Termites in the house almost always come from the soil underneath it. In Arizona, the underground kind squeezes through cracks in the slab, gaps around pipes, or behind stucco, then builds mud tubes up to the wood. Finding them is stressful, but it isn't an emergency. The University of Arizona says termites often take years to do real damage. Here's where to look in each part of the house and what to do first.
How termites get into your home
Termites can't chew through solid concrete, and they don't need to. They follow cracks in the slab, the joint where the slab meets the foundation wall, and the gaps where plumbing comes up through the floor.
Water draws them in. Check that drip emitters and sprinklers aren't soaking the dirt right against the wall. Damp soil at the foundation is exactly what subterranean termites look for.
Termites in walls
Check the walls with plumbing first. Kitchens, bathrooms and laundry rooms have pipes coming up through the slab, and those gaps are an easy way in.
Termites inside a wall leave marks you can spot from the room:
- Thin mud tubes on drywall
- Pinholes with dirt around them
- Paint that bubbles or peels in one spot
- Baseboards that sound hollow or give when you press them
Termites in stucco
The risk with stucco is what it hides. When stucco runs down into the dirt, termites can build tubes up behind it and reach the wood framing without a single tube showing outside.
The University of Arizona recommends a gap of about 4 inches between the soil and the bottom of the stucco, so the foundation wall can be checked. If dirt, rock or planters are piled against your stucco, pulling them back is one fix you can do yourself.
Also look for cracks in the stucco near the ground with dirt packed in them.
Termites in the garage
Garages are easy to overlook. The walls get less attention than the rest of the house, and boxes and wood stacked against them hide mud tubes.
Move stored things a few inches off the walls. Check the edge of the floor, any cracks, the door frame into the house, and around the water heater if it's out there.
Termites in the ceiling
Underground termites can climb a long way. They build tubes up inside walls and can reach the roof framing. Drywood termites can live in attic wood without ever touching the ground.
On a ceiling, look for small mud spots or tubes on the drywall and for sagging spots. Pellets or wings dropping from a light fixture or vent are another sign.
A water stain after a monsoon storm may be a roof leak instead. Fix it fast either way, since damp wood draws termites.
What termite damage looks like in a house
Termites eat wood from the inside and leave a thin outer layer. So termite damage often looks small from outside. A baseboard with one blister may be hollow well beyond that spot.
The signs of termites guide shows what damaged wood looks like up close and how to tap-test trim.
Repairs are usually separate from the cost of termite treatment. When you get quotes, ask whether fixing damaged wood is included or only treating the termites.
What to do first
Take photos and leave it alone. Don't spray, tear out drywall or seal cracks yet. The inspector needs to see where the termites are getting in.
If your house was treated before, by the builder or a past owner, find that paperwork. The company named on it may need to come back before you pay anyone new.
Have a licensed inspector look; you can request an inspection here. Get their findings in writing, including rooms or walls they couldn't check.
Compare quotes. Check what each covers, whether repairs are included, and what happens if termites come back.