Termites are silent destroyers that can cause severe damage before you even realize they’re there. Whether you live in a wooden, brick, or mixed-material home, knowing the early signs of termites is key to protecting your property. From tiny wood droppings to hollow-sounding walls and stuck doors, this guide highlights 15 signs that may signal a termite infestation—both inside and outside your home.
1. Hollow-Sounding Wood
What It Means
One of the earliest and most overlooked signs of termites is wood that sounds hollow when tapped. Termites eat wood from the inside out, leaving only a thin outer layer. As a result, structural wood like beams, floorboards, or furniture may appear intact but are severely damaged internally.
Identification
- Tap wooden surfaces with a screwdriver or your knuckles.
- If it sounds papery or empty, that’s a red flag.
- You may notice the wood feels unusually soft.
- Paint or wallpaper may look fine, but the wood underneath is damaged.
Where It’s Found
Hollow wood is often discovered in baseboards, door frames, windowsills, and hardwood floors. You might first notice it while doing repairs or moving furniture.
Why It Matters
If left untreated, hollowed wood can collapse without warning. It compromises the structural safety of your home and may also lead to hidden mold growth due to trapped moisture.
2. Mud Tubes on Walls or Foundation
What It Means
Mud tubes are one of the most visible and alarming signs of a subterranean termite infestation. These pencil-thin tunnels are made from soil, saliva, and termite droppings. Termites use them to travel safely between their underground colony and above-ground wood without being exposed to light or predators.
Identification
- Thin, brownish tubes running vertically on foundation walls.
- Found on basement walls, crawl spaces, or exterior surfaces.
- Can be broken open to check for live termites inside.
- Tubes may be dry, inactive, or rebuilt quickly if the colony is still active.
Where It’s Found
Usually seen on concrete foundations, along brickwork, under porches, or in crawlspaces. They may also appear behind drywall or siding.
Why It Matters
Active mud tubes indicate a live subterranean colony nearby. Their presence means termites are actively feeding and potentially causing structural damage to your home.
3. Sawdust or Termite Droppings (Frass)
What It Means
Drywood termites push out tiny droppings, known as frass, as they tunnel through wood. These droppings resemble sawdust or coffee grounds and are a key indicator of termite activity. Unlike carpenter ants that create piles of real sawdust, termite frass is more pellet-like in shape.
Identification
- Small, dry, oval-shaped pellets near infested wood.
- Usually found in piles under windowsills, baseboards, or furniture.
- Light brown, tan, or black in color, depending on the wood consumed.
- No odor or sticky texture—looks like coarse grit or sand.
Where It’s Found
Typically near wooden door frames, beneath wooden furniture, or along baseboards and wall corners. You may also spot frass beneath cracked wood or drywall holes.
Why It Matters
Visible frass confirms an active drywood termite colony. Since drywood termites live entirely inside the wood, frass is often the only outward sign of a hidden infestation.
4. Bubbling or Peeling Paint
What It Means
Termites can cause paint to bubble or peel due to the moisture they introduce into the wood as they tunnel. This sign is often mistaken for water damage but could indicate termite activity behind the surface, especially on walls or wooden trims.
Identification
- Blisters or raised areas under painted surfaces.
- Peeling paint in patches without visible water leaks.
- Moisture spots on wooden surfaces with no plumbing issues.
- Walls that feel soft or warped beneath the paint.
Where It’s Found
Common on interior walls, window sills, door frames, and ceilings—especially in areas near termite-infested wood.
Why It Matters
While moisture issues can cause similar symptoms, if you see paint damage with no clear water source, termites may be the hidden cause. It’s a sign that the wood underneath is compromised.
5. Discarded Wings Near Doors or Windows
What It Means
Termite swarmers (reproductive termites) shed their wings after finding a place to start a new colony. Finding piles of discarded wings indoors is one of the clearest signs of a nearby or emerging infestation.
Identification
- Piles of small, transparent wings near windowsills, doors, or vents.
- Wings are about the size of a grain of rice, all the same shape and size.
