Signs of Termites in a House, and What to Do

Termites work quietly. They eat wood from the inside, so a door frame or a cupboard can look fine for a long time while the damage grows behind the surface. In a humid climate like Kerala’s, termites are a real concern for homes of every age, so it helps to know the early signs.

Signs to look for

• Mud tubes. Thin tunnels of mud, usually the width of a pencil, running up walls, along skirting or from the ground to wooden parts. Termites use them to travel without drying out.
• Hollow-sounding wood. Tap door frames, window frames, skirting boards and furniture. Wood that sounds hollow or papery may be eaten from within.
• Discarded wings. Small, thin wings lying near windows, doors or lights, often after the first heavy rains. They are left behind by winged termites that have started a new colony.
• Tiny droppings. Very small pellets, like fine sawdust or grains of sand, near wooden items or in small piles below them.
• Damaged paint or wallpaper. Bubbling, peeling or uneven surfaces on walls and woodwork, sometimes with a faint maze of lines underneath.
• Soft or sagging wood. Floors that feel spongy, or shelves and frames that bend under light pressure.

What to do if you see them

1. Do not break the mud tubes or pour things on them. This can scatter the termites and make the problem harder to treat.
2. Take clear photos of what you see and where, so a technician can judge how far it has spread.
3. Move valuables and paper away from the affected area. Termites also eat books, cardboard and fabric.
4. Fix any leaks or damp patches. Moisture draws termites in, and treatment works best when the building is dry.
5. Call a professional for an inspection. Surface sprays rarely reach the colony, and the damage you cannot see is the part that matters most.

How to lower the risk

• Repair leaking pipes, roofs and taps quickly, and keep damp areas ventilated.
• Keep wood and cardboard off the ground and away from walls.
• Do not leave timber offcuts or old furniture stacked against the house.
• If you are building, ask about pre-construction termite treatment. It protects the structure from the start, while the building is still open.
• For an existing home, post-construction treatment targets termites already in or near the building.

When to get help

If you have found more than one of these signs, or the same sign keeps coming back, it is time for an inspection. Homezy Cleaning Care offers pre-construction and post-construction termite treatment, termite eradication and general pest control with eco-safe pesticides. Termite control comes with a 5-year warranty, and we give you the written terms before the work starts.