Key takeaways
- Termites work in hidden spaces and the signs they leave behind are subtle.
- Over-the-counter sprays and surface treatments will not solve a termite problem.
- The cost of ignoring a termite infestation far exceeds the cost of prevention and early treatment.
Termites cause an estimated $6.8 billion in property damage in the United States each year, according to 2024 data from the Virginia-based National Pest Management Association. Most homeowner's insurance policies do not cover the damage because it is considered preventable with regular inspections and maintenance. That makes early detection the single most important thing a homeowner can do to protect their property.
The problem is that termites are rarely obvious. They live inside walls, beneath floors and underground. By the time most homeowners notice something is wrong, the colony has been feeding on the home's structure for months or even years. While termites are most active in spring and summer, they can pose a problem year-round.
Knowing the early signs of an infestation and responding quickly can save thousands of dollars and prevent serious structural damage.
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How to recognize the signs of a termite infestation
Termites are not like ants or roaches. You are unlikely to see them crawling across a countertop. They work in hidden spaces, eating wood from the inside out, and the signs they leave behind are subtle enough that many homeowners mistake them for water damage, aging or normal wear.
Mud tubes. Subterranean termites, the most common and most destructive species in the country, build pencil-width mud tubes to travel between their underground colony and the wood they are feeding on. They look like thin lines of dried mud running vertically from the ground toward the wood framing of the house. If you see them, the colony is active and has an established path into your home.
"Termites need constant moisture to survive and build mud tubes to travel inside," said Jeff King, president of The Pest Rangers in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.
Look in crawlspaces and basements, because the heavy moisture of those areas is very appetizing for termites, he said. Leaky gutters, heavy vegetation and mulch against the foundation are also inviting, he said.
Hollow-sounding wood. Tap on baseboards, door frames, windowsills and any exposed wood with the handle of a screwdriver. Solid wood produces a firm, dense sound. Wood that has been hollowed out by termites sounds papery or empty. In advanced cases, pressing a finger or tool against the surface will cause it to break through because only a thin outer shell remains.
Blistering or bubbling in wood flooring. Subterranean termites feeding beneath hardwood floors can cause the surface to warp, blister or buckle. Many homeowners assume this is water damage because the appearance is similar. If there is no plumbing leak or moisture issue in the area, termites should be considered.
Frass. Drywood termites, which are more common in Southern coastal states, push their droppings out of the wood through small exit holes. The droppings, called frass, look like tiny pellets or sawdust and often accumulate in small piles on windowsills, along baseboards or beneath furniture. The pellets are uniform in size and shape, which distinguishes them from random sawdust.
Discarded wings. Reproductive termites, known as swarmers, leave the colony once a year to mate and establish new colonies. After landing, they shed their wings. Finding small, translucent wings near windowsills, light fixtures, doorways or on the floor is one of the most recognizable signs that a colony is nearby. Swarmers are often mistaken for flying ants. The difference is that termite swarmers have straight antennae, a thick waist and wings of equal length, while flying ants have elbowed antennae, a pinched waist and wings of unequal length.
Tight-fitting doors and windows. Termites produce moisture as they eat and tunnel through wood. That moisture can cause door frames and window frames to swell, making doors and windows harder to open or close. This is another symptom commonly attributed to humidity or seasonal changes when termites are the actual cause.
Sagging floors or ceilings. In advanced infestations, structural members like floor joists, ceiling joists and support beams lose enough material to begin sagging under load. If a floor feels soft or bouncy in an area where it did not before, or if a ceiling appears to dip, the structural wood may be compromised.
What to do if you suspect an infestation
Contact a licensed pest control company that specializes in termite treatment. Most will conduct a free or low-cost inspection of the property.
During the inspection, the technician will examine the interior and exterior of the home, the foundation, the crawl space or basement, the attic and any areas where wood contacts or is close to the ground.
Get inspections from at least two or three companies before committing to a treatment plan. Each company should provide a written report describing the type of termite, the extent of the infestation, the recommended treatment and the cost. Compare the reports carefully. If one company recommends a significantly more or less aggressive treatment than the others, ask why.
If you are buying a home, preparing a wood-destroying insect report is a standard part of the due diligence process in most states. Some lenders require it before approving the loan.
"The best way to become aware of any pests living in the home you want to purchase is by having a professional home inspector include it in their services," said Chuck Gravely, vice president technical standards and development at Pillar to Post Home Inspectors in Tampa, Florida. Because a wood-destroying organism invasion can go undetected for years, the damage can be significant when finally discovered. By that time, the structural integrity of the home may be compromised, he said.
