Termites are eating your house right now. That's not meant to scare you, it's just how it works in Montgomery. Our humidity and the way houses settle here make termite damage almost inevitable if you're not paying attention. I've pulled back insulation and drywall on hundreds of local homes and found mud tubes running up the inside of walls, wood that sounds hollow when you tap it, and structural damage that costs tens of thousands to repair. The thing is, most of that damage was preventable. You just need to know what to look for.
Mud Tubes Are Your First Red Flag
Termites don't travel exposed. They build mud tubes from the soil up the foundation and into the wood framing of your house. These tubes are about the width of a pencil, usually brown or tan, and they stick to your foundation, crawl space joists, or basement walls. If you see them, you have an active infestation. Walk around your foundation on a regular schedule, especially after rain when the soil is moist. Look along the concrete stem wall where it meets the ground. Check inside your crawl space if you have one. In Montgomery's clay soil, these tubes are common and they're easy to spot if you're looking.
Soft Or Hollow-Sounding Wood
Tap on wooden structural elements in your crawl space, basement, or attic. Solid wood gives a solid sound. Termite-damaged wood sounds dull and hollow. The insects eat the wood from the inside out, leaving just a thin shell. You can often poke it with a screwdriver and the blade will sink in. Check rim joists, sill plates, and the wooden beams that run across crawl spaces. Pay special attention to areas where wood touches soil or where there's been water damage. Termites love soft, compromised wood.
Discarded Wings And Swarmers
In spring and early summer, termites swarm. Reproductive termites called alates grow wings and fly out to start new colonies. You might see them around your porch light at night or notice piles of discarded wings on windowsills and in corners. The wings are thin and translucent, about half an inch long, and they come off easily. If you're finding these, swarmers have been active in or near your house. This doesn't always mean you have an infestation inside yet, but it means termites are in the area and you should have your house inspected.
Damage To Drywall And Paint
Termites sometimes work their way into drywall. You might notice blistering paint, small holes in drywall, or areas that feel soft or spongy when you press on them. In Montgomery, we see this most often in bathrooms and kitchens where there's higher humidity and where water damage has already started to weaken the material. The damage spreads fast once it gets into drywall because the paper facing is basically food to them. If you notice this kind of damage, especially in older homes or homes with any history of water issues, get it checked out.
Frass And Droppings
Some termite species leave behind small piles of fecal pellets called frass. These look like sawdust or fine sand and they pile up below damaged wood. Drywood termites in particular are known for this. You might find these pellets under a window frame, along a baseboard, or in an attic. If you see what looks like sawdust piling up near wood in your house, that's worth investigating. It's not always termites, but it's always worth knowing what's happening.
Get A Professional Look
The best early warning system is an annual inspection from someone who knows what to look for. I've found infestations in homes where the owners had no idea anything was wrong. Termites work quietly and they work inside the wood where you can't see them. A trained eye can spot the signs. In Montgomery, with our heat and humidity, this is basic home maintenance, not a luxury. If you catch termites early, you contain the damage and the cost. If you wait until you see visible damage, you're already looking at structural repairs.
Call Guardian Mosquito & Pest Control and schedule an inspection. We know Montgomery homes and we know termites. Let us walk through your house and tell you what we find.
