The short version
Most termite problems in Burbank are western subterranean termites, and the usual fix is a liquid soil treatment or bait stations. Drywood termites need fumigation or wood treatment instead. Start with an inspection; $75–$250 is typical.
- Look for mud tubes, shed wings and hollow-sounding wood.
- Swarms usually show up in spring.
- Drywood termites need wood treatment or fumigation instead.
- An inspection typically costs $75–$250.
- Insurance usually doesn’t cover termite damage.
Homeowners, landlords and anyone buying or selling a house in Burbank, whether you've spotted something or just want to know what to watch for.
What to look for
Spongy floors or bubbling paint usually mean long-running damage. So it's worth an inspection, even for one or two signs. Termites work quietly. A colony can feed inside a wall for years. Winters around Burbank stay mild, with average lows near 46°F, so colonies keep feeding all year.
- 1Piles of identical shed wings on windowsills.
- 2Live pale insects inside a broken mud tube.
- 3Winged swarmers indoors, especially in spring.
- 4Crumbling baseboards behind furniture.
- 5Wood that sounds hollow when tapped.
- 6Mud tubes running up foundation walls or piers.
Why it’s worth acting soon
- Colonies grow and spread every year they go untreated.
- Damage hides behind drywall, flooring and trim.
- Homeowners insurance usually doesn’t cover termite damage.
- An active infestation can complicate a home sale.
Treatment options and typical costs
Termite Inspection and WDI Report
$75–$250
The inspector checks the foundation, garage, attic and damp spots. Bring up anything you’ve noticed.
- Time
- 60–120 minutes
- Best for
- Every job, real estate closings, and yearly peace of mind
Liquid Soil Termiticide Barrier
$1,200–$3,500 (often $3–$16 per linear foot)
Where a slab or porch blocks the trench, the Burbank applicator drills holes and injects underneath. The goal is a continuous treated zone with no gaps.
- Time
- Half a day to a full day
- Best for
- Active subterranean termites; fast knockdown around the foundation
Fumigation for Drywood Termites
$1,200–$4,000 (often $1–$4 per square foot)
Fumigation tents the house and fills it with sulfuryl fluoride gas. For Burbank homes with drywood termites in several areas, it is the only way to reach every gallery.
- Time
- 2–3 days including tenting and aeration
- Best for
- Widespread drywood termites throughout a structure
Bait Station System with Monitoring
$1,500–$3,500 install, plus $300–$500 per year
Instead of a chemical barrier, baiting in Burbank removes the colony itself. Stations are checked on a schedule, commonly quarterly, and refilled.
- Time
- 2–4 hours to install; checked quarterly
- Best for
- Colony elimination, wells and slabs, homes near water
Prices are typical published ranges. Ask what’s included before you compare quotes.
Crawl spaces are where termites usually get in. Joists, piers and the sill plate should all get a close look.Which termites live around Burbank.
It needs steady moisture. It nests in soil and builds mud tubes to reach wood. The termite you're most likely to meet in Burbank is the western subterranean termite. Look for tiny piles of pellets that look like coarse sand. Drywood termites are common around Burbank as well, flying straight into attic framing, eaves and furniture without any soil contact.
Local termites conditions in Burbank.
An inspection in Burbank usually starts outside and works inward, checking the foundation, gaps around doors and windows, and any moisture or clutter near the structure first. Around Burbank, the area is mostly residential, so termites pressure can differ from one block to the next depending on how tight the entry points are and how much food, water, or shelter is close by. Burbank sits in a local climate, and that sets the pace for termite activity here: the warmer months. A provider who works Burbank and California every day can point out the specific conditions that matter most here, and getting the scope, price, and follow-up terms in writing makes it easier to compare options. Knowing Burbank's seasonal timing lets you schedule treatment before the busy stretch rather than after it, which usually means faster service and a more accurate quote.
Subterranean termites don't stop in winter; they just go deeper. A quiet season is a good time for a non-urgent inspection.When termites swarm here.
