Termites
Seven Early Signs of Termite Damage Most Homeowners Miss
Termites work quietly for years. These are the small details that give a colony away long before the damage is obvious.
By Tanya Whitfield · May 30, 2026 · 5 min read
Termite damage is rarely covered by homeowners insurance, which makes early detection a financial issue as much as a structural one.
What to look for
Most of these signs appear at the transition between soil and structure, so start at the foundation and work up.
- Pencil-width mud tubes on foundation walls
- Wood that sounds hollow when tapped
- Discarded wings on window sills after a warm day
- Paint that looks blistered or bubbled
- Doors and windows that suddenly stick
- Tiny pin holes in drywall
- Frass, a sawdust-like residue, near skirting boards
What to do next
Do not disturb mud tubes or spray them. Disturbing the colony can cause it to relocate and make treatment harder. Book a professional inspection and leave the evidence in place.