Visible mud tubes running up the exterior foundation wall — San Francisco, California
Pencil-width mud tubes running vertically up a foundation wall are highway tunnels built by subterranean termites to travel safely from soil to wood. Even a single tube means an active or recently active colony is feeding on your home's framing. Breaking a tube open may reveal live workers inside. A pest-control technician inspects the full perimeter, probes accessible wood for hidden damage, identifies the species, and applies targeted treatment — typically a liquid termiticide barrier or bait-station system — then schedules follow-up monitoring to confirm the colony is eliminated.
Who to call
For this problem in San Francisco, call a: Ongediertebestrijder
Vind een Ongediertebestrijder in San FranciscoSymptoms to look for
- Brown or tan pencil-width mud lines climbing the foundation wall
- Tubes reappearing within days after you scrape them off
- Soft or hollow-sounding wood where the tubes reach the sill plate
- Swarms of winged termites near windows or doors in spring
- Small piles of discarded wings on windowsills or the garage floor
Spoeddienst in San Francisco
Emergency home services in San Francisco are available 24/7 at premium rates — expect $150–$300+/hour for after-hours plumbing or electrical, the highest tier in the US. Response times average 45–90 minutes given hilly terrain and parking scarcity. Always verify an active CSLB license and proper DBI permits.