Save a few in a bag, or snap a clear photo. A swarm inside usually means it's in the house. A swarm outside means a colony is nearby. Drywood termites around Burbank tend to swarm in late summer and fall. Around Burbank, western subterranean termites usually swarm in spring, and again in fall after the first good rain. Swarm season is when termites show themselves.
Where to look around your house.
The same advice applies across the area, from Burbank out to Glendale and Los Angeles. Keep soil and mulch below the slab edge. Outside, watch for mud tubes behind shrubs. Look where pipes come through the floor. Check the garage edges and behind baseboards. Many homes in Burbank sit on concrete slabs, so termites come up through expansion joints, plumbing gaps and settlement cracks.
A year of termites in Burbank.
- Spring and fall: swarm seasons. Around Burbank, swarms often follow the first warm days and the first fall rain. - Winter: a good time to book an inspection in Burbank, before swarm season starts. - Fall: with about 21 inches of rain a year in Burbank, make sure gutters and downspouts carry water well away from the foundation. - Summer: with highs around 88°F in Burbank, termites follow moisture, so watch AC drain lines, sprinkler zones and hose bibs.
What happens at an inspection.
Inside, they check the garage, baseboards, plumbing gaps and the attic. They check the foundation, the soil line and nearby wood. The inspector walks the outside of the house first. Most inspections take an hour or two. Photos help. Afterward, ask them to show you what they found. A moisture meter and a probe help them find hidden activity. On a slab, they focus on joints, cracks and pipe gaps.
Termites or ants?
- Waist: termites are thick through the middle. Ants are pinched. - Wings: termite wings are all the same length. Ant wings aren’t. - Tunnels: termite galleries are packed with mud. Ant tunnels are clean and smooth. - Debris: termites leave mud. Carpenter ants leave sawdust. - Antennae: termite antennae are straight. Ant antennae bend like an elbow.
Getting ready for treatment day.
Move boxes away from garage walls. Clear a walking path along the exterior walls. Prep is light for liquid treatments and bait stations. Drill holes in slabs or patios get patched afterward. Keep kids and pets inside while the California crew applies the product, and ask how long to stay off treated soil. In California, Reticulitermes swarm in the afternoon in spring or fall on clear days after a soaking rain; drywood swarmers fly in daytime during summer and fall; Heterotermes aureus flies late afternoon/early evening in July–September (UC IPM). Flag sprinkler heads and buried lines.
Mulch and termites.
A dry gap along the house makes mud tubes easier to spot; in California's dry climate the risk is irrigation and leaky hose bibs rather than rain. Pull mulch back from the foundation and keep the layer thin. Wood chips touching the siding trap the moisture termites are after.
Questions to ask before you sign.
- What product or system will you use? - Which termites did you find, and where? - What do I need to do before and after treatment? - What does the yearly renewal cost? - What does the warranty cover, and for how long? - Is the whole foundation treated, or just one spot?
What affects the price
- Time of year and how booked up local companies are.
- Whole-house fumigation versus spot treatment.
- Species: subterranean, drywood, or Formosan.
- Warranty type: retreatment only or damage repair.
- Liquid barrier versus bait station system.
- Cubic footage under the tent for fumigation.
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What's your biggest concern about termites?
When to call for help
Termites leave mud. Carpenter ants leave clean tunnels and sawdust. It's also the cheapest termite service. Lenders often ask for one. Get a wood-destroying insect (WDI) report either way. Buying or selling? Hollow-sounding wood is another clue. Call if you see mud tubes, pellets or an indoor swarm.
What you can do yourself
Store-bought sprays usually kill only the termites you see. It also needs even coverage around the entire foundation. The product has to reach the whole colony. Treating an active colony is harder. Keep firewood away from the house. Fix leaks and clear gutters. Pull mulch back from the foundation. Some of the work is yours.
Termites in Burbank
Termite activity in California is above average. Most houses will see termites at some point. Like nearby Glendale, Burbank gets about 21 inches of rain a year, so termites gather wherever extra water collects, like sprinkler zones, hose bibs and AC drain lines.
Local research
Termites in Burbank, CA: what the public record shows
Before you compare quotes, it helps to know which termites actually live in California, when they are busiest around Burbank, and what the state figures look like. Everything below links to the agency or university page it came from.
