Termites cause billions of dollars in property damage every year in the United States, and most of that damage isn't covered by homeowners insurance. The frustrating part? Termites work silently. By the time most homeowners notice a problem, the colony has been active for months — sometimes years.
Why Termites Go Unnoticed
Termites eat wood from the inside out. They don't need to break the surface of a board to feed on it, and they build sheltered tunnels that keep them hidden from light and air. From the outside, an infested piece of framing can look perfectly normal.
That's why visual inspections by a trained professional matter far more than a homeowner walking the perimeter of the house.
The Warning Signs to Watch For
- Mud tubes. Pencil-width tunnels of mud running along foundation walls, piers or crawl space supports. These are termite highways — and if you break one open, you may see live termites inside.
- Hollow-sounding wood. Tap baseboards, door frames and window sills. A dull, papery, hollow sound can mean the wood has been eaten from within.
- Blistered or bubbling paint. Paint that looks like it's peeling from water damage can actually be hiding termite damage underneath.
- Swarmers and discarded wings. In spring, reproductive termites take flight. Finding piles of identical wings near windowsills or doors is a strong indicator of an active colony nearby.
- Frass. Drywood termites push pellet-shaped droppings out of small holes in the wood. It often looks like coarse sawdust or coffee grounds.
Remember: Finding one of these signs doesn't automatically mean you have termites — but it does mean it's time for a professional inspection.
Spring Swarming Season
Termite swarmers emerge in spring as part of their reproductive cycle, when warmth and humidity hit the right combination. That's why spring is the ideal time for an inspection — you're most likely to catch evidence of activity, and you're early enough to act before summer feeding peaks.
Treatment Options
Termite treatments generally fall into two categories. Liquid soil treatments create a continuous protective barrier around the structure that termites must cross to reach the home. Bait systems place monitoring stations around the property, using slow-acting material that termites carry back to the colony.
The right choice depends on your construction type, soil conditions, moisture levels and whether there's an active infestation already. A proper inspection determines that — not a guess.
Prevention Is Cheaper Than Repair
Annual inspections cost a fraction of what structural repair costs. Also worth doing: keeping wood mulch and soil away from your foundation line, fixing moisture problems and drainage issues, and making sure crawl spaces stay ventilated and dry. Termites need moisture — eliminate it and you've made your home far less attractive.
Teds Services offers termite inspections and treatment across Cochise, Graham, Greenlee and Gila County. If it's been more than a year since your last inspection, now is the time.