- 1). Check your window sills for signs of a termite infestation. When termites start a new colony, they will shed their wings, according to Colorado State University Extension. A common place to find wings is the window sills. If you have spider webs in corners of your house, check these for wings.
- 2). Look for termite mud tubes. These are often exploratory tubes built on the surface of housing materials, such as concrete, brick, plaster or wood. Look between cracks of building materials, too, such as cracks between bricks. According to the University of Nebraska--Lincoln, these tubes often travel about 3--5 feet up from the ground, but may be higher than 15 feet above ground. Use a flashlight to closely inspect the whole perimeter of your house, outside and inside.
- 3). Focus your search for termite damage on areas that they are most likely to infest. Exterior walls are vulnerable, as are porches, decks and the surrounding area. Termites also tend to cluster around moisture areas, so look for leaky pipes or signs of water damage.
- 4). Tap wood paneling, door frames, baseboards and similar areas with the handle-end of a screwdriver. Listen closely to the noise it makes. Does the noise sound dull or hollow? This may indicate the wood has been damaged underneath the surface, which may be a result of termite activity.
- 5). Thump exposed wood that you suspect may be damaged with tool-end of a flathead screwdriver. Apply the blade to the wood parallel to the wood's grain. If the blade goes into the wood with a light thump, the wood has likely been damaged by termites.
- 6). Examine your walls for signs of rippling or "looseness" in the paint or wallpaper. If termites have damaged the wall, the paint or wallpaper on top may appear raised or rippled.
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