Found Termites in the House? What to Do First in the East Valley

If you found termites in the house, the first steps are simple: do not spray them, take clear photos, note exactly where you found them and get an inspection. Subterranean termites feed from a colony in the soil, so what you see indoors is only the visible end of the problem. Peterson Pest Management inspects homes across the East Valley and arranges and manages treatment when it is needed.

What finding termites inside usually looks like

Most people do not find a pile of termites. They find one of these:

• Winged insects or wings indoors. Swarmers near a window or door, or a small pile of discarded wings on a sill.
• Mud in the wrong place. Small mounds of mud packed into cracks in wood or along baseboards.
• Damaged wood. Trim or framing that sounds hollow or feels soft when tapped.
• Paint changes. Sagging or bubbling paint on wood surfaces near the foundation.

Step 1: Do not spray

It is tempting to grab a can and spray what you see. A hardware-store spray almost never reaches the colony feeding your home from the soil below. Leaving things as you found them also makes it easier to see where the activity is coming from.

Step 2: Take photos and note the spot

Take a few clear photos, close up and from a step back so the location is obvious. Write down the room and the spot, such as a bedroom window, a bathroom baseboard or the garage wall. If you can, keep a few of the wings or insects in a sealed bag. You can text a photo to our team.

Step 3: Check the outside of the same wall

Walk outside to the wall closest to where you found the sign. Look along the stem wall and foundation for mud tubes, thin pencil-width tunnels of dirt running up from the soil. Check the garage, any piers and under a porch.

If stucco runs below grade, the foundation line may be hidden, so not finding a tube does not rule out activity.

Step 4: Make sure it is termites

Flying ants swarm too. A termite swarmer has a thick waist, four wings that are all the same length and straight antennae. A flying ant has a pinched waist, wings of two different lengths and bent antennae. If you are not sure, send the photo.

Step 5: Get an inspection

Termite work at Peterson starts with an inspection of the property, inside and out, looking for mud tubes, swarmers, damaged wood and anything else pointing to activity. You get a straight explanation of what was found and where, in plain language. If treatment is needed, it is arranged and managed on your behalf, so you have one point of contact.

How worried should you be?

Left alone, subterranean termites keep feeding on wood, and the damage adds up over time. The damage is usually gradual and hidden behind drywall or under flooring. That means two things: it is worth acting soon, and one sign indoors is not a reason to panic.

While you wait

• Move firewood or lumber stacked against the house.
• Pull wood mulch back from the stucco line.
• Note any fence posts, arbors or edging sitting directly in soil.
• Leave tubes and damaged wood in place for the inspection.

These are conditions termites are drawn to, and pointing them out is part of what an inspection covers.

After it is handled

Once the active issue is addressed, termite signs are folded into your regular pest service, so monitoring happens during visits you are already having.

Termites in the house FAQ

Should I spray the termites I found?

No. A surface spray almost never reaches the colony in the soil. Take photos and get an inspection.

Does a swarm inside mean my house has termites?

A swarm at or near your home is worth a call. An inspection shows where the activity is.

How can I tell termites from flying ants?

Termites have a thick waist, equal-length wings and straight antennae. Flying ants have a pinched waist, uneven wings and bent antennae.

Will termites damage my home?

Left alone, yes. The damage is usually gradual and hidden, which is why acting on early signs matters.

Termite help across the East Valley

See the termite control page, or contact our team to set up an inspection in Gilbert, Mesa, Chandler, Queen Creek or Phoenix.