To the untrained eye — or ear — a piece of termite infested wood can appear undamaged. But deception is how termites manage to thrive and survive in the wild. They work in darkness, silently munching away, rarely breaking the surface of the wood they feed on. But if you know what to look for, the signs of termite infestation become all too clear.

If you are struggling to identify the presence of termites on your property, and suspect that you might need professional termite control, look for the following signs.

1. Bubbling wood

Because termites very rarely break the surface of the wood they are feeding on, to protect themselves from predators, they can be impossible to detect. But termites like to work in humid conditions, which they create inside their galleries and mud tunnels. This humidity, along with their eating habits, causes the surface of infested wood to bubble up.

2. Sagging wood

In structures like doors, window frames and wooden beams, a common sign of infestation is sagging. Since termites eat the insides of wooden beams, sills or doors, sagging begins to occur due to the lack of remaining support.  

3. Soft wood

To confirm that you have termites inside a piece of wood, touch the item of wood with your fingertips. If the wood is soft to the touch, termites may be, or may have already been, feasting on the inner portion of the item.

4. Wings and mud tunnels

Look for discarded wings in the area too. Scattered wings indicate that termite swarmers might have exited a nest somewhere inside your home. These swarmers leave a termite nest to mate. They don't fly for very long but once they have done so, they seek out a mate, discard their wings, and search for a nesting site.

5. A crackling sound

You can hear termites munching away at a piece of wood if you listen carefully. If you hear what sounds like crackling, like the gentle rustle of plastic coming from a piece of wood, that is a good indicator of a hungry colony of worker termites.

6. A hammering sound

Finally, to confirm without a doubt that a piece of wood contains termites, tap on the wood in question with something. If you hear a sudden and frantic hammering coming from within the wood, that is the sound of termite soldiers warning the workers of danger. This confirms without a doubt that termites are inside a piece of wood. Your next step is to call a termite control service.

Once termites find a rich source of wood to sustain their colony, they won't leave unless you make them leave. To do that, you'll need the help of a professional termite control service. If your home is under attack by termites, call a termite control service ASAP.