How to Identify Termites in Your Home

Want to make a homeowner nervous? Just bring up termites. These wood-chomping pests cause over $50 billion in property damage each year. If you’re not hiring an exterminator to inspect your property regularly, it’s important to learn how to recognize the signs of termites and conduct your own inspections every few months. But even if you’re thorough, we still recommend a professional termite inspection annually.

Termites can be tricky to detect. They eat wood from the inside out, favoring the soft spring wood found deep within materials like construction wood, fences, fallen branches, firewood, and mulch. By the time you notice their damage, they may have already spread to multiple areas of your property. Fortunately, termites do leave a few signs behind. So, put on your work clothes and grab your walking shoes—we’re going to check for subterranean termites, the most common type found across the U.S.

Signs of Termite Infestation

There are several clear indicators that termites may be near or inside your home. If you spot any of these, reach out to a termite professional immediately. A fully established termite colony can consume up to a pound of wood every single day, making it crucial to call an expert as soon as you suspect an infestation.

Swarmers — In spring, mature termite colonies release winged termites (alates) to create new nests. These termites fly out in large numbers, resembling swarms of flying ants. However, unlike ants, winged termites have straight, segmented antennae and two pairs of wings that are the same size. Flying ants have jointed antennae and smaller back wings compared to their front wings. During spring, swarming termites are so numerous that you can sometimes gauge termite activity in your neighborhood by checking spider webs around your property. If you find a termite caught in a web, it’s a sign you should inspect your home for termite activity. To proactively prevent damage, consider setting up termite bait traps, which contain poisoned food that termites carry back to their nests. If you spot what looks like flying ants in your home during spring, double-check their characteristics. If they match the description of termites, it’s a good idea to call an exterminator as you likely have a problem.

Termite Tubes -- Termites are delicate creatures that lack defenses against predators and need moisture to thrive. When they're not underground or inside wood, they construct mud and cellulose tubes—tiny, brown straw-like tunnels—for protection. If you suspect a termite infestation, inspect your home’s foundation for these tubes. To check if a tube is still active or from an old colony, break a small section and wait a few days. If termites are still present, they’ll repair the damage. Other areas to inspect for termite tubes include around water pipes, crawl spaces, attics, and basements.

Termite Cement -- As termites settle in, they begin sealing small cracks and gaps with mud to control airflow and maintain moisture. Check for dried dirt around cracks, holes, or imperfections in your home’s foundation—this could be termite cement, signaling an infestation.

Damaged Wood -- Termite damage often goes unnoticed until the infestation is advanced, but you may be able to detect it by tapping two similar pieces of wood. A hollowed piece, damaged by termites, will sound dull or flat compared to solid wood. In more severe cases, the damaged wood will appear ridged or striated when examined. This texture differs from the breakdown caused by dry rot or water damage.