Identifying Termite Damage in Your Home

Termite damage within a home is often unidentified until it has become a disastrous problem.  Homeowners can be proactive about avoiding termite damage by knowing what the signs are, and regularly inspecting their houses.

Mud Tubes

One telltale sign of termites is the mud tubes they create while tunneling through areas of a building.  These small tubes are about as wide as a drinking straw, and will appear around door and window frames, siding, baseboards, cracks in chimneys, concrete foundations or stone work, and even on pipes.  A flashlight can help you identify termite damage in these areas.

Hollow Wood

Another way to spot termite damage is to knock on walls and floors in your home with a screwdriver.  Any wood that sounds hollow is likely damaged, and should be removed and inspected for termite damage.  Since termites eat wood from the inside out, damaged wood can go unnoticed for a long period of time.  Aside from knocking on wood, look for any bulging walls, sagging ceilings, or painted wood that is discolored, as these things can also be signs of termite damage.

Other Physical Evidence

Finally, termites leave tiny piles of fecal matter in the areas where they feed. You can also search windows, vents, lights and doors for actual termites, which are light in color. If you do not spot live termites, you may see other signs, such as the wings and body parts of dead termites.