Your home keeps you safe from the elements; cooler in the summer, warmer in the winter, nice a dry. Termites also appreciate the home you’ve selected for your family, especially the wood beams holding up the walls and roof. They may be living in your home rent-free. And these unwanted roommates can do a lot of costly damage before you even know they’re there. That’s why you should know how to identify termite damage in and around your home.

But before you call a termite exterminator you should learn how to identify signs of termites in your home. Be on the lookout for these telltale signs of damage from a termite infestation.

Signs of Termites

  1. Your paint looks like its peeling from water damage
  2. The drywall is sagging
  3. The drywall in changing colors
  4. When you tap a piece of wood, it sounds hollow
  5. You’ve noticed tiny bored holes in the drywall. Those critters had to get in some way.
  6. Your wood or laminate floors have developed humps, dips, or gaps
  7. Baseboards feel unsteady or like they’re shifting. Careful! You could fall through the floor.
  8. Tiles on the floors or walls have started coming loose. Termites generate moisture, which loosens adhesives.
  9. Floorboards are getting extra squeaky. They could be in the floorboards, the beams that support them, or both, so this is dangerous.
  10. Wood piles, loose timber, sheds, or decks show signs of crumbling, damage, or sawdust
  11. Windows and doors are getting stuck.
  12. You see “mazes” in wooden furniture, walls, or floorboards.
  13. You see something that looks like a pile of tiny ovals about 1mm in diameter. These look like a beige, tan, or pink salt with black pepper. These are droppings (poop) that drywood termites have carried out of their tunnels to keep them clear and clean for feasting. Drywood termites are more common in humid places like the Southeast US, but they are also found along the Gulf of Mexico, including the Greater Houston, Katy, and Richmond, TX areas.
  14. A pile of what looks like tiny fish scales. These are termite wings that they shed after the kings and queens reproduce. This means they just had a mating season, so this problem is about to get a lot bigger and needs immediate attention.
  15. Mud tubes up walls and foundations usually on the outside of the home. Some termites (subterranean termites) live underground and build tubes made of mud and feces up walls to access food. Termites love humidity and must stay moist to survive in more arid parts of Texas.
  16. You witness a flying termite swarm. These are kings and queens mating. After they mate, they will look for a new home to start a colony and spread more damage. Mating season is usually the only time a homeowner will see the termites, so it’s important not to ignore a swarm of termite-looking insects. Ants, a relatively harmless pest, also do this, so we’ve created a resource to help you decide if you’re seeing flying termites vs. flying ants.
  17. You hear head-banging. That’s not a heavy metal concert going on in there. When termites believe they’ve been discovered, the soldiers start banging their heads against the tunnel walls and vibrating their bodies. This signals to others that they’re under attack.
  18. You’ve recently lost a tree. A fallen tree could have been infested. Now, the termites will look for a new home, and since your house is closest, your address will be prime real estate.

Watch the video below to see tree damage caused by termites at a home we treated in Katy, Texas.

Getting Rid of Termites

Do you think you might have termites? Let us check it out and help you get peace of mind that your home is safe. Life After Bugs (LAB) is a family-owned, fully licensed pest control company serving businesses and homes in Katy, Richmond, and West Houston, Texas. Contact us online to schedule or call (832) 230-6433 to speak with a member of our team about a termite inspection.


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