Termites cause an average of $8,000 in damage per home before they're detected. Learn the 5 most critical warning signs so you can catch an infestation before it becomes catastrophic.
The Problem with Termites: They Hide
Termites are masters of concealment. They work inside wood, behind walls, and underground — making early detection genuinely difficult without professional tools. By the time visible damage appears, colonies have often been active for years.
Here are the 5 warning signs every Southern California homeowner should know.
#1: Frass (Termite Droppings)
Drywood termites push their fecal pellets (frass) out of small kick-out holes in infested wood. Frass accumulates in small piles that look like sawdust or sand — but the individual pellets have a distinctive hexagonal shape when viewed up close.
Where to look: Windowsills, baseboards, beneath furniture, and near doorframes. Early stage signs of termites in ceiling framing are easy to miss — look for small frass piles on the floor directly below an attic access point, since the wood there is one of the primary food sources driving colony growth.
#2: Discarded Wings Near Windows
After a termite swarm, the reproductive termites (swarmers) shed their wings. Finding small piles of equal-length wings near windows, sliding doors, or light fixtures — especially in late summer and fall — indicates a swarm event nearby or from within your home.
Where to look: Window tracks, sliding door frames, light fixture bases, and spider webs near windows.
#3: Mud Tubes on the Foundation ⚠️
This is the most critical sign to never ignore. Subterranean termites build pencil-width mud tubes to travel between the soil and the wood they're eating. These tubes protect them from predators and maintain moisture.
Finding mud tubes on:
- Foundation walls
- Crawl space piers
- Interior walls near the slab
- Garage walls
...means you have an *active* subterranean termite infestation. This is not a "wait and see" situation.
#4: Hollow-Sounding Wood
As termites consume wood from the inside, the structural integrity is compromised while the outside looks normal. Tap suspected areas with a screwdriver handle — infested wood sounds hollow or papery rather than solid.
Where to check: Window and door frames, baseboards, hardwood floors (bubbling or warping), and roof eaves.
#5: Stuck or Difficult Doors and Windows
As termites damage structural wood, the framing can shift and warp slightly — causing doors and windows to stick or not close properly. While sticking doors can have other causes (settling, moisture), combined with other signs, this warrants immediate inspection.
What to Do If You Notice These Signs
Do not disturb the infestation or apply over-the-counter pesticides. This can scatter the colony and make professional treatment more difficult.
Instead, contact a licensed termite inspector immediately. The sooner treatment begins, the less damage your home sustains. Effective termite control starts with an accurate inspection, and any resulting treatment plans should be based on the species and extent of activity found — not guesswork — since delaying only increases the risk of costly structural damage.
Ultimate Termite provides free inspections throughout Orange County, Los Angeles County, Inland Empire, and Riverside County. Call us today or schedule online.