DIY Termite Inspection: Signs to Check Around the Home

What you're looking for

A DIY termite inspection does not replace a licensed inspection, but it helps homeowners spot warning signs early. The highest-risk areas are where wood, moisture, soil, cracks, and hidden voids overlap.

• Pencil-width mud tubes on concrete or masonry
• Wood that sounds hollow or breaks in layers
• Tiny pellets below trim, furniture, or attic wood
• Swarmer wings collected on sills or floors

Step-by-step inspection

1. 1

   Walk the exterior foundation and look for tubes, cracks, and moisture.

   Walk the exterior foundation and look for tubes, cracks, and moisture.

2. 2

   Check crawl spaces, sill plates, joists, and support posts

   Check crawl spaces, sill plates, joists, and support posts.

3. 3

   Inspect window frames, door frames, and garage trim

   Inspect window frames, door frames, and garage trim.

4. 4

   Use photos and notes to track suspicious areas over time

   Use photos and notes to track suspicious areas over time.

Visual and physical clues

Evidence to look for

• Pencil-width mud tubes on concrete or masonry
• Wood that sounds hollow or breaks in layers
• Tiny pellets below trim, furniture, or attic wood
• Swarmer wings collected on sills or floors

What it can be confused with

How to confirm

• Photograph the specimen or sign sharply and include scale when practical.
• Record the exact finding location and check nearby areas for a repeated pattern.
• Use more than one compatible clue before assigning a pest or source.

What to do after finding evidence

• Maintain clearance between soil and exterior wood.
• Keep gutters working and downspouts directed away from the home.
• Remove cardboard, wood scraps, and cellulose debris from crawl spaces.
• Schedule periodic professional inspections in termite-prone regions.

When to call a professional

Call a professional if you find active insects, mud tubes, swarmers, frass, or damage in framing, flooring, or support wood.