How to get rid of termites.

So you think you have a termite problem.

Step 1: You find signs of a termite infestation. 

Termite damage might not be visible right away. Most people notice termites when they see swarmers — winged termites that pile up by the windowsills in your house when colonizing termites try to get out — or when they notice dropped wings from termites that have burrowed into the walls.

You might also notice frass (salt-and-pepper colored termite droppings) or mud tubes along a home’s walls or foundation. There might be hollowed out wood that you can’t see, because termites will eat through wood but not paint, according to Mark Winter, a Top Pro on Thumbtack and pest control expert in Cincinnati, Ohio.

“Termites can eat a baseboard almost completely gone and you don’t even know you have them because they didn’t break the surface," he says. "You’ll touch it and it’ll cave.”

Step 2: You confirm that termites are the problem. 

There are three main types of termites: drywood, dampwood and subterranean. Each type of termite colony includes workers (who eat your house), soldiers (who defend others from predators such as ants) and swarmers (flyers who locate new places to colonize).

Most termites range from between ¼ inch to ½ inch in length. Drywood termites commonly have a brown body with a reddish head. Swarmers have sheer, tan wings — although there are color variations. Workers are pale, tan and look like maggots, with no wings.

Dampwood termites are similar to drywood termites, often with a tan or brown body and sheer wings. These workers also resemble maggots. Subterranean termites are smaller than their above-ground brethren with black bodies and sheer wings for the flyers. The workers are smaller, white and maggot-like.

Step 3: A pest control professional inspects your home. 

If you find a single termite wing in your home, it doesn’t necessarily mean there’s a colony living there. But if you see a group of shed wings, or you notice wood that feels unusually soft, bubbles in your paint or floorboards that feel like eggshells, you should get a professional inspection. A pro can trace termite activity and figure out where the termites live.

“Generally, the colony is not in your house,” says Mark. “Termites can be out in your yard or they can be in a rotten tree. They’ll go in the house, eat what they want, and then come back out and feed the colony. I’ve even seen termites eat the plumbing in a pool because of the cellulose in the PVC pipes.”

Step 4: You decide on treatment methods. 

You need to kill the termite nest to take care of the problem. Many termite exterminators will use bait stations with a specific termite bait that termites will eat, bring back to the colony, and over time, kill all the termites.

A professional can set the baits for you and come back to check them, refresh them if needed and confirm that all the termites are dead. They can also treat any wood where termites have burrowed. 

Step 5: Repair the damage (and make sure they never come back). 

Get a home inspection to see how much damage termites have really caused. Depending on where your termite problem was and how bad it got, you may need either some light fixes or a structural renovation.

Mark recommends that any termite treatment include an outdoor barrier treatment. An in-soil chemical application is one of the most effective ways to keep termites from coming back. These treatments are long-lasting and kill any insect that tries to cross the barrier, including not just termites but also ants. Have it checked every once in a while to make sure it’s still working as planned. 

Top termite control mistakes. 

Mistake #1: Spot killing termites without wiping out the colony. 

Termite control only works if you kill termites where they live. Pest control experts say that cleaning up termite wings and frass without tracking down the colony — or just spot-killing termites — won’t fix the problem.

A related mistake is waiting too long to call in a pro (even if just for an inspection). Termites will only burrow deeper and deeper, given the chance, and they’ll multiply, increasing the costs of labor and materials to get rid of them completely. Don’t wait. 

Mistake #2: Using DIY termite control traps or other natural methods.

You need professional help to kill termites for good. Only a pest control expert will know how to identify different termite species, pick the right baits and chemicals to destroy the nest, and keep the termites from coming back. They’ll help you identify entry points where termites are burrowing in and actually shut off those access points long-term. 

>>Get free estimates. Here are the best termite control services near you.

Mistake #3: Overestimating how much damage termites have caused. 

“Termites don’t eat your whole house in one season,” says Mark. “They might eat maybe an inch. It might sound like a big deal, and it is — but it’s not going to consume your whole house. It’s nothing that can’t be fixed.” 

Mistake #4: Forgetting about termite prevention. 

Some simple preventative measures can save you a lot of money on damage control. First, keep in mind that termites won’t eat through paint. Make sure that you don’t have peeling paint or cracks where they can sneak in.

Keep foundation gaps caulked and sealed. Don’t let leaking water lead to soggy wood that may draw termites in. Keep your crawl space dry with proper ventilation to keep out moisture-loving subterranean termites.

If you’re concerned that you may already have termites, schedule an inspection.

How much does termite treatment cost? 

A termite infestation will always get worse, never better — meaning it’ll get more expensive the longer you ignore it. According to the EPA, homeowners spend over $2 billion every year treating termites. An untreated termite infestation can cost tens of thousands of dollars as the house gets eaten from the inside out by these wood-consuming pests. You’ll need to spend more to kill them and to fix any damage they’ve caused. 

A termite control company can help eliminate an existing colony and protect your home from further damage. The price can vary depending on how much square footage needs to be treated, what kind of termites you have, what spaces they’re in (your foundation, crawl spaces, different kinds of slab foundations), and whether you want treatment outside. If the termites are really deeply embedded in your house, you may need to get multiple treatments, which means you’ll need multiple visits from an exterminator. 

Costs usually include labor, materials (pesticide) and any related business overhead of the company. Some termite control companies charge by the square foot, particularly if the job is straightforward — like a pre-construction preventative treatment or to treat a house and foundation for a full infestation.

Professionals use a variety of different termite treatments, including fumigation (the entire house is enclosed in a tent and gassed), pesticides (chemical poisons are applied topically or drilled into the house) and solutions that are naturally poisonous to termites such as concentrated orange oil applied by a licensed professional. 

Ask your termite control professional if they offer a warranty. It can protect you if termites return again within a stated period of time. A professional contract should spell out exactly what is and is not included in the total cost of treatment.

For more, see “How much does termite treatment cost?” 

Who to hire to help with a termite infestation.

Kill the termites, keep them from coming back and repair the damage. You can find pros on Thumbtack:

• Termite exterminator
• Pest control 
• Termite inspection
• General contractor 
• Outdoor pesticide application
• Home inspection
• Foundation repair 

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