Visible mud tubes running up the exterior foundation wall — Chicago, Illinois
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 Chicago, call a: Ongediertebestrijder
Vind een Ongediertebestrijder in ChicagoSymptoms 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 Chicago
Emergency home services in Chicago are widely available 24/7, with typical response times of 30–60 minutes. After-hours rates range from $100–$200/hour. During polar vortex events, heating emergencies can see delays of 4–8 hours due to overwhelming demand. Illinois requires plumbing and electrical licenses for all work.