Overview
A small pile of pellets below a window is worth showing an inspector. It cannot tell you on its own if termites are active in the wall or how much wood is harmed. An inspection puts the clue in a written report and names areas that need a closer look.
Why This Matters
UC IPM says drywood termite pellets cannot tell you if a colony is active or how far it reaches. State reports list pest signs apart from things that may draw pests in. These limits help an owner ask about hidden spaces and the next step.
1Document signs from a safe position
Take photos of pellets, shed wings, possible mud tubes, damaged wood, or wet spots where you find them. Note the date and exact room or outer wall. Leave a sample or the area in place for the inspector when you can. Do not break open a wall, climb onto a roof, or enter an unsafe crawl space.
- Tell the inspector about leaks, wood touching soil, past treatment, and repairs you know about.
- Point out access panels and rooms that require a tenant or manager to arrange entry.
- Ask which areas the inspector can reach and which may be closed off.
2Know what the written finding covers
A California wood-destroying pest report names the building checked and lists pest signs apart from things that may draw pests in. You can ask for a separate Section I and Section II report when you book the visit. Section I covers evident infestation or infection and related damage. Section II covers conditions likely to lead to it where those signs were not found. The report must name areas not checked and call for a closer look where practical. Read each finding with its place and proposed work.
The report cannot rule out pests in hidden wood. In a small 2014 simulated study of drywood termite signs, seven people using a borescope made more identification errors in insulated wall voids. The device can add a view, but that study does not validate a negative result for an actual house.
Ask why an area could not be checked and what access would be needed. Keep the report with later repair and treatment records.
3Ask how the treatment matches the evidence
Drywood and subterranean termites leave different signs and may need different treatment. Ask which kind was found, where the signs were seen, and how far the inspector can trace them. A local treatment covers a set area; a broader one has a different reach. Ask what each choice treats, what it cannot confirm, and how follow-up will be logged. Leave termite chemicals to a licensed pro.
- Ask for the place and reason behind each proposed treatment or repair.
- Ask which leak or access issue still needs repair if treatment is chosen.
- Keep the report, proposal, and completion documents together so later inspectors can compare them.
- If the proposal relies on a hidden-area finding, ask what was observed directly and what remains an inference.
4Use the report for the decision at hand
An owner may be planning repairs, a buyer may be weighing a sale, or a manager may need to open more than one unit. The report helps each one find the signs and any areas left unchecked. Ask which papers your sale or property process needs. California law does not require an inspection for every home sale. Read any written guarantee for its scope and term.
Key Takeaways
- 1Record signs with a date and location without opening unsafe or concealed areas.
- 2Pellets and wings are clues; they do not establish all active or hidden termite damage.
- 3Read Section I, Section II, and inaccessible areas as separate report findings.
- 4Compare treatment proposals by pest, evidence, scope, limitations, and follow-up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a pile of pellets mean the termites are active?
Not by itself. UC IPM says pellets do not establish current activity or the extent of a drywood termite infestation. A qualified inspection can assess the location and other evidence.
What does Section II mean?
In a separate report you request when ordering the inspection, Section II lists conditions likely to invite pests where evidence was not found. Read its location and proposed work. Section I lists evident infestation or infection and related damage.
Does a clear report cover hidden spaces?
An inspection reports what can be observed in accessible areas. Ask about any area that could not be inspected and whether further access is recommended.
Can I find an earlier inspection report?
The California Structural Pest Control Board lets you search for property inspections in its Wood Destroying Organism System from the past two years. If a result appears, you can request a copy of the report from the Board.
Sources
- Drywood Termites: inspection and management limits · UC Statewide IPM Program
- Subterranean and Other Termites: signs and management · UC Statewide IPM Program
- Business and Professions Code section 8516: inspection reports · California Legislature
- How to search for termite inspection information · California Structural Pest Control Board
- Sutherland AM, Tabuchi RL, Moore S, Lewis VR. Borescope-aided inspection may be useful in some drywood termite detection situations. Forest Products Journal. 2014;64(7-8):304-309. doi:10.13073/FPJ-D-13-00087 · Forest Products Journal
Have questions about your specific situation?
Tell us what you have found. An inspection can help identify the issue and the next step.