Visible mud tubes running up the exterior foundation wall
Steps
- Photograph every tube with something for scale, then break a 5 cm (2-inch) section out of one tube and check it in a few days: a repaired tube means the colony is active.
+5 more steps in the full guide
Stop and call a pro if
- always — any active tube is a call to a licensed pest-control company; your part is the inspection, the moisture and the wood-to-soil contact
Rules in the US: Termiticides are restricted-use in most states; a licensed applicator applies the soil barrier and issues the treatment record lenders ask for at resale.