The short version
Most termite problems in Clovis are desert subterranean termites, and the usual fix is a liquid soil treatment or bait stations, placed where the soil stays damp. 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 from July through September.
- Drywood termites need wood treatment or fumigation instead.
- An inspection typically costs $75–$250.
- Insurance usually doesn’t cover termite damage.
Anyone in Clovis who owns, rents out, or is buying a home and wants to know whether termites are a real concern.
What to look for
Termites work quietly. A colony can feed inside a wall for years. Average winter lows near 38°F slow termites near the surface around Clovis, but they move deeper and keep feeding under heated homes. Spongy floors or bubbling paint usually mean long-running damage. So it's worth an inspection, even for one or two signs.
- 1Blistered or bubbling paint on wood surfaces.
- 2Layered, honeycombed wood packed with soil.
- 3Live pale insects inside a broken mud tube.
- 4Mud tubes running up foundation walls or piers.
- 5Winged swarmers indoors, especially in spring.
- 6Doors and windows that suddenly stick.
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
Annual Renewal and Monitoring
$150–$400 per year
Ask what a renewal in Clovis actually includes, and whether it covers retreatment or repairs. A retreatment-only plan is common; damage repair coverage costs more.
- Time
- 30–60 minutes per visit
- Best for
- Keeping a treated home protected after the initial job
Localized Wood, Foam, and Borate Treatment
$250–$1,500
When termites are limited to one wall or window frame, a technician can treat that wood directly, which is common when California subterranean termites reach a damp sill plate. Foam expands into voids, and borate soaks into bare lumber.
- Time
- 1–3 hours
- Best for
- Small drywood spots, wall voids, and exposed framing
Fumigation for Drywood Termites
$1,200–$4,000 (often $1–$4 per square foot)
You leave for a few days while the gas penetrates wood. A licensed fumigator in Clovis clears the structure with monitors before anyone returns.
- Time
- 2–3 days including tenting and aeration
- Best for
- Widespread drywood termites throughout a structure
Prices are typical published ranges. Ask what’s included before you compare quotes.
A slow leak under a sink keeps the wood damp, and damp wood is exactly what termites are looking for.Which termites live around Clovis.
The termite you're most likely to meet in Clovis is the desert subterranean termite. It nests in soil and builds mud tubes to reach wood. It needs steady moisture. Drywood termites are common around Clovis as well, flying straight into attic framing, eaves and furniture without any soil contact. Look for tiny piles of pellets that look like coarse sand. In Clovis's dry heat, desert subterranean termites can build tubes that hang free from ceilings. They'll eat fences, door frames, anything wooden.
Local termites conditions in Clovis.
Clovis sits in a local climate, and that sets the pace for termite activity here: the warmer months. In Clovis, 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. An inspection in Clovis usually starts outside and works inward, checking the foundation, gaps around doors and windows, and any moisture or clutter near the structure first. Knowing Clovis'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. A provider who works Clovis 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.
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.
Swarm season is when termites show themselves. In Clovis, desert subterranean termites usually swarm from July through September, around dusk after monsoon storms. Drywood termites around Clovis tend to swarm in late summer and fall. A swarm outside means a colony is nearby. A swarm inside usually means it's in the house. Save a few in a bag, or snap a clear photo.
Where to look around your house.
Plenty of homes in Clovis have basements, so check where the wood framing sits on top of the foundation wall. Look around window wells and unfinished walls. Outside, check porches, steps and decks that touch soil. Wood should stay several inches above the ground. The same advice applies across the area, from Clovis out to Fresno.
A year of termites in Clovis.
- Winter: a good time to book an inspection in Clovis, before swarm season starts. - Fall: with about 11 inches of rain a year in Clovis, make sure gutters and downspouts carry water well away from the foundation. - Summer: with highs around 98°F in Clovis, termites follow moisture, so watch AC drain lines, sprinkler zones and hose bibs. - Summer: swarm season in Clovis, usually after monsoon storms. Watch porch lights at dusk.
What happens at an inspection.
Photos help. Afterward, ask them to show you what they found. A moisture meter and a probe help them find hidden activity. They'll check the basement walls and sill plate. 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.
Termites or ants?
- Wings: termite wings are all the same length. Ant wings aren’t. - Waist: termites are thick through the middle. Ants are pinched. - Antennae: termite antennae are straight. Ant antennae bend like an elbow. - Debris: termites leave mud. Carpenter ants leave sawdust. - Tunnels: termite galleries are packed with mud. Ant tunnels are clean and smooth.
Getting ready for treatment day.
Any drill holes in a slab or patio get patched. Ask how long to stay off treated soil. Keep pets and kids inside while the crew works outside. Mark sprinkler heads and any buried lines. Move stored boxes away from garage walls. Clear a path along the outside walls. Soil treatments and bait stations need little prep.
Mulch and termites.
Wood chips right against siding hold moisture termites like. A dry strip along the house lets you spot mud tubes. Keep mulch thin and pull it back from the foundation.
Questions to ask before you sign.
- Which termites did you find, and where? - What product or system will you use? - Is the whole foundation treated, or just one spot? - What does the warranty cover, and for how long? - What does the yearly renewal cost? - What do I need to do before and after treatment?
What affects the price
- Time of year and how booked up local companies are.
- Species: subterranean, drywood, or Formosan.
- Extent of existing damage needing repair.
- Whole-house fumigation versus spot treatment.
- Liquid barrier versus bait station system.
- Attached garages, decks, and additions.
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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 Clovis
Most houses will see termites at some point. Termite activity in California is above average. Like nearby Fresno, Clovis gets about 11 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 Clovis, 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 Clovis, 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 Clovis
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.
- Ventilate crawl spaces and control humidity.
- Keep six inches between soil and siding or wood.
- Never leave form boards or scrap lumber in the soil.
- Repair rotting trim, fascia, and window frames.
- Seal cracks in the foundation and slab.
Compare quotes line by line: the areas treated, the product, the warranty and the renewal fee. The lowest total isn't always the best deal.Did you know?
In Clovis, some tropical termites grow fungus gardens inside the nest and eat the harvest.
Some African termite mounds stand more than 25 feet tall.
Questions people ask
Do I need a termite inspection when buying a house?
If the report shows activity, you can negotiate treatment or repairs with the Clovis seller before you close. It records what the inspector saw and anything around the house that could attract termites. A WDI inspection is the cheapest protection a buyer in Clovis, California can purchase. Get one.
Will termites come back after treatment?
Treatment ends the current infestation, but termites remain in the soil around Clovis, California neighborhoods. Keeping mulch and wood away from the foundation, fixing leaks, and keeping the renewal contract current are how Clovis homeowners stay protected long term.
Can termites damage a house on a concrete slab?
Bait stations around a Clovis slab home are a popular option because they avoid extensive drilling through floors. With no crawl space to inspect, the first sign in a Clovis home may be damaged trim or a swarm indoors. Slab construction in Clovis hides termite entry very well.
Does fumigation kill subterranean termites too?
Many Clovis homes with both species end up needing both. Soil treatment handles colonies that tunnel in from outside. Gas handles drywood termites hidden in framing and furniture. Fumigation and subterranean treatment solve different problems for a Clovis home.
How long does termite treatment take?
Fumigation of a Clovis house takes two to three days including tenting and aeration. Bait stations take a few hours to install, though colony elimination around a Clovis home unfolds over weeks or months. A liquid barrier around a typical Clovis home takes a half day to a full day.
Are termites common in California?
Around Clovis, the usual culprit is the desert subterranean termite.
Sources (5)
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