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Termite Control: A Recent Job & Some Homeowner Tips

Category: Holiday

Published: 01 Sep, 2026

By Jerry, Owner, Extermatrim Exterminating, Inc

What I Walked Into

September in Southwest Louisiana is a good time to pay attention to termites. We may be past the heavy spring swarming period, but that does not mean termite activity has stopped. With the moisture and warm weather we deal with around here, termites can stay active around a property without homeowners seeing much at all.

I recently got a call from a homeowner in Jennings who had noticed something unusual near the back of the house. While cleaning around a small storage area next to the laundry room, they found a narrow dirt-looking line running up from the floor near the baseboard.

When I arrived, they showed me the exact spot. The line looked like termite activity, so I started checking the surrounding area before disturbing anything.

Nothing looked severe from the surface, but with termites, what you can see is not always the full story.

The Problem

The difficult thing about termites is that they can stay out of sight for a long time.

Unlike ants or roaches, you are not necessarily going to see termites walking across the kitchen or moving around the house every day. Most of their activity happens inside the soil, behind walls, or within the wood itself.

At this home, the mud tube near the baseboard was the first obvious warning sign. When I checked the area more closely, I found that termites had been traveling from the soil near the foundation and had made their way toward the structure.

I checked the nearby trim and baseboard for signs of damage. One small section felt softer than the surrounding wood, so I looked more closely to determine how far the activity had gone.

Outside, the drainage situation helped explain why that part of the house was attractive to them. Water from the roof had been collecting near the foundation after heavier rain instead of moving away from the structure. The soil stayed damp longer than the rest of the property.

The homeowner was understandably concerned once I explained what I had found. Their first question was whether the termites had already caused major damage.

Thankfully, we had caught the activity before I saw signs of a much larger problem.

The Process

Before starting treatment, I walked the homeowner through what I had found and explained what needed to happen.

I started by checking the affected areas carefully to get a better idea of where the termites were traveling. I inspected the foundation, the area around the back wall, nearby baseboards, and other places where moisture or wood-to-soil conditions could create problems.

Once I understood where the activity was concentrated, I treated the necessary areas to address the termites and protect the structure.

That is an important difference. Removing a mud tube does not remove the termite problem. If the termites still have access from below, they can simply build another route.

After the treatment was completed, I turned my attention to the conditions around the house.

The treatment was one part of the job. Making the property less favorable for future termite activity was just as important.

The Outcome

When I finished, the homeowner said they felt a lot better about the situation.

What had worried them most was not knowing how much damage might be hidden behind the wall.

Once I had inspected the surrounding areas and explained what I was finding, they had a much clearer idea of what they were dealing with.

When I followed up, there were no new mud tubes in the area we had treated, and the homeowner had already started working on the drainage problem near the back of the house.

That is one of the useful things that can come from catching a termite problem early. Once homeowners know what to look for, those small warning signs are much easier to recognize.

DIY Advice I Shared

There are a few things I recommend homeowners around Southwest Louisiana keep an eye on between professional termite inspections:

1. These usually look like narrow dirt lines running from the soil toward the structure. If you find one, do not assume wiping it away solves the problem.

2. Check gutters, downspouts, and low areas after heavy rain. Soil that stays wet against the foundation can create favorable conditions for termites.

3. Keep firewood and other wood materials away from the structure and, when possible, raised off the ground.

4. If soil or mulch is pushed too high against the siding, it can hold moisture and make it harder to see termite activity along the foundation.

5. Baseboards, doorframes, window trim, and other wood that suddenly feels soft, hollow, or different from the surrounding material should be checked.

None of these checks require much time. The important thing is knowing what is normal around your property so you notice when something changes.

"It's brighter than before!"

— Megan

Professional Insight

Termites are one pest where I do not recommend judging the size of the problem by what you can see.

A small mud tube does not necessarily mean a small colony. In the same way, removing the damaged piece of wood or spraying the spot where activity appeared does not tell you where the termites are coming from.

When I inspect a home for termites, I am looking at the structure and the conditions around it. I want to know where moisture is collecting, where termites may have access from the soil, whether there are signs in other areas, and whether any wood has already been affected.

That is why proper termite control is more than treating one visible spot.

Around Southwest Louisiana, our warm and humid conditions mean termite prevention needs ongoing attention. Regular inspections give us a chance to catch changes before homeowners end up discovering damage after it has had a long time to develop.

Closing Thoughts

The homeowner in Jennings did the right thing by paying attention to something that looked out of place instead of wiping it away and forgetting about it.

That small dirt line near the baseboard was enough to tell us there was activity worth investigating.

That is what I would tell any homeowner in Southwest Louisiana. You do not need to become an expert on termites, but if you notice mud tubes, soft wood, discarded wings, or anything else that seems unusual, have it checked rather than guessing.

With termites, finding the problem earlier usually gives you more options and a much better idea of what is actually happening.