- Often appear in spring or early summer after a swarming event.
- No visible termites nearby, just the wings.
Where It’s Found
Typically seen near light sources, windows, baseboards, and doorways—anywhere swarmers might try to escape to the light.
Why It Matters
Swarming indicates a mature colony nearby and the possibility of new colonies forming. Discarded wings mean termites have likely already entered the structure and started building a nest.
6. Small Holes in Wood or Drywall
What It Means
Tiny exit holes in wood or drywall are often created by termites as they push out waste or swarmers. These holes are usually clean, round, and evenly spaced, often mistaken for nail holes or other minor wall damage.
Identification
- Pin-sized holes in wood, drywall, or painted surfaces.
- May be surrounded by frass or faint dirt marks.
- Typically 1/16 to 1/8 inch in diameter.
- Often seen in lines or clusters along baseboards or wooden panels.
Where It’s Found
Common around wooden door frames, ceilings, wall studs, and wooden furniture. Drywood termites tend to make these holes when clearing frass or releasing swarmers.
Why It Matters
Even a few tiny holes can indicate a major infestation hidden beneath the surface. These holes may serve as active exits and signal a live colony inside the structure.
7. Cracked or Warped Floorboards
What It Means
Termites feeding on wooden subfloors and joists can weaken the structural integrity, leading to uneven, sagging, or warped floorboards. This sign is often mistaken for aging or water damage but can actually be a result of termite tunneling.
Identification
- Uneven or bulging floorboards with no moisture source.
- Cracks forming between wood planks.
- Floor feels spongy or unstable when walked on.
- Loose tiles or squeaky floorboards in dry conditions.
Where It’s Found
Usually occurs in hardwood flooring, subfloor layers, or around baseboards—especially in humid or dark parts of the home like basements and ground floors.
Why It Matters
Damaged flooring not only affects the look and safety of your home but also points to an active and possibly widespread termite problem underfoot.
8. Stiff Windows and Doors
What It Means
Termites often target window and door frames because the wood is easy to access and typically exposed. As they tunnel and feed inside the frames, the wood becomes misshapen or swollen, causing windows and doors to stick or become difficult to open and close.
Identification
- Windows or doors suddenly become hard to open or shut.
- Frames appear slightly warped or swollen.
- You may notice small cracks or faint bubbling in the paint.
- No visible water damage to explain the warping.
Where It’s Found
Frequently in bathroom windows, kitchen doors, garage door frames, or anywhere with direct wood access. Humid areas are especially vulnerable.
Why It Matters
Stuck windows and doors are often dismissed as weather-related swelling. But if accompanied by other signs—like frass or hollow wood—it could be an early warning of termite damage in load-bearing structures.
9. Clicking Sounds Inside Walls
What It Means
If you hear faint clicking, tapping, or rustling noises coming from your walls, it could be termites. Soldier termites often bang their heads against the tunnel walls to signal danger, while workers make noise as they chew through wood.
Identification
- Tapping, clicking, or scratching sounds in quiet rooms.
- Usually noticeable at night when the house is silent.
- Comes from within walls, ceilings, or wooden beams.
- May be intermittent or constant depending on colony activity.
Where It’s Found
Most often reported behind drywall, in attics, basements, or near wooden baseboards. Larger colonies tend to make more noticeable sounds.
Why It Matters
This is one of the few signs you can hear. If you notice these unexplained sounds, especially in combination with other signs like hollow wood or frass, termite inspection is urgent.
10. Visible Tunnels in Furniture
What It Means
Drywood termites commonly infest wooden furniture, leaving behind visible tunnels and hollowed-out sections. Over time, infested furniture may weaken, sag, or break unexpectedly. The presence of small holes or patterns on the surface can be an indication of hidden internal damage.
Identification
- Maze-like patterns or grooves on or under wooden furniture.
- Small exit holes with frass around them.
- Hollow sound when tapping the furniture.
- Weak or crumbling wood in chairs, tables, or cabinets.
Where It’s Found
Mostly in older or untreated wood furniture—especially in humid environments. Common items affected include bed frames, dressers, coffee tables, and antique cabinets.
