Take these steps to visually inspect for termites

Q: Do I have to call a professional termite inspector just to check for the possibility of these pests around my house? Or can I inspect the house myself? — Chuck M., Dothan, Ala.

A: While it’s advisable to call in a professional once a year to fully inspect your home for termites and related damage, you can do a cursory inspection on your own to check for ongoing damage in between inspections.

Summer is the party season for termites, as the hot and humid weather expands and softens wood and invites these creatures to feast nonstop. Normally, they’ll swarm into the neighborhood in the spring, and settle in for the hottest months. A termite infestation can devastate all wooden materials in your home and even cause extensive structural damage if left unchecked.

Follow the steps below to visually inspect your home for termites. If any evidence of an infestation is found, contact a professional immediately: Don’t try to knock these bugs out yourself.

•Start at the bottom: the foundation. Check the masonry outside and inside and look along the pipes that run through the foundation for “dirt tunnels” — thin lines of dirt running along exposed surfaces. Look for hollow “dirt rings” in the masonry, where termites have tunneled through.

•Look for termites themselves, huddled in masonry cracks or crumbly areas, or for their nests, which look like dirt formations. Use a flashlight, magnifying glass — whatever is on hand to improve the view.

•Examine all wood features of the house, starting at the wood closest to the ground. If you spot a rotten or decayed area (on painted wood, a blister or peel may be found over this type of spot), use a pocketknife or pick to poke into the area. If the blade penetrates the wood by more than half an inch, the area may have been damaged by termites. Use the same inspection and testing technique on windowsills, door frames, stairs, fences and any other wooden building material in the house.

Again, even if you do this visual check, schedule an annual inspection with a professional. He or she can spot potential trouble zones much more quickly. If during your own inspection you find evidence of termites, call in a professional to do a more thorough inspection and to get an estimate of the cost to exterminate these pests.