Your Annual Termite And Moisture Check: A Simple Routine For Bay Area Homes
- Jameson Elam
- 1 day ago
- 6 min read
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.
Why An Annual Termite And Moisture Check Matters
Most Bay Area homes do not fall apart all at once.They change quietly over years as seasons, soil, and small leaks do their work.
Termites and fungus follow those changes. They tend to appear:
Where water lingers
Where soil and wood touch
Where small repairs covered symptoms but not causes
A professional termite inspection gives you expert eyes.An annual homeowner check gives you awareness between those visits.
This post outlines a simple, once-a-year routine that any careful homeowner can follow. It will not replace a licensed inspection, but it will help you:
Notice changes early
Record patterns over time
Decide when it is time to call in a professional
You do not need special tools. You need a bit of time, a notebook, and a willingness to look at the parts of your home people usually ignore.
When Should You Do Your Yearly Check?
For most Bay Area homes, once a year is a reasonable rhythm.Two good windows are:
Late winter to early spring: Soil is still moist from rain, and early termite or fungus signs may be easier to see.
Late summer to early fall: You can compare what winter moisture did and how things dried out.
Choose one month and stick with it each year so your notes line up seasonally. Many owners find it easiest to pair this check with another annual task such as changing smoke alarm batteries or servicing the heating system.
Step 1: Walk The Perimeter Carefully
Start outside. You are looking for how soil, water, and structure relate to each other.
Bring:
A notepad or notes app
Your phone for photos
Walk slowly around the house and look for:
1. Soil Levels
Ask yourself:
Can you clearly see the top of the foundation, stem wall, or concrete base?
Are there places where soil, bark, or gravel sit at or above the lower edge of stucco or siding?
Make a note of:
Any spots where soil appears higher than last year
Areas where garden projects or new landscaping have raised the grade
High soil and buried stucco are classic Subterranean termite access points.
2. Planters, Beds, And Wood In Contact With The House
Look closely at:
Planter boxes that touch the wall
Raised beds built against stucco or wood
Steps, fences, or trellises attached directly to the structure
Record:
Where wood touches soil and structure at the same time
Where wet soil is trapped against siding after rain or irrigation
3. Concrete, Patios, And Walkways
Check:
Where concrete slabs meet the house
Any cracks or gaps at those joints
Settling or sloping that sends water toward the foundation instead of away
Note areas where:
Water tends to pool during storms
You see staining or dark marks at the base of walls
These details help you and any inspector understand how water behaves on your lot.
Step 2: Look At Decks, Stairs, And Exterior Wood
Decks, exterior stairs, and trim often tell you more about risk than a random wall.
For each deck or set of stairs, look at:
Where the deck connects to the house
Any posts embedded in soil or in contact with wet surfaces
The underside of boards if you can safely see them
You are checking for:
Wood that appears dark, cracked, or crumbly at the base
Any signs of old patchwork or recent replacement in isolated spots
Gaps between flashing and siding at the connection point
Note anything that looks different from the rest of the structure. Repeated repairs or localized damage often show where moisture and insects have been active for a while.
Step 3: Do A Slow Pass Through The Interior
Inside, your goal is not to examine every baseboard. It is to notice changes that match how the structure is behaving.
As you walk each room, pay attention to:
1. Floors
Ask yourself:
Do any spots feel softer, spongier, or more uneven than you remember?
Are there cracks in tile that do not match normal movement lines?
Be especially careful around:
Bathrooms
Kitchens
Laundry rooms
Doorways near exterior walls
Mark locations where floor feel has changed since last year. Soft spots and unusual bounce can point to subfloor or framing issues.
2. Walls, Trim, And Windows
Look at:
Baseboards and lower wall corners
Window sills and trim, especially in older frames
Areas where past repairs or patches are visible
Note:
New cracks that match areas of moisture concern outside
Any peeling paint, swelling, or discoloration in lower wall sections
Small piles of pellets, dust, or debris that return after cleaning
One item by itself may not be significant. Patterns are.
3. Odor And Humidity
Use your nose as well as your eyes.
Ask:
Does any room or closet smell persistently musty, even when aired out?
Does one part of the house feel more humid than the rest?
Persistent musty odor in a specific zone often points toward longer term moisture, not just a recent spill.
Step 4: If You Have A Crawlspace, Make A Reasoned Choice
Crawlspaces hold valuable information, but they also carry safety considerations. If access is tight, the ground is muddy, or you are not comfortable, do not force it. That is work for a licensed professional.
If you do have safe, reasonable access and choose to look:
Check for:
Standing water or obvious past water lines on piers and posts
Mud tubes on foundation walls or piers
Wood that appears dark, stringy, or crumbles easily
Insulation that is fallen, soaked, or stained
Record:
Which side or room is above any problem you see
Whether the same area had issues in prior years
You are not expected to diagnose anything. You are simply noticing what exists.
Step 5: Review Your Notes From Previous Years
The real value of an annual check is not one year of notes. It is the comparison across time.
Once you finish this year’s walk:
Pull out last year’s notes if you have them
Compare soil levels, moisture areas, and any small issues you wrote down
Look for spots that repeat or slowly worsen
Patterns to pay attention to:
The same room, deck, or side of the house shows up in your notes more than once
A small concern you noted last year is clearly more pronounced
New signs inside line up with exterior moisture or grading concerns outside
This is the point where simple observations turn into useful information.
When Should Your Notes Turn Into A Call?
An annual check does not mean you should handle everything on your own. It is a filter that tells you when to involve a professional.
It is reasonable to contact a licensed termite company if:
You see mud tubes, pellets, or wings that match known termite signs
You find repeated soft flooring or sagging in one area
Crawlspace or perimeter moisture never fully resolves between seasons
Your notes show the same area appearing year after year
For Bay Area homes that are not in active escrow, Good Sense Termite offers inspections at no cost. For homes in escrow, we provide fee based inspections that meet real estate and lender requirements.
When you schedule, share your notes. A good inspector will use them to focus the visit and verify what you have observed.
FAQ: Homeowner Termite And Moisture Checks
Q: Does an annual homeowner check replace a professional termite inspection?No. A homeowner check helps you notice changes and patterns. A professional inspection uses training, tools, and access techniques you are unlikely to have. Both have value, and they work best together.
Q: What if I am not comfortable entering the crawlspace?
That is completely reasonable. Focus on the exterior, interior, and any visible lower walls. A licensed inspector can evaluate the crawlspace as part of a formal visit.
Q: How often should I schedule a professional termite inspection if I am doing my own yearly check?
Many Bay Area homeowners find that a professional inspection every couple of years is sensible, or more often if the home is older, has a history of leaks, or sits in a higher risk zone. Your annual notes can help decide the right interval.
Q: What should I bring to a professional inspection from my own checks?
Bring your notes, photos, and any records of past repairs or leaks. Point out areas that show up repeatedly in your own observations. This helps the inspector focus on the most important zones.
Final Thoughts: A Small Habit With Long Term Benefits
An annual termite and moisture check is not complex, but it is easy to ignore.
Over time, making these annual checks a habit can:
Give you a clearer sense of how your home is aging
Help you catch early signs before they become expensive repairs
Make your professional inspections more focused and efficient
If your latest walk raised questions about what is happening under or around your home, you do not need to guess.
Schedule an inspection with Good Sense Termite. We will connect your observations with what we see in the structure and help you decide what, if anything, needs to happen next.
It's just Good Sense.
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