Termite Control: The Complete Guide to Detection, Treatment, and Prevention

Termites are the most destructive pest in America, causing over $5 billion in property damage annually - more than fires, floods, and storms combined. The average termite damage repair costs $3,000-$8,000, and homeowner's insurance typically doesn't cover it. Early detection and prevention are essential.

Types of Termites

Subterranean termites: The most common and destructive type. They live in underground colonies and build mud tubes to access wood above ground. Found across the entire US except Alaska. Cause over 90% of all termite damage in America. Drywood termites: Live inside the wood they eat, without soil contact. Common in coastal and southern states (California, Florida, Gulf Coast). Often found in attic framing, furniture, and door/window frames. Produce distinctive pellet-shaped droppings (frass). Formosan termites: A type of subterranean termite that forms massive colonies (millions of individuals vs. hundreds of thousands for typical subterranean). Found primarily in the Southeast and Hawaii. Can cause catastrophic damage in months rather than years.

Signs of Termite Activity

Mud tubes: Pencil-width tubes of mud running up foundations, walls, or piers. These are highways subterranean termites build between their underground colony and wood food sources. Break a tube open - if it's repaired within days, the colony is active. Swarmers: Winged termites emerging in large numbers, usually in spring. They look similar to flying ants but have straight antennae, equal-length wings, and a thick waist (ants have elbowed antennae, unequal wings, and pinched waists). Wood damage: Wood that sounds hollow when tapped, or that's visibly damaged with a honeycomb or layered pattern inside. Termites eat wood from the inside out, so damage may be extensive before it's visible on the surface. Frass (drywood only): Tiny wood-colored pellets piling up below infested wood. Drywood termites push their droppings out through small holes in the wood.

Treatment Options

Liquid barrier treatment: The most common treatment for subterranean termites. A trench is dug around the foundation and filled with termiticide (Termidor is the industry standard). Creates a continuous chemical barrier that kills termites on contact and through colony transfer. Lasts 5-10 years. Cost: $1,200-$2,500 for an average home.

Bait stations: Plastic stations installed around the perimeter contain cellulose bait laced with a slow-acting toxin. Termites eat the bait and share it with the colony, eventually eliminating the queen and the entire colony. Takes 3-12 months to eliminate a colony but kills it completely. Cost: $800-$1,500 initial + $200-$400/year monitoring. Sentricon and Advance are the leading bait systems.

Fumigation: Required for drywood termites (which liquid barriers can't reach because they don't contact soil). The entire home is sealed in a tent and filled with sulfuryl fluoride gas. Kills all termites inside the structure. You must vacate for 2-3 days. Cost: $2,000-$5,000+.

Prevention

Eliminate wood-to-soil contact around your home's foundation. Fix all moisture issues (leaky pipes, poor drainage, clogged gutters) - termites need moisture to survive. Remove wood debris (stumps, firewood, construction scraps) from near the foundation. Maintain a 6-inch gap between mulch and your home's siding. Schedule annual termite inspections ($75-$150) even if you don't see signs of activity. Consider a termite bond (ongoing protection contract) from a pest control company - typically $200-$400/year and includes annual inspection plus treatment if termites are found.