I was performing an annual drywood termite inspection in Encinitas, California for a property just a mile from the beach. The owner had a termite warranty in place, and as part of that coverage, I was back to make sure nothing new had popped up.

Annual inspections come with a bit of a rhythm. You start with the previous report, re-check known hotspots, and look for any signs of new activity. Sometimes there’s nothing new, sometimes there’s a little. As an inspector, I always hope to find something—it shows the service is doing its job.

This time, the property manager followed me closely during the inspection. Understandable—it’s his job to protect the building. And unlike many homeowners who prefer we skip their living areas, he wanted every room inspected.

A Surprising Find in a Living Room

Most inspections focus on eaves, attics, garages, and crawlspaces. That’s where termite activity tends to show up first. But in this case, following his lead, we made our way through every interior space—including an upstairs living room.

That’s where I spotted a small pile of termite droppings near a baseboard.

I expected to find the source right there—but the baseboard was solid. No kick-out holes, no softness, no obvious infestation.

Looking closer, I moved a nearby couch and noticed more droppings in the indentation the sofa leg left in the carpet.

Sure enough, when I flipped the couch over, I found tiny holes in one of the wooden footings. And inside one of those holes? Live drywood termite workers.

The entire colony had made a home in that one small piece of varnished wood—a block about the size of a whiskey glass.

Can Termites Infest Furniture?

Yes. While indoor furniture is generally less vulnerable than structural wood—especially if it’s finished and dry—wood with unfinished sections (in this case the bottom of the footing) can absolutely be infested.

What Happened Next

Since the infestation was accessible, I was able to spot treat the furniture and eliminate the colony. No further action was needed—but it served as an important reminder:

You can’t assume anything in a termite inspection.
Even when you think you’ve seen it all, something new always pops up.

This is why annual inspections, especially under a termite warranty, are so valuable. Sometimes the damage isn’t in the walls or roof beams—it’s sitting right there in the living room.