Signs of Termites in Your Walls: The Clues Hiding Behind the Paint
About the Author: Jameson Elam is the owner and operator of Good Sense Termite, serving Alameda, Santa Clara, San Mateo, and Santa Cruz counties. With over 14 years of hands-on experience in the termite control industry, Jameson specializes in thorough inspections, accurate diagnostics, and long-term solutions tailored to California homes. His deep knowledge of local termite behavior and building structures has made Good Sense Termite a trusted name for homeowners and real estate professionals alike.
The signs of termites in walls are bubbling or peeling paint, faint cracks, sunken winding lines under the paint, tiny pinholes with pellet-like droppings below them, thin mud tubes, and a hollow sound when you tap. Not every wall gives you a clue, and some of the clues look a lot like water damage. Here's what to look for, what it means, and what not to do when you find it.
Look at the surface first
Termites rarely announce themselves. They work inside the wall and leave small hints on the outside. Check these, especially along baseboards, window frames and the bottoms of walls:
Bubbling or peeling paint. It can look like a moisture problem, which is exactly why people ignore it.
Faint cracks or patches that resemble water damage, with no leak you can find.
Sunken, winding lines just under the paint or paper. Run your hand across the wall. You may feel a slight ripple before you see anything.
Warped or sagging spots in the wall surface.
Pencil-tip pinholes, sometimes with tiny pellets underneath.
Small, clean-edged "kick-out" holes, often in groups or near the base of the wall. Drywood termites push their droppings out through them.
Thin mud tubes along walls or baseboards. These typically point to subterranean termites.
Shed wings on windowsills, baseboards or door frames, left behind after a swarm.
A wall that looks fine is not a clean bill of health. Drywood termite colonies are small, often under 1,000 insects, and take years to mature, so they are easy to miss until swarmers or droppings show up.
Know what the droppings look like
Drywood termite pellets are elongated, with rounded ends and six flattened sides separated by faint ridges. They look more like sand or coffee grounds than anything alive. If you find a pile under a tiny hole, that is worth a photo.
Pellets alone don't prove the colony is active, and they don't tell you how far it has spread. Vibrations can move old pellets around. Sweeping them up and checking again in a few days can hint at activity, but it is not a diagnosis.
Listen to the wall
Tap the wall with a knuckle. A hollow sound where it used to feel solid is a flag. Some people also hear faint clicking or soft rustling inside walls, most noticeable at night and in warmer months. Quiet doesn't mean clear, though, and plenty of infestations make no noise you can hear.
Watch the outlets
Termite activity in a wall cavity can sometimes show up as an outlet that stops working for no clear reason, or one with discoloration or moisture. If you see that, don't poke around. Call a qualified electrician and a termite inspector. Our post on how termites damage electrical wiring explains why.
Don't patch it, don't paint it
The instinct is to sweep up the pellets, fill the holes and repaint. That hides the evidence and leaves the termites exactly where they were. Termites are patient. They will outlast your paint job.
Some damage mimics other problems. Compare it with wood rot and carpenter ant damage, and see our guide to what termite damage looks like and how to stop it.
Get a professional to confirm
Drywood termites live deep inside wood, so a professional inspection is the reliable way to know. In California, an inspection involves at least a visual search of the accessible areas, and finding a hidden infestation can mean opening a wall.
At Good Sense, the inspection is free. That's our thing, not an industry norm. Take photos of whatever you found, note where it was, and bring it along. Seen something odd near your baseboards? Don't wait for the termites to leave a note.
See bubbling paint, pinholes or a pile of pellets? That's what the free inspection is for. It's just good sense. Book your free inspection.
Frequently asked questions
What are the signs of termites in walls?
Look for bubbling or peeling paint, faint cracks, sunken winding lines under the paint, tiny pinholes with pellet-like droppings below them, thin mud tubes, shed wings and a hollow sound when you tap the wall. No single sign proves termites, so a professional inspection is the way to confirm.
What does termite damage look like in drywall?
It often looks like water damage: bubbling or peeling paint, small stained patches, faint cracks, or warped and sagging spots. You may also see sunken, winding lines just under the paint or paper, or feel a slight ripple when you run your hand across the wall.
Can you hear termites in walls?
Sometimes. Some people hear faint clicking or soft rustling inside a wall, mostly at night and in warmer months, and a tapped wall may sound hollow. Hearing nothing doesn't mean the wall is clear, so don't rely on sound alone.
Is bubbling paint always a sign of termites?
No. Moisture and leaks can cause similar damage, which is why an inspector confirms the cause. If you can't find a leak and the paint keeps bubbling, have the wall checked.
What should I do if I find termite pellets or tiny holes in a wall?
Don't patch the holes or repaint, because that hides the evidence without stopping the termites. Take photos, note the location, and book an inspection. Sweeping up the pellets and checking again in a few days can hint at whether termites are active, but it is not a diagnosis.
How do inspectors find termites inside walls?
In California, an inspection includes at least a visual search of the accessible areas. Because drywood termites live deep inside wood, confirming a hidden infestation can mean opening a wall.
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