7 Warning Signs of Termites in Los Angeles Homes

1. Hollow-Sounding Wood

Tap on baseboards, door frames, and window sills with a screwdriver handle. If it sounds hollow or papery instead of solid, termites may have eaten the wood from the inside out. This is the most common sign in Burbank and Glendale homes built before 1980.

2. Frass (Termite Droppings)

Drywood termites — the dominant species in the SFV — push their droppings (called "frass") out of tiny kick-out holes. Look for small piles of what looks like sawdust or coffee grounds along baseboards, window sills, and in corners. Frass is wood-colored and granular, unlike smooth sawdust from construction.

3. Discarded Wings

During swarming season (typically spring and early summer in Southern California), reproductive termites fly out to start new colonies. After swarming, they drop their wings. Finding piles of identical-sized translucent wings near windowsills, doors, or light fixtures is a clear sign of an active colony nearby.

4. Mud Tubes on Foundation Walls

Subterranean termites build pencil-width mud tunnels along foundation walls, in crawl spaces, and around plumbing penetrations. These tubes protect them from dry air as they travel between the soil and your home's wood. Properties in Encino and Tarzana with slab foundations and raised planters are particularly vulnerable.

5. Bubbling or Cracked Paint

Paint that looks water-damaged — bubbling, peeling, or cracked — when there's no moisture source can indicate termites feeding just beneath the surface. The paint becomes a thin shell over hollowed-out wood.

6. Tight-Fitting Doors or Windows

Termite activity can cause wood to warp as galleries are excavated, making doors and windows suddenly hard to open or close. While this can also be caused by humidity changes in Valley homes, it warrants investigation.

7. Visible Termite Damage in Attics

Termites often enter through the roofline and attack attic framing first. During your annual attic inspection, look for wood that appears grooved, carved, or honeycombed. This is especially important in Woodland Hills and Calabasas where hillside homes have complex rooflines with many entry points.

What to Do If You Find Signs

1. Don't disturb the evidence. Avoid spraying or cleaning frass and tubes — the inspector needs to see them.
2. Get a professional inspection. Most SFV pest control companies offer free or low-cost termite inspections. Get free quotes →
3. Get multiple opinions. Treatment recommendations can vary widely. Compare at least 2-3 quotes.
4. Ask about warranties. Quality termite treatments come with multi-year warranties and annual re-inspections.

San Fernando Valley Termite Control Services

• Termite Control — Burbank
• Termite Control — Sherman Oaks
• Termite Control — Studio City
• Termite Control — Glendale
• Termite Control — Encino