When it comes to protecting your home, few things are more alarming than the idea of termites eating away at your walls. These tiny wood-eating pests can cause serious structural damage, often without you even noticing. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the 7 key signs of termite infestation in walls and what steps you can take to eradicate these destructive invaders.

Key Points You Can’t Ignore

• Termites can silently destroy your home’s framing, trim, and even your foundation.
• Detecting early warning signs is critical to saving your home from costly repairs.
• Various solutions, from termite baits to professional extermination, can help you remove termites and prevent further damage.

1. Tiny Pinholes in Walls

Termites create small pinholes to move in and out of their colonies inside your walls. These pinholes may be visible on drywall or wooden surfaces, and while they may seem minor, they are early indicators of termite activity.

Why It’s Important:

Pinholes can go unnoticed for a long time, allowing the infestation to grow without any immediate signs. The holes are sometimes sealed by termites themselves to protect their colony.

Next Steps:

• Inspect any holes carefully to ensure they are not from other sources, like nails or wear.
• Contact a termite control professional if you suspect active colonies.

2. Mud Tubes Along Your Home’s Foundation

Mud tubes are perhaps the most recognizable sign of termites, as they create these tubes to travel from the soil to their food source—your home’s wood. These tubes are often found on foundations or inside walls.

What You Should Do:

• Break a small section of the tube and observe for any live termites.
• If active termites are found, immediate chemical treatment or baiting is recommended.

3. Bubbling or Peeling Paint

Termites bring moisture into your walls, which can cause bubbling or peeling paint on your surfaces. Though this can sometimes be confused with water damage, it’s critical to rule out termites as a cause.

Prevent Further Damage:

• Inspect the paint for areas that look swollen or damp.
• Hire a pest control expert to determine if termites are the cause of the moisture.

4. Hollow-Sounding Wood

Termites consume wood from the inside out, leaving a thin shell. When you tap on the surface of wood or drywall, it may sound hollow or weak, indicating the internal structure has been compromised.

How to Handle It:

• Test different areas of your wall by tapping lightly with a tool.
• If the wood crumbles or sounds empty, call a professional termite exterminator right away.

5. Dust or Frass Near Baseboards

Termites often leave behind a mix of wood shavings, droppings (frass), and dust near the base of your walls. This is a strong indicator that termites have been eating away inside.

What to Watch For:

• Dark dust that resembles black pepper could be termite excrement.
• Clean the area and check if new dust reappears over time.

6. Damaged Wood Trim or Paneling

If you notice faint lines or a maze-like appearance in your home’s wood trim, paneling, or even furniture, termites may be eating away beneath the surface. These lines are the tunnels termites use to move through the wood.

Fixing the Issue:

• Inspect wood around your home for any unusual patterns or damage.
• Schedule an inspection to assess the extent of the damage.

7. Shifting Foundation or Cracked Walls

When termites go undetected for too long, they can weaken your home’s structural foundation. This can cause visible cracks in the walls, doors that don’t close properly, or windows that become difficult to operate.

Why It’s Serious:

• Structural damage can be incredibly costly to repair.
• Call a professional to evaluate both your home’s foundation and any interior damage immediately.

What to Do If You Find Termites in Your Walls

Now that you’re aware of the key signs of termite activity, it’s time to take action. Ignoring these signs can lead to major home repairs down the road, so it’s important to act quickly. Here’s how to proceed:

Set Up Termite Baits:

• Use bait stations around your home to attract and poison termites.
• Be sure to keep them away from children and pets.

Apply a Termiticide:

• Spray termiticide in the cracks of walls and wooden structures.
• Ensure the product is labeled for indoor use.

Call a Termite Exterminator:

• For larger infestations, it’s always better to call in professional pest control.
• They will perform a detailed inspection and apply treatments like fumigation or baits to eradicate the colony.