Termite control products for drywood termites
Drywood and subterranean termite work in California is effectively professional-only; the state licenses it by branch.
UC Statewide IPM ProgramTermite species recorded in California
- Formosan subterranean termite (Coptotermes formosanus) — FDACS lists it in Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Texas, Arizona, California and Hawaii. Colonies contain…
- Western drywood termite (Incisitermes minor) — UC IPM: 'California's second most important termite pest', 'commonly found along the Pacific coastal region extending into the Central Valley and deserts of Southern California'…
- Desert subterranean termite (Heterotermes aureus) — UA Extension calls it an 'important structural pest' of the desert Southwest. UC IPM: 'flies in the late afternoon or early evening in July, August, and September'.
- Western subterranean termite (Reticulitermes hesperus) — Oregon State: causes damage to structures in the Pacific Northwest and 'may swarm any time of year'. Utah State describes swarmers 3/8 inch long and workers 1/4–3/8 inch, pale c…
When termites are busiest around Burbank
Reticulitermes swarm in the afternoon in spring or fall on clear days after a soaking rain; drywood swarmers fly in daytime during summer and fall; Heterotermes aureus flies late afternoon/early evening in July–September (UC IPM).
UC IPM: Reticulitermes 'can be encountered in nearly all regions of the state'; the western drywood termite is 'California's second most important termite pest', found along the Pacific coast, Central Valley and Southern California deserts. FDACS lists California among states with Formosan termites. Branch 3 covers 'the control of wood-destroying pests or organisms by the use of insecticides or structural repairs and corrections'; Branch 1 covers fumigation.
Rules that apply in California
Sources: Drywood Termites (Pest Notes); University of Georgia Extension; University of Missouri Extension; Formosan Termite Program; Not All Termites Are Terrible (Home and School IPM Newsletter); Termites | Solve Pest Problems. Figures are quoted as the source prints them. How we check our sources
Simple ways to keep termites away
- Grade soil to slope away from the foundation.
- Screen attic and foundation vents with fine mesh.
- Trim shrubs so foundation walls stay visible and dry.
- Keep six inches between soil and siding or wood.
- Set deck and porch posts on concrete, not soil.
A damp cabinet under a leaky sink is worth reporting to your landlord early. Fixing the leak removes what draws termites in.Did you know?
Around Burbank, some tropical termites grow fungus gardens inside the nest and eat the harvest.
Questions people ask
What time of year do termites swarm?
Drywood swarms come later in the year. Either way, swarmers indoors in Burbank are a reason to schedule an inspection. Swarm season in Burbank, California depends on the species and the weather. Most native subterranean swarms happen from March through May.
Are mud tubes always a sign of active termites?
Fresh, damp tubes with pale insects inside mean activity now. Either way, an inspection in Burbank settles the question and finds any other routes. Mud tubes on a Burbank, California home show that subterranean termites used that route at some point. Dry, empty tubes may be old.
What is the difference between subterranean and drywood termites?
Drywood termites leave clean galleries and piles of dry pellets. A Burbank pro uses these clues plus the location to choose between a soil treatment and a wood treatment. Look at the evidence. Subterranean termites leave mud in the wood and tubes on the foundation of a Burbank home.
How long do termite bait stations take to work?
Colony decline typically takes a few months. Newer baits act faster, and your Burbank pro can tell you what to expect. Bait works on the colony's timeline, not yours. After installation around a Burbank home, workers must find the stations, feed, and share the bait.
How long does termite treatment take?
Bait stations take a few hours to install, though colony elimination around a Burbank home unfolds over weeks or months. Fumigation of a Burbank house takes two to three days including tenting and aeration. A liquid barrier around a typical Burbank home takes a half day to a full day.
Are termites common in California?
Around Burbank, the usual culprit is the western subterranean termite.
Sources (4)
The facts in this article come from the public sources listed above. Every home is different, so ask the company you talk to about pricing and what’s included. Published by Termite Exterminator · Updated September 11, 2026 · How we write these guides