Termites are notorious for the quiet destruction they cause—often staying hidden until the damage becomes serious. These wood-destroying insects can compromise your home’s foundation, framing, and even furniture. Spotting the early warning signs of termites can help you stop an infestation before it leads to major repairs.

Here’s how to recognize the red flags that termites may be present in your home.

Why Early Detection Is Critical

Termites can live inside walls, floors, and wood structures for months or years without being seen. By the time visible damage shows up, you may already be facing a costly repair. Identifying termite activity early gives you the chance to act quickly and protect your property from further harm.

1. Flying Termites Around Your Home

Flying termites, also known as swarmers, are one of the first signs of a termite infestation. These reproductive termites leave the colony to establish new ones. If you see them indoors, it’s a strong sign there may already be a colony nearby.

What to look for:

• Wings of equal size

• Straight, beaded antennae

• Common near light sources or windows, especially in spring or after rain

Confusing swarmers with flying ants is easy, but termite wings are symmetrical, and their bodies are straight—not pinched.

2. Piles of Shed Wings

When termite swarmers settle into a new nest, they discard their wings. These discarded wings often collect near entry points like windowsills, door frames, or vents.

If you find small, delicate wings in your home, it’s a clear early sign of termites—especially if they’re found in multiple locations.

3. Mud Tubes on Surfaces

Subterranean termites build narrow tunnels made of mud to protect themselves as they travel between their nest and food. These pencil-width mud tubes can often be spotted:

• On basement or foundation walls

• Around crawl spaces

• On exterior siding or structural wood

Breaking a tube open may reveal active termites inside, confirming the infestation.

4. Wood That Sounds Hollow or Feels Soft

Termites feed from the inside out, so infested wood may appear normal on the surface while being hollow underneath. Tap on wood with a screwdriver or similar tool. If it sounds empty or breaks easily, termites may be the cause.

Inspect areas like:

• Baseboards

• Wooden flooring

• Framing in basements or attics

Damaged wood is often a sign that termites have been present for a while.

5. Stuck Windows and Hard-to-Open Doors

Swollen wood caused by termites can lead to difficulty opening or closing windows and doors. As termites introduce moisture while feeding, the wood can warp or change shape.

If your doors or windows are jamming and it isn’t due to weather changes, check for other termite signs nearby.

6. Small Pellets or Droppings (Frass)

Drywood termites leave behind droppings called frass. These tiny pellets are usually tan, brown, or wood-colored and often accumulate below infested areas. Learn more about termite droppings identification.

You might spot frass near:

• Window frames

• Wooden furniture

• Flooring edges or baseboards

Finding frass indicates that termites are actively tunneling through your wood.

7. Bubbled Paint or Blistered Surfaces

If your paint or wallpaper starts to bubble, crack, or peel unexpectedly, termites might be to blame. Tunnels beneath the surface allow moisture to seep in, distorting painted or finished areas.

While moisture issues alone can cause this, paint bubbling paired with other symptoms suggests a termite issue.

8. Clicking or Rustling Sounds Inside Walls

You may hear termites if you listen closely. Soldier termites often tap or bang their heads to warn others of threats, while worker termites make rustling or chewing sounds as they feed.

If you hear faint tapping or soft rustling noises, especially at night, it could be termites inside your walls.

How to Protect Your Home from Termites

Preventing termites is far easier than dealing with a full-blown infestation. Here are a few proactive steps you can take:

💧 Control Moisture Levels

Fix leaks, improve ventilation, and eliminate standing water near your foundation.

🪵 Store Wood Properly

Keep firewood, mulch, and wooden materials away from your home’s foundation.

🧱 Seal Cracks and Gaps

Close off access points in walls, foundations, and around pipes or cables.

🕵️ Book Regular Termite Inspections

Professional pest control services can catch signs you might miss and apply preventative treatments.

Final Thoughts: Don’t Ignore the Signs

Termites are silent invaders that can cause serious damage before you realize they’re even there. By paying attention to early warning signs—like swarmers, frass, mud tubes, or damaged wood—you can catch infestations early and take quick action.

Worried about termites?
Schedule a professional termite inspection with Protec Inspections today to protect your home before the damage begins.