How to Get Rid of Termites

The short answer

If you find termite swarmers, mud tubes, recurring piles of hard pellets, or wood that sounds hollow, schedule an inspection with a licensed termite company. Do not make a can of spot spray your first move. Termites feed inside wood or travel through concealed tubes, and the visible evidence may be far from the main activity.

The inspection needs to answer two questions: are termites active, and are they subterranean or drywood termites? The answer changes the treatment. Subterranean termites are managed through the soil or with a monitored bait system. Drywood termites live inside wood above ground, so treatment may target accessible wood or the entire structure. This is usually a professional job because finding every active area matters as much as choosing the pesticide.

First, confirm that the signs fit termites

A winged insect near a window is not enough by itself. EPA distinguishes termite swarmers by their straight antennae and wings that are roughly equal in length. Winged ants have bent antennae and front wings longer than the hind wings. An indoor termite swarm strongly supports calling for an inspection. Shed wings near windows and doors are another clue.

Look for these signs without tearing into the structure:

• Earthen tubes on concrete, masonry, piers, or wood. These shelter tubes point toward subterranean termites. A tube that looks empty does not settle whether the infestation is active.
• Hard, uniform pellets below small openings in wood. Drywood termites push fecal pellets out of their galleries. Document the pile, clean the area, and watch for pellets returning. Old pellets can shift and fall after the termites are gone.
• Wood damage that follows the grain. Subterranean termite galleries often contain soil or dried mud. The surface can remain intact even when the wood underneath has been hollowed.
• Blistered or sunken finishes. Hidden feeding can leave ripples or depressions in drywall or wood, but an inspector still needs to open or probe the right area to confirm the cause.

Save a specimen or clear photo if you can. Do not discard the wings, pellets, or damaged trim before the inspection. The evidence helps the inspector identify the termite and decide where to look next.

Subterranean versus drywood termites

Subterranean termites

Subterranean termites live and breed in soil and usually reach a building through concealed paths or shelter tubes. EPA identifies native subterranean termites as the most common termites affecting US structures. Moisture, foundation cracks, plumbing penetrations, and wood close to soil can make access easier.

Treatment usually involves a liquid termiticide applied to soil around relevant parts of the structure, termite bait stations, or a plan combining methods. A drywood treatment such as whole-structure fumigation does not control a subterranean colony in the soil. The company must inspect the foundation and construction details before proposing where treatment belongs.

Drywood termites

Drywood termites establish colonies inside relatively dry wood and do not need a connection to soil. Their pellets and kickout openings may be the only visible signs. Because the insects remain deep inside wood, an inspector can miss hidden colonies if access is limited by walls, siding, height, or stored belongings.

A localized treatment can make sense when the activity is confined to accessible wood and the full extent is known. When colonies are scattered or hidden, whole-structure treatment may be the more reliable option. UC IPM notes that spot treatment depends heavily on accurate detection, while whole-structure treatment reaches accessible and inaccessible infestations at the same time.

Why termite control is usually a pro job

Termite work is not the same as treating ants along a baseboard. An effective subterranean treatment can require knowledge of foundations, crawlspaces, slabs, utility penetrations, and hidden entry routes, along with drilling and soil-application equipment. Drywood work has the opposite problem: the colony may be sealed inside wood that cannot be inspected from the room.

EPA warns that an improperly applied barrier treatment may fail and can contaminate the home or nearby drinking-water wells. Many termite products also require trained application and careful compliance with the label. UC IPM does not recommend do-it-yourself treatment for drywood termites, and its subterranean guidance says homeowner termite pesticides are generally ineffective.

That does not mean every proposal is equally good. The professional still needs to show where the evidence is, identify the termite type, explain why the treatment fits the structure, and describe what happens if activity returns.

What a useful termite inspection should cover

A termite inspection should go beyond confirming a damaged board. Ask the inspector to examine accessible foundation areas, crawlspaces, attics, exterior wood, plumbing penetrations, and the rooms where you found evidence. Some parts of a structure may be inaccessible without removing finishes or using ladders and other equipment. The report should say what could not be inspected rather than treating those areas as clear.

Before agreeing to treatment, get a written explanation of:

• the evidence of active or past infestation
• whether the evidence fits subterranean or drywood termites
• where activity and visible damage were found
• which areas were inaccessible
• the proposed treatment and the area it covers
• the pesticide label, preparation steps, and reentry instructions
• monitoring, retreatment, warranty terms, and exclusions
• whether wood repair is included or priced separately

Get competing inspections and estimates when the situation allows. The University of Kentucky recommends comparing methods and warranty terms, not only the sales pitch. Avoid a company that pressures you to sign immediately or will not show the evidence behind its recommendation. Verify the company and applicator licensing with your state pesticide regulatory agency.

What treatment actually looks like

For subterranean termites, the main choices are a liquid soil treatment and bait stations. A correctly applied liquid treatment creates a treated zone where termites travel between soil and the structure. Baits use cellulose food with a slow-acting active ingredient that termites carry through the colony. Baiting is gradual and requires continued inspection and station maintenance. Ask which method fits the foundation, where it will be applied, and how the company will check the result.

For drywood termites, the choice is usually between localized treatment and whole-structure treatment. Localized work may include treating or replacing accessible infested wood. Whole-structure fumigation is used when activity is widespread or hidden and requires occupants, pets, and plants to leave during treatment and aeration. Heat is another professional option in some structures, but reaching the core of large timbers and areas that lose heat can be difficult. Neither approach repairs wood that has already been damaged.

A proposal should not merely name a treatment. It should connect that treatment to the termite type, the location of evidence, the building design, and the areas that can or cannot be reached.

What you can do around the house

Prevention work supports professional treatment, but it does not eliminate an established infestation.

• Fix plumbing and roof leaks, and keep gutters and drainage working so soil beside the foundation stays as dry as practical.
• Correct obvious grading problems that send water toward the house.
• Keep crawlspace and foundation vents open and unobstructed.
• Remove direct wood-to-soil contact where practical, including buried scrap wood and untreated posts attached to the structure.
• Store firewood away from the house rather than against an exterior wall.
• Seal foundation cracks and gaps around utility penetrations with a material suited to the opening.
• Trim dense vegetation away from the structure so the foundation can be seen and inspected.

Do not drill into slabs or walls and inject a pesticide based on a guess. You can miss the route, spread product into the wrong space, and make the later inspection harder. Follow the product label for any pesticide used around the home.

When to call a pro

Call a licensed termite professional when swarmers emerge indoors, shelter tubes appear on the structure, drywood pellets return after cleanup, or structural wood shows hidden galleries or hollow areas. Also call if a home inspection raises a termite concern that affects a purchase, sale, or planned renovation. Construction can expose damage that was not visible from the room.

After treatment, keep the written report, product label, diagram, and warranty together. Follow the monitoring schedule in the agreement and continue periodic inspections. Treatment stops termite activity. Moisture repair, replacing damaged wood, and keeping the foundation visible are separate parts of preventing the next problem.