If you are a current homeowner, schedule an inspection every one to two years even if you have not noticed any signs. The cost of a routine inspection is minimal compared to the cost of repairing damage from an infestation that went undetected.
Do not treat the problem yourself. Over-the-counter sprays and surface treatments will not reach the colony, which may contain hundreds of thousands or even millions of termites living underground or deep inside the walls. A surface spray may kill a few visible insects, but it does nothing to stop the colony from continuing to feed.
What treatment costs and how exterminators handle the problem
The cost of termite treatment depends on the size of the home, the severity of the infestation, the type of termite and the treatment method used. According to HomeAdvisor, the national average cost for termite treatment ranges from about $275 for a localized treatment to $900 or more for a whole-home treatment. Severe infestations or large properties can push the cost to $2,500 or higher. Fumigation, which involves tenting the entire house with a gas treatment, can cost $1,200 to $2,500 or more depending on the size of the structure.
Liquid barrier treatment. This is the most common method for subterranean termites. The exterminator digs a shallow trench around the foundation of the home and applies a liquid termiticide to the soil. The chemical creates a continuous barrier that kills termites as they pass through it on their way between the colony and the house. In some cases, holes are drilled through concrete slabs, patios or porches to inject the termiticide beneath the surface. The treatment typically lasts five to 10 years depending on the product.
Bait stations. Bait systems use plastic stations installed in the ground around the perimeter of the home at regular intervals. Each station contains a cellulose material laced with a slow-acting chemical. Termites feed on the bait and carry it back to the colony, where it spreads and gradually eliminates the population. Bait systems require ongoing monitoring, usually on a quarterly basis, and are often sold as annual service contracts.
Fumigation. This method is used primarily for drywood termites, which live entirely inside the wood and are not reachable with soil treatments. The home is sealed with a tent, and a gas, typically sulfuryl fluoride, is pumped inside. The gas penetrates the wood and kills termites throughout the structure. Occupants, pets and plants must be removed for two to three days. Fumigation is the most disruptive and expensive treatment option, but it is the most effective method for eliminating drywood termite colonies that have spread to multiple areas of the home.
Localized or spot treatment. For small, isolated drywood termite infestations, an exterminator may inject a termiticide directly into the affected wood or apply a foam treatment. This is the least expensive option but is only appropriate when the infestation is limited to a defined area.
Most pest control companies offer warranties or service agreements that cover retreatment if termites return within a specified period. Ask about the terms, length and transferability of any warranty before signing a contract. If you plan to sell the home, a transferable warranty can be a selling point.
What a termite infestation can do to your home
Termites feed on cellulose, the organic fiber found in wood and wood-based materials. A mature subterranean termite colony can consume roughly one foot of a two-by-four in six months, though rates vary depending on the species, the size of the colony and environmental conditions. That may sound slow, but colonies grow over time and the damage is cumulative.
The structural damage begins long before it becomes visible. Termites eat wood from the inside, leaving the outer surface intact until it is too thin to support any weight. Floor joists, wall studs, roof rafters, sill plates and support beams are all targets. When these structural members lose enough material, the systems they support begin to fail. Floors sag. Walls shift. Ceilings dip. In extreme cases, sections of the structure can collapse.
Beyond framing, termites can damage subflooring, hardwood floors, door frames, window frames, cabinetry, trim and any other wood or wood-composite material in the home. They can also damage drywall by tunneling through the paper facing.
Repair costs depend on the extent of the damage. Minor repairs, such as replacing a section of baseboard or a damaged door frame, may cost a few hundred dollars. Replacing structural members like floor joists or sill plates can cost several thousand dollars and may require temporary shoring while the work is done. Extensive structural damage to a home's framing can cost $10,000 to $30,000 or more to repair, and in rare cases the damage may be severe enough to affect the home's habitability.
The financial impact extends beyond repair costs. A home with a history of termite damage or an active infestation will face more scrutiny during a sale. Buyers may demand a lower price, require treatment and repairs as a condition of closing or walk away entirely. Disclosure laws in most states require sellers to report known termite damage or infestations, and failing to disclose can result in legal liability after the sale.
The most effective defense against all of this is routine inspection. Catching an infestation early, before structural damage accumulates, reduces the cost of treatment and eliminates the need for major repairs. A $100 to $200 inspection every one to two years is a small price compared to the alternative.
"Remember, your home is your most valuable asset," said King. "Termites cause more damage than fires each year. The cost of a treatment and annual warranty is much less than a burglar alarm for the year, yet many people have a home alarm and not termite protection."