The pest control service typically involves removing sources of food and installing termite bait stations, which attract the termites with bait that contains poison. The worker termites transmit the poison back to the colony, which will eradicate it over time.

Can I inspect my own home for termites?

It’s possible and advisable to conduct your own termite inspections twice per year during termites’ active seasons: spring and fall. While you should check for signs of termite infestation during your dedicated inspections, you should always watch for signs of termite activity, especially if they’re common in your area.

“Routinely inspect the foundation of a home for signs of mud tubes (used by termites to reach a food source), uneven or bubbling paint and wood that sounds hollow when tapped,” explained Fredericks. “Monitor all exterior areas of wood, including windows, door frames and skirting boards for any noticeable changes.”

However, you shouldn’t rely on a DIY termite inspection to confirm whether you have a termite problem. Even if you have an infestation and resulting termite damage, there might not be any visible signs. It’s best to have a professional inspect your home annually to spot any evidence of termites you might have missed, Fredericks advised. 

“We see the most extreme termite activity in the southeastern states and Gulf region, southern California and Hawaii,” he said. “However, termite pressure in the United States is considered heavy everywhere except the most northern third of the country, but even there, termites can be a problem.”

How do you prevent termite infestations?

Preventing an infestation in the first place is the best way to avoid termite damage. While you can’t guarantee that you’ll never have a termite issue, there are some things you can do to decrease the risk.

Reduce potential sources of food

Since termites often make their way into your home after exhausting outdoor food sources, getting rid of those is a good place to start.

“Termites thrive on easy access to food sources, particularly wood, so remove any wood-to-soil contact around your property,” advised McHale. “This includes firewood, wooden debris and tree stumps. Store firewood away from your home, elevated from the ground, and at least 20 feet from the house.”

Old, rotting tree stumps often attract termites, so if you’re having a tree removed, pay a little extra to have your professional grind down the stump, too.

Minimize moisture in and around your home

Termites are attracted to moisture. Minimizing sources of water on your property, especially close to your home’s foundation, can help.

“Eliminate or reduce moisture in and around the home, which termites need to thrive,” explained Fredericks. “Repair leaking faucets, water pipes, exterior AC units, fascia, soffits and rotted roof shingles. Divert water away from the house through properly functioning downspouts, gutters and splash blocks, [and] maintain an 18-inch gap between soil and any wood portions of your home.”

Use preventive termite treatments

Taking a proactive approach is a good way to minimize your risks. Hire a pest control company to install bait stations around your property to kill termites before they have a chance to infest your property. You don’t have to wait for signs of termites or resulting damage to occur.

What’s next?

Perform a DIY termite inspection every six months and check for mud tubes or other entry points, frass, rotted wood, discarded wings and visible swarms in the spring and fall. 

DIY inspections are a good place to start, but identifying termites in your home is challenging, as there often aren’t always obvious signs.

To supplement your own monitoring, set up an annual inspection with a local pest control company. They’ll complete a thorough check of your outdoor areas and inside your home. Even if they don’t find signs of termites, they will often provide you with personalized tips on how to avoid termites going forward. If they do find termites, they will usually offer a quote for a treatment plan and ongoing prevention.

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