What It Means
A termite inspection is a close look at a house for signs of termites, especially subterranean termites that travel up from the soil. University of Florida IFAS Extension advises inspecting a house at least once a year. The inspector, or you, looks for mud tubes on foundations, winged termites or their shed wings, and damaged wood.
Try It: Walk a Yearly Termite Check
Five stops on a yearly check, drawn from University of Florida IFAS Extension. Go through them in order.
1. Foundation, outside
Walk the outside of the foundation. Look for mud tubes: flat, earth-colored tubes running from the ground up to wood.
2. Crawl space or slab
In a crawl space, check the inside of the foundation walls too. On a slab, look closely at cracks and where pipes and utilities come through.
3. Wings
Look indoors and out for winged termites or small piles of shed wings. Swarms show up in spring, summer or fall.
4. Wood
Check wood near the ground for damage or tunneling.
5. Soil contact
Make sure no wood touches the soil. Exterior woodwork should sit at least 6 inches above ground.
Found tubes, swarmers or damaged wood? Call a pest control company for a professional inspection.
How It Sounds at Home
- "There's a mud tube running up the foundation."
- "We found a pile of little wings by the back door."
- "Let's get a termite inspection before we buy."
The Breakdown
How often
| What | When | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Inspect the house for termite signs | At least once a year | University of Florida IFAS Extension |
| Watch for swarmers and shed wings | Spring, summer and fall | UF IFAS and UC IPMPest controlKeeping insects, rodents and other pests out of a home, best done by removing their food, water and shelter first and using pesticides only as the label directs. See more |
| Call a professional | As soon as you find tubes, swarmers or damage | Buhata's own suggestion |
What to look for. Shelter tubes, also called mud tubes, are the sign people see most often. Worker termites build them from soil, saliva and bits of wood, and they run from the ground to the wood the colony is feeding on. Winged adults, called swarmers or alates, fly out to start new colonies and shed their wings after landing, so a small pile of wings indoors is a clue. Damaged or tunneled wood is the third sign.
Where to look
- Crawl space: the inside and outside of the foundation walls.
- Concrete slab: cracks in the floor and the places where pipes and utilities pass through.
- Any wood near or touching the ground, such as porch posts and steps.
Make it last between checks. University of Florida IFAS Extension says building wood shouldn't touch the soil or fill. It gives at least 6 inches of clearance for exterior woodwork and at least 18 inches for crawl space beams, which also leaves room for the next inspection.
Good to Know
Buhata's own suggestion: before you hire an inspector, ask what the report will cover, and keep a copy of every report with your home papers. Termite treatments use pesticides, so read EPA's "Citizen's Guide to Pest Control and Pesticide Safety" before trying any do-it-yourself product, and follow the label exactly.
FAQ
How often should you get a termite inspection?
University of Florida IFAS Extension advises inspecting a house at least once a year. Look for mud tubes, winged adults, shed wings and damaged wood.
What do termite mud tubes look like?
Earth-colored tubes that connect the ground to wood. Worker termites build them from soil, saliva and bits of wood.
When do termites swarm?
Swarms of winged termites show up in spring, summer or fall, according to UF IFAS and UC IPM. After landing they shed their wings, so piles of wings are a common find.
Do It in Buhata
Maintenance and Reminders
Add "Termite check: foundation, crawl space, wood" to Maintenance in your Household X add-on as a yearly job, so it rolls forward each time you tick it.
Open BuhataRelated Terms and Categories
- Pest control
Keeping insects, rodents and other pests out of a home, best done by removing their food, water and shelter first and using pesticides only as the label directs.
- Home inspection
A professional look at a home's condition, usually before buying, that reports which systems and parts need repair or may need replacing soon.
- Seasonal home maintenance
Home upkeep sorted by time of year, so each job lands when the weather suits it and before the system it protects is needed most.
- Mulching
Spreading a layer of material such as wood chips, bark or leaves over the soil around plants to hold moisture, keep roots cooler and hold back weeds.
- Deck staining
Brushing a penetrating stain or water repellent onto a wood deck to protect it from water and sun, and recoating it as the finish wears.
Sources
University of Florida IFAS Extension, "Subterranean Termites" (ENY-210) and "Termite Prevention and Control" (ENY-2044); UC Statewide IPM Program, "Subterranean and Other Termites"; Penn State Extension, "Eastern Subterranean Termites"; EPA, "Citizen's Guide to Pest Control and Pesticide Safety"
- edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ig097
- edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in1277
- ipm.ucanr.edu/home-and-landscape/subterranean-and-other-termites
- extension.psu.edu/eastern-subterranean-termites
- www.epa.gov/safepestcontrol/citizens-guide-pest-control-and-pesticide-safety
Last updated .