You found termites — what to do and how serious it is

This article is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Local codes, regulations, and best practices vary by region.

You found termites or you suspect you found them. Your initial reaction is panic because termites have a reputation for being catastrophic, and that reputation is partially deserved. Termites do damage wood. They do require professional treatment. But finding them is not an automatic disaster. The key is acting immediately and understanding what you’re dealing with.

Termites are insects that eat cellulose—plant fiber. Wood is cellulose. Termites live in the soil and build tunnels through wood as they feed. The damage they cause is real. Walls can become structurally compromised. Floor joists can weaken. The problem is serious. But it’s manageable with prompt professional treatment.

Start by confirming you actually have termites. Termite signs include mud tubes on foundation walls, visible swarmers (winged termites that appear seasonally during mating flights), actual termites (pale colored, ant-like insects), visible wood damage with galleries or tunnels, and frass (termite droppings that look like sawdust). Subterranean termites are the most common in North America. They live in the soil and require soil contact. They build mud tubes to reach wood above ground. Drywood termites are less common and live inside wood without needing soil contact. Subterranean termites are more of a structural threat but also easier to treat because treatment targets the soil.

The moment you suspect termites, call a pest control company for inspection. Most offer free inspections where they’ll identify what you have, assess the extent, and explain what needs to happen. Don’t attempt to treat this yourself. Termite treatment requires expertise and equipment homeowners don’t have.

The pest control company will identify the termite type and look for damage. They’ll check the foundation, look for mud tubes, inspect accessible wood framing, and assess how widespread the problem is. This inspection typically costs nothing. Treatment costs vary based on severity—$500 to $3,000 or more depending on how extensively termites have infested your home.

Treatment approaches vary by termite type. For subterranean termites, soil treatment involves applying termiticide to the soil around the foundation, creating a barrier that kills termites crossing it. Baiting systems place bait stations in the soil where termites encounter them, feed on bait carrying slow-acting poison, and carry it back to the colony. Baiting is slower but effective. Spot treatment involves direct application of termiticide to areas of active infestation. Professional treatment usually combines approaches.

Once treatment begins, the pest control company will monitor the situation. This is not a one-time fix. Monitoring over weeks and months ensures the treatment worked and no new termites are entering.

Structural damage assessment comes next. Depending on how long termites have been active and how extensively they’ve damaged wood, you might need structural repairs. A pest control company or structural engineer can assess the damage. Some wood damage is cosmetic or minimal. Some is serious and requires reinforcement or replacement of damaged members. The cost of repairs depends on what’s damaged—could be minimal or could be thousands of dollars.

Prevention is important after treatment. Keep wood away from soil contact (use metal posts instead of wood posts for decks and structures). Fix moisture issues that attract termites. Remove dead trees and lumber piles from your property. Keep gutters clean so water doesn’t pool around the foundation. Maintain good grading so water flows away from your house. These steps reduce the conditions termites need.

Be aware that most homeowner’s insurance policies don’t cover termite damage. Some policies cover treatment costs but not the damage termites cause. Check your policy and understand your coverage. This is why prevention is important.

The timeline for treatment and confirmation of success is several weeks to months. Don’t expect instant results. Treatment works by eliminating the colony, which takes time. You might see continuing termite activity for a while after treatment starts. This doesn’t mean it’s failing. Give the treatment time.

Don’t delay acting on suspected termites. The longer you wait, the more damage occurs. But also don’t panic. Termite infestations are serious but treatable. Millions of people deal with them and recover. The ones who struggle are the ones who ignore the problem and let it continue unchecked.

Call a pest control company today. Get the inspection. Understand what you’re dealing with. Make a treatment decision and commit to it. Monitor the situation. Assess damage. Make repairs as needed. Then implement prevention to keep termites out going forward.

Termites are serious but not insurmountable. Swift action, professional treatment, and patience through the process gets you through this.

© The Whole Home Guide