Can Termites Go Away on Their Own?

If you have a termite problem, you may be hoping that it will just disappear by itself. 

It is highly doubtful that termites will go away on their own. Pests will not leave your home unless there is nothing left for them to eat there. And since your home is their food source, termites will not willingly leave. 

Why Won’t Termites Leave on Their Own?

Pests get into your home for a number of reasons. 

Some get trapped inside by accident, while others are looking for a place to warm up. 

Most of these insects will leave your home as soon as they can. 

Termites, on the other hand, enter your house because it contains a readily available food source. 

In general, termites, bed bugs, and roaches are the most difficult insects to exterminate because our houses provide them with wood, blood, and food, respectively. 

And because they can get this sustenance in a house much better than they can in the wild, they overtake our homes and refuse to go back to a world where food is a constant struggle. 

Basically, what I’m saying is these types of pests will not just leave your home to go somewhere else. 

Instead, you must take steps to have them exterminated and your home protected against them. 

What if Termites Left on Their Own?

There is a slim chance that termites will leave on their own since nothing in nature is definite. 

However, if your termite infestation does leave, they probably haven’t gone far and will be back as soon as they rediscover your house. 

How Can I Tell if the Termites in My Home Are Gone?

Unfortunately, it can be difficult to tell if the termites in your home have disappeared since termites are great at hiding from people. 

Yet, there are a few methods to help you determine if your home is indeed termite free. 

There Is No New Termite Damage 

Of course, this is an obvious one, but if you don’t find any new damage in your home, your termite infestation may be gone. 

But, the thing is, it can be hard to spot termite damage since termites usually live inside your home’s framework. 

Yet, there are a few ways to determine if termites are eating away at your home. 

Signs of termite damage include: 

• Cracked paint 
• Bubbling paint that resembles water damage 
• Wood that sounds hollow when you tap it 
• Small holes in the drywall 
• Warped floorboards or spots that feel weak when stepped on
• Wood that looks like it has been chewed away or has suffered unexplained damage 

If you notice that any of these signs are getting worse, you probably still have an active infestation. 

But, if there doesn’t seem to be any new damage, you may be free of termites. 

You Don’t See Any Termites 

Although termites are often hard to spot, there are a few places you may be able to find them. 

And, of course, since termites love wood, you should first inspect any wood structures in your home and on your property. 

Don’t forget to look in your basement and attic, too, because termites like to stay hidden away. 

You should also check around the sides of your home for termites as well as along trees near your house. 

If you see any termites around your home, you probably still have an infestation. 

You No Longer See Termite Nests

You may have seen pictures of enormous termite mounds that look like towers. 

However, the types of termites that build these mounds are not common in the US. 

Instead, what you will see are smaller termite nests, which can vary in appearance depending on the species. 

In some species, the nests will appear as clumps of dirt with small holes throughout them. 

Other termites nest in wood, where they make visible tunnels. 

Yet, determining whether a termite nest is old or new can be tricky unless you actually see termites. 

So, the best thing to do is keep track of the termite nests in and around your home so that you know if they build any new ones. 

The Mud Tunnel Test 

Some termite species build mud tunnels, which you may see in or around your home. 

To determine if the tunnel is still in use, you just need to crack off a piece and then wait a few days. 

If the tunnel shows signs of repairs, termites are currently using it. 

But, if the tunnel looks the same after a few days, it is probably inactive. 

You Don’t Find Any New Termite Wings 

Within the termite colony are a class of termites called swarmers. 

These termites have wings, but they discard them once they find a mate. 

So, if you find new swarmer wings around your home, you still have a termite infestation. 

You Don’t Find Any New Termite Droppings 

Certain termites, such as the drywood termite species, leave piles of feces around where they live and eat. 

And if you see these piles, it is a direct indication of a termite infestation. 

Yet, if you have had termites for a while, you may already have these droppings around your home. 

Therefore, to find out if there are new piles forming, you should clean up all the droppings in your house. 

Then, if more piles show up, you’ll know there are still termites around. 

Remember, though, that not all termites leave piles of droppings. 

For instance, subterranean termites use their feces to make their mud tunnels. 

So, don’t think that you don’t have termites just because you don’t find any excrement. 

If I Don’t See Any Signs of Termites, Does That Mean They’re Gone?

Unfortunately, a lack of termite indications does not necessarily mean that the termites are gone. 

Termites are quite sneaky pests, meaning it can be pretty hard to spot them or their signs. 

Thus, don’t assume that just because you no longer see signs of termites, they are gone. 

It is best to call a termite professional so that they can determine whether there are still termites in your home. 

What Happens if I Don’t Treat Termites?

If you don’t treat the termites in your home and instead wait for them to go away by themselves, there is a good chance they will destroy your home beyond repair. 

Termites cause a lot of property damage in the US every year because they love to eat the wood that comprises most of our houses. 

Therefore, if you just leave termites to continue eating, they will eventually consume all the wood in your home. 

And when your home doesn’t have as much wood as it needs, it can start to cave in, which is dangerous to you and your family. 

Conclusion 

In the vast majority of cases, termites will not go away on their own. 

They want to stay in your home because there is a ready food source for them there. 

Yet, if they remain in your house for too long, they can cause significant structural damage. 

Therefore, you should try to exterminate termites as soon as you find them.