What Does a Termite Inspector Look For?
A termite inspection looks for visible evidence of termite activity or damage in accessible areas of a property. An inspector may also note conditions that could make a structure more vulnerable, such as excess moisture or wood in contact with soil. These conditions can be useful to address, but they don’t confirm that termites are present.
What an inspector can examine depends on the property, access, and scope of the inspection. Here are some signs and conditions they may check.
Signs of termite activity
Mud tubes
Subterranean termites may build mud tubes between soil and wood. Inspectors may look for these tubes along foundations, in crawlspaces, and near other areas where wood meets or approaches the ground. Some exploratory tubes don’t connect to a structure, so a tube’s location and condition matter.
Wood damage
An inspector may look for wood that is hollow, blistered, discolored, or visibly damaged, as well as tunnels or galleries in exposed wood. Termite damage can be difficult to recognize from the surface, so a professional may need to assess suspicious areas.
Pellets and kickout holes
Drywood termites push fecal pellets out through small openings in infested wood. A pile of pellets beneath a small hole can be a clue, but pellets alone can’t establish whether an infestation is active or show how far it extends.
Swarmers and discarded wings
Inspectors may look for termite swarmers or discarded wings around windows, doors, and other light sources. Winged termites can be confused with flying ants. A swarm outdoors also doesn’t, by itself, prove the structure is infested. UC IPM’s termite identification and inspection guidance.
Conditions an inspector may note
Depending on the property, an inspector may note wood in contact with soil, excess moisture, plumbing or drainage problems, or wood debris near the structure. These conditions can make it easier for some termites to reach or remain in wood, but they aren’t proof of an infestation.
For more information, see Killroy’s articles on moisture problems to check during an inspection and reducing termite food sources.
What happens after an inspection?
The inspector should explain any visible evidence, damage, or conditions identified during the inspection. Ask which findings indicate termite activity, which are recommendations to reduce risk, and whether further evaluation or treatment is advised. An inspection covers the areas within its scope and access; it can’t guarantee that termites will never enter a property.
Learn more about Killroy’s termite inspection and control services or about the difference between a termite inspection and treatment.