What Are the Signs of a Termite Infestation in Your Home?

Termites are one of the few home problems that can grow for months — sometimes years — before a homeowner realizes what’s happening. Unlike pests you can see right away, termites stay hidden inside walls, floors, and structural wood. By the time visible damage appears, they may have already been feeding for a long time.

The good news is that houses almost always give early warnings. You just have to know what to look for.

This guide walks you through the most common termite infestation signs, what they mean, and when to call a professional before repairs become expensive.

Why Termites Are So Hard to Notice

Termites survive by avoiding light, air, and exposure. Their bodies dry out quickly, so they travel inside soil tunnels, wood, or hidden pathways. Because of this, they rarely crawl across open floors like ants or cockroaches.

Instead, they eat your home from the inside.

Most infestations begin in one of these areas:

• Behind baseboards

• Inside wall cavities

• Under flooring

• Around door frames

• Inside roof framing

• Near plumbing penetrations
  

From the outside, everything can look normal. But internally, wood may already be hollowed out.

That’s why homeowners often mistake termite damage for moisture issues, aging materials, or normal wear and tear.

One of the Most Common Signs of Termite Infestation: Mud Tubes on Walls or Foundation

What they look like

Thin, dirt-colored lines running along concrete, brick, or drywall — about the width of a pencil.

These are called shelter tubes, and they’re one of the clearest signs of active subterranean termites.

Why termites build them

Termites need moisture to survive. Mud tubes act like protective tunnels that let them travel from the soil to your home without drying out.

You’ll commonly find them:

• Along foundation walls

• In crawl spaces

• Behind garages

• Near plumbing lines

• Under stairs

• On interior drywall in severe infestations
  

Important tip

Breaking the tube doesn’t solve the problem. Termites rebuild quickly. If you see mud tubes, the colony is already established.

Hollow or Weak Wood

The tap test

Knock on baseboards, window frames, or wooden beams.

Healthy wood sounds solid. Termite-damaged wood sounds thin or papery.

This happens because termites eat wood from the inside outward, leaving the outer surface intact. The material may look normal but has lost its strength.

Other wood symptoms

• Crumbling edges

• Wood easily punctured with a screwdriver

• Blistered surface texture

• Sagging sections
  

Structural wood damage usually means the infestation has been active for quite some time.

Paint That Looks Like Water Damage

Many homeowners first notice termites because walls look like they have moisture problems.

You might see:

• Bubbling paint

• Uneven patches

• Small cracks

• Slight discoloration
  

Why this happens: termites create tunnels just beneath the paint layer. Air pockets form, causing the surface to swell.

Because it resembles a leak, homeowners sometimes repaint — which temporarily hides the problem while termites continue feeding underneath.

Discarded Wings Near Windows or Doors

What it means

When termite colonies mature, they release swarmers (reproductive termites). These look similar to flying ants but have straight antennae and equal-length wings.

After finding a place to nest, they shed their wings.

So if you notice small piles of identical wings on:

• Windowsills

• Floors near doors

• Garage areas

• Light fixtures
  

That usually means a new colony has just formed nearby — possibly inside your home.

Important timing

Swarming often happens after warm rain or during humid weather. Seeing swarmers indoors is a strong indicator of an infestation inside the structure, not just outside.

Tiny Droppings That Look Like Sand or Coffee Grounds

Drywood termites leave behind small pellets called frass.

They push these out of tiny holes in wood, creating small piles that homeowners often mistake for dust or debris.

You’ll usually find them:

• Under wooden furniture

• On window ledges

• Near baseboards

• On floors below ceiling beams
  

Unlike sawdust from carpenter ants, termite droppings are uniform in size and shape, like fine grains.

If you keep cleaning the same spot and it keeps reappearing, termites may be inside the wood above it.

Doors and Floors Suddenly Acting Strange

Termites change the structure of wood, and that affects how your home moves and fits together.

Common symptoms include:

• Doors sticking or becoming hard to close

• Windows tightening

• Floors feeling uneven

• Small cracks appearing around frames
  

Many homeowners assume the house is just settling. Sometimes that’s true — but sudden changes without weather shifts often point to internal wood damage.

Clicking Sounds Inside Walls

In quiet rooms, some homeowners hear faint ticking or clicking sounds.

This can happen when soldier termites bang their heads against tunnel walls to signal danger to the colony. Worker termites also make noise as they chew.

It’s subtle and usually only noticeable at night, but it does occur in active infestations.

Where Termites Usually Start

Understanding where termites begin helps you check the right areas first.

High-risk zones

• Areas where soil touches wood

• Around outdoor faucets

• Under sinks

• Near AC units

• Around foundation cracks

• Wooden fences attached to the house

• Deck supports
  

Moisture is the biggest attractant. Even a small plumbing leak can invite a colony.

Why Early Detection Matters

Termites don’t stop feeding.

A mature colony can eat continuously, 24 hours a day. Over time this can lead to:

• Structural weakening

• Expensive repairs

• Flooring replacement

• Wall reconstruction

• Reduced property value
  

Insurance rarely covers termite damage because it’s considered preventable maintenance.

That’s why professional inspections are recommended even when no signs are visible.

What To Do If You Notice Any Sign

Avoid DIY sprays or home remedies.

Disturbing termites without eliminating the colony often causes them to spread deeper into the structure or relocate to another area of the home.

Instead:

1. Do not break open walls or wood

2. Avoid applying store-bought pesticides

3. Document where you saw activity

4. Schedule a professional inspection
   

A licensed termite technician can determine:

• The termite species

• Colony size

• Entry points

• Proper treatment method
  

When To Schedule an Inspection

You should book an inspection if:

• You see wings, mud tubes, or droppings

• You bought or are selling a home

• Your neighbors had termites

• Your home is over 10 years old

• You live in a warm climate

• It has been more than a year since the last check
  

Many infestations are found during routine inspections — before any visible damage exists.

Final Thoughts

Termites don’t announce themselves. They leave subtle warnings — mud tubes, hollow wood, tight doors, small wings — signs that are easy to overlook unless you know what they mean.

Catching the problem early can mean the difference between a simple treatment and major structural repair.

If your home shows even one of these warning signs, the safest step is a professional evaluation.

Schedule a termite inspection here:https://www.attack-pestcontrol.com/