Are those termite mud tubes in the garage?

If you suspect you have termites, don’t wait to act. The sooner you get rid of termites, the better for your property and your wallet. Termite mud tubes indicate you likely already have termite damage. Getting rid of termites and other unwanted pesky pests is what the professionals at Budget Brothers Termite are trained to do.

What Are Termite Mud Tubes?

Termites make different types of mud tubes:

• Drop – You’re not likely to see these here in Arizona, but they can be found in crawlspaces. They hang from the wood to the ground.
• Exploratory – These are short but branch out in several directions. These tubes are aptly named because they are used for reconnaissance. If the termites find wood, they reinforce the exploratory tube and make it a working tube.
• Free-standing – You’re not likely to see these. They’ve been built from the soil to the wood.
• Swarming – This is like an airport tarmac. As they leave the colony, swarming termites “launch” themselves from the tubes.
• Working – These are the most common and are usually on foundation walls. They can be inside or outside your garage or house. If they are constructed in a wall crack, they may be difficult to spot. They will look like a tiny bit of packed dirt.

To look for termite tubes, inspect the outside of your home and garage. Look along the bottoms, near the foundation. If you see lines of mud, about pencil width (but they can be as wide as one inch), you likely have or had a termite problem. 

Once you’ve spotted termite mud tubes, you need to know if you have an active colony. Don’t tap the tubes and try to knock them down. Remove a small section from the middle of one. Then, check back 2-3 days later. If the section’s been rebuilt, you have an active termite colony.

Signs You Have A Termite Infestation

Termite mud tubes are just one sign of a termite infestation. Most people don’t walk around their homes and garages, tapping on the walls. But a “hollow” sound in one or more spots is a good indicator you have a termite infestation.

Watch for:

• Crumbling baseboards/wood – Dry rot has occurred from termite damage.
• Discoloration – Sheetrock or wall stains can indicate one of two critical problems (water or termite damage).
• Doors/windows jamming – Suddenly your door or a window seems uneven and is difficult to open/close.
• Mud tunnels – The tunnels are how termites commute between their home and your home.
• Peeling paint – When paint “bubbles” or peels, you may have moisture damage from termites.
• Sagging floors – You already have structural termite damage.
• Termite trails – This is like a map on your wall of where termites have traveled.
• Tiny drywall holes – Termites have “eaten through” wallpaper or drywall.
• Wings – Small piles of discarded wings near windows and doors indicate you have a termite colony-at-work.

Budget Brothers Termite & Pest Elimination

Most Phoenix and Maricopa County property owners have preventive termite inspections every year. This is a sure-fire way to stop termites before they can damage your property.

It’s difficult to find pest control companies that offer termite warranties here in Arizona. That’s because termites are so often an inevitability. Budget Brothers Termite warranty will increase your property value because it shows lenders and buyers you’re a diligent homeowner.

Call Budget Brothers Termite & Pest Elimination today to schedule a termite inspection.