What Are These Weird Brown Tubes on My Foundation in Spring Hill?
You noticed something along the base of your foundation that was not there before. Or maybe it has been there for a while and you just never knew what it was. Thin brown tubes running up the concrete block, along the base of the wall or disappearing behind a bush near the house. They look like someone built tiny tunnels out of dirt and they are stuck to the surface of your foundation like they belong there.
They do not belong there. Those are termite mud tubes and finding them on your Spring Hill home means subterranean termites have been actively working on your property.
What Mud Tubes Actually Are
Subterranean termites live in the soil. They cannot survive exposure to open air for long because they dry out and die. So when they need to travel from the soil to the wood in your home they build mud tubes to protect themselves during the journey. The tubes are made from soil, wood particles and termite saliva and they provide the dark humid environment termites need to survive while they move between their underground colony and their food source inside your home.
Mud tubes are not random. Every mud tube on your foundation is a highway that termites have been using to travel between the soil and the wood in your structure. Where there is a mud tube there are termites actively using it or termites that were recently active in that area.
The Different Types of Mud Tubes and What They Mean
Not all mud tubes look the same and the differences tell you something about what is happening.
Working tubes are the most common. They are active highways that termites are currently using to travel between the soil and the wood. They tend to be darker and more solid looking because they are being maintained by the colony. If you break a section of a working tube and come back in a day or two you will find it has been repaired. That repair tells you the colony is still active.
Exploratory tubes are thinner and more fragile looking. They branch out in multiple directions from the main tube as termites search for new food sources. Finding exploratory tubes means the colony is actively expanding and looking for more wood to feed on.
Drop tubes hang from wood surfaces above ground level down toward the soil. They look like stalactites made of mud and they indicate termites have established themselves in the wood above and are building a connection back to the soil. Finding drop tubes inside a crawlspace or along floor joists is a serious sign of an advanced infestation.
Old abandoned tubes are dry, crumbly and hollow. Breaking them open reveals nothing inside. These mean termites were active in that area at some point but may have moved on to another area of the structure. Old tubes do not mean the problem is resolved. They mean the colony has been present long enough to have already moved through that area.
Where to Look for Mud Tubes on Your Spring Hill Home
Most homeowners find mud tubes by accident. The colony has been working for months or years before the tubes become visible in an area people regularly look at. Here is where to check if you want to know what is actually going on around your home.
Check the exterior foundation all the way around the perimeter of the house. Get down and look at the concrete block or stucco at ground level. Check where the foundation meets the soil and any areas where soil has built up against the structure. Check around exterior utility penetrations where pipes and wires enter the foundation. Check inside any attached garage along the walls where they meet the floor.
Inside the home check along baseboards in every room especially in closets and utility spaces that do not get regular attention. Check inside crawlspaces if your home has one. Check the garage interior walls. Check around any plumbing penetrations under sinks and in bathrooms.
In Spring Hill and throughout Hernando County subterranean termites are extremely active year round because of the sandy soil and the warm humid climate. The sandy soil throughout this part of Florida is ideal termite habitat and colonies can grow large here faster than in many other parts of the country.
What to Do When You Find Mud Tubes
Do not break the tube and wait to see what happens as a test. Do not spray the tube with store bought pesticide. Do not ignore it because the tube looks old. Call us the same day you find mud tubes on your foundation.
Finding mud tubes means termites have been working on your property long enough to establish a travel route between the soil and your home. The inspection will tell you whether the colony is still active, how long it has been there and whether it has already found its way into the wood framing of your home. Our Spring Hill termite treatment starts with finding out exactly what you are dealing with before anything else happens. Call us and we will come out and give you a straight answer.