Arizona is termite country, and every home I inspect gets checked for them. Here’s what I look for, so you can spot the warning signs at your own place too.
Mud tubes are the giveaway
Subterranean termites can’t handle our dry heat. To travel between the soil and the wood they eat, worker termites build shelter tubes out of dirt and waste that hold moisture in and keep sunlight out. If you see thin brown tubes running up a foundation, stem wall or garage wall, that’s your first clue. Break a piece open: if nothing moves, it may be old activity, but it still needs a professional look.
Termites follow moisture
Termites need water as much as they need wood, and a leak gives them a reason to stay. These are the spots where I find them most often:
- Attics with past roof, AC or evaporative cooler leaks
- Under whirlpool tubs, where moisture and wood supports sit side by side
- Walls near leaky windows or pool equipment
- Old sheds and fence posts
- Stucco where the weep screed has been buried or covered up
Older homes need extra attention
In historic downtown Phoenix and older Tempe neighborhoods, I often find attic boards that look fine on the outside but are hollow inside. Many older roofs also weren’t ventilated properly until a later reroof, which keeps the attic more humid. Severe damage can weaken the roof structure, and sometimes the sellers know about it but haven’t fixed it.
What you can do
- Fix roof, plumbing and AC leaks quickly.
- Keep soil, rock and mulch below the weep screed at the bottom of your stucco.
- Aim sprinklers away from the foundation.
- Get a termite inspection before you buy.
Free termite inspection with every home inspection
Every home inspection with Property Inspections Plus includes a termite (WDO) inspection at no extra charge, plus a 1-year termite warranty through Firehouse Pest Control in Gilbert when no active termites are found. Watch the video above or see it on YouTube, then book your inspection online or call 623-399-0079.
Property Inspections Plus is a Gilbert, AZ home inspection company led by Certified Master Inspector Dan Pierce. We inspect homes across the East Valley, the Phoenix metro and the rest of Arizona. See all of our service areas.