Why It Matters
Furniture termite damage can be a sign of a broader infestation in the home. Left untreated, termites can spread from a single piece of furniture to other wooden areas in your house.
11. Termite Activity in Trees
What It Means
Termites don’t just invade homes—they often start in outdoor trees. If a tree on your property is infested, it can become a launch point for termites to migrate into nearby structures. Damaged trees also become hazardous if they weaken from the inside.
Identification
- Mud tubes or frass around the base of a tree.
- Hollow-sounding trunk when tapped.
- Bark that peels off easily or has tiny holes.
- Dead branches or unexpected leaf loss on an otherwise healthy tree.
Where It’s Found
Common in trees close to homes, especially old stumps, firewood piles, or dying trees with internal rot.
Why It Matters
Infested trees increase the risk of termites entering your home. Treating the tree and removing it, if necessary, helps reduce the chances of termites spreading into nearby structures.
12. Termites in Firewood Piles
What It Means
Firewood stacks placed too close to your home can become a breeding ground for termites. These piles offer the perfect combination of cellulose-rich wood, darkness, and moisture—ideal conditions for termites to nest and multiply before moving into your house.
Identification
- Mud tubes or termite trails in and around firewood.
- Hollow logs or wood breaking apart easily.
- Presence of live termites when pieces are split open.
- Small exit holes or frass within the pile.
Where It’s Found
In outdoor firewood piles stored directly on the ground or against the home’s walls. Stacks left uncovered or in moist, shaded areas are at the highest risk.
Why It Matters
Firewood infestations often go unnoticed until termites have already migrated into your home. Always store firewood at least 20 feet away from the house and elevate it off the ground to reduce the risk.
13. Signs in Garden Mulch or Soil
What It Means
Mulch provides a warm, moist environment that termites love. Although mulch itself isn’t always the cause of infestations, it can attract subterranean termites and give them an easy path to enter your home’s foundation if placed too close.
Identification
- Mud tubes or trails beneath or through mulch layers.
- Termites spotted during gardening or soil turning.
- Damaged wooden edging or garden structures nearby.
- High humidity and poor drainage around mulch beds.
Where It’s Found
Around flower beds, garden paths, and landscaping features where wood chips or bark mulch are placed near siding or foundation walls.
Why It Matters
Mulch acts as a bridge for termites to go from the soil directly into your home. Keeping mulch thin and away from the house is a simple but effective prevention strategy.
14. Soft Spots in Wall or Ceiling
What It Means
Termites feeding inside walls or ceilings can cause the surface to weaken and develop soft or sunken spots. These areas may resemble water damage but are actually the result of internal wood destruction and moisture buildup caused by termite activity.
Identification
- Walls or ceilings that feel soft when pressed.
- Sunken or uneven sections in drywall or plaster.
- Bubbling or rippling surface textures.
- Small holes or frass near the damaged area.
Where It’s Found
Typically seen in bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, or other moisture-prone areas. It may also appear in ceilings below a termite-infested attic.
Why It Matters
These soft spots are often misdiagnosed as plumbing leaks or humidity issues. Over time, they can lead to serious structural concerns and indicate that termites are actively tunneling inside key building materials.
15. Visible Damage in Brick Houses
What It Means
Although brick homes seem secure, termites can still find ways in—especially through cracks, vents, and wood elements inside the structure. The damage may not be immediately obvious, but wood framing behind brick exteriors is just as vulnerable.
Identification
- Cracks near window frames or baseboards.
- Flaking paint or bubbling plaster on interior walls.
- Hollow-sounding trim or baseboards.
- Frass or mud tubes near vents, pipes, or expansion joints.
Where It’s Found
In wooden components behind brick facades, such as subfloors, wall studs, window trims, and attic structures. Also common around exterior vents or drainage gaps.
Why It Matters
Brick offers no guaranteed protection from termites. The hidden internal framework of your home can still be compromised if termites find access points, making regular inspection crucial—even for masonry houses.
