The short version
Most termite problems in Great Falls are arid-land subterranean termites, and the usual fix is a liquid soil treatment or bait stations. Start with an inspection; $75–$250 is typical.
- Look for mud tubes, shed wings and hollow-sounding wood.
- Swarms usually show up in spring and early summer.
- The usual fix is a soil barrier or bait stations.
- An inspection typically costs $75–$250.
- Insurance usually doesn’t cover termite damage.
Anyone in Great Falls who owns, rents out, or is buying a home and wants to know whether termites are a real concern.
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. Winter lows around Great Falls average near 13°F, so termites retreat deeper into the soil, though colonies under heated basements can stay active all winter.
- 1Crumbling baseboards behind furniture.
- 2Piles of identical shed wings on windowsills.
- 3Sagging or spongy floors near exterior walls.
- 4Discarded wings caught in spider webs.
- 5Termite tubes hanging down from ceilings or joists.
- 6Dry hexagonal pellets under window frames or eaves.
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)
Crews in Great Falls dig a shallow trench against the foundation, rod termiticide into the soil, and backfill. Fipronil-type products are widely published to last five years or more.
- Time
- Half a day to a full day
- Best for
- Active subterranean termites; fast knockdown around the foundation
Localized Wood, Foam, and Borate Treatment
$250–$1,500
For new decks, additions, or repairs in Great Falls, borate on the framing is cheap insurance. Ask to have the wood treated before it's closed in.
- 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)
Tenting is mainly for drywood termites. Most homes here never need it.
- 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.
Check under the kitchen sink for dampness and soft cabinet wood. Plumbing walls are a common path for termites coming up from a slab.Which termites live around Great Falls.
The termite you're most likely to meet in Great Falls is the arid-land subterranean termite. It needs steady moisture. It nests in soil and builds mud tubes to reach wood.
Local termites conditions in Great Falls.
An inspection in Great Falls usually starts outside and works inward, checking the foundation, gaps around doors and windows, and any moisture or clutter near the structure first. Around Great Falls, the area is mostly suburban, 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. Great Falls sits in a semi-arid continental climate, and that sets the pace for termite activity here: spring swarm season (March-May), warmer earlier in the south. A provider who works Great Falls and Montana 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 Great Falls'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 downspout that dumps water at the foundation keeps the soil wet year-round. Extend it well away from the house.When termites swarm here.
A swarm outside means a colony is nearby. Around Great Falls, arid-land subterranean termites usually swarm in spring and early summer, often on a warm day after rain. Swarm season is when termites show themselves. Save a few in a bag, or snap a clear photo. A swarm inside usually means it's in the house.
Where to look around your house.
Wood should stay several inches above the ground. Outside, check porches, steps and decks that touch soil. Look around window wells and unfinished walls. Plenty of homes in Great Falls have basements, so check where the wood framing sits on top of the foundation wall.
A year of termites in Great Falls.
- Spring: swarm season in Great Falls, often on a warm day after rain. Check windowsills for wings. - Winter: a good time to book an inspection in Great Falls, before swarm season starts. - Fall: with about 14 inches of rain a year in Great Falls, make sure gutters and downspouts carry water well away from the foundation. - Summer: with highs around 85°F in Great Falls, 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. They'll check the basement walls and sill plate.
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 Great Falls crew applies the product, and ask how long to stay off treated soil. Around Great Falls, swarms usually show up in April and May, later than in the South. Flag sprinkler heads and buried lines.
Mulch and termites.
A dry gap along the house makes mud tubes easier to spot; in Great Falls'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
- Extent of existing damage needing repair.
- Time of year and how booked up local companies are.
- Amount of drilling through concrete and patios.
- Local labor rates and licensing requirements.
- Cubic footage under the tent for fumigation.
- Warranty type: retreatment only or damage repair.
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What's your biggest concern about termites?
When to call for help
Lenders often ask for one. It's also the cheapest termite service. Carpenter ants leave clean tunnels and sawdust. Termites leave mud. Call if you see mud tubes, pellets or an indoor swarm. Hollow-sounding wood is another clue. Buying or selling? Get a wood-destroying insect (WDI) report either way.
What you can do yourself
Treating an active colony is harder. The product has to reach the whole colony. It also needs even coverage around the entire foundation. Store-bought sprays usually kill only the termites you see. Some of the work is yours. Pull mulch back from the foundation. Fix leaks and clear gutters. Keep firewood away from the house.
Termites in Great Falls
Low isn't zero, though. With summer highs around 85°F, Great Falls's semi-arid continental climate decides when local termites are busiest. A typical home in Great Falls is worth around $245k, which puts a few hundred dollars for an inspection and prevention in perspective. Great Falls only sees about 14 inches of rain a year, so local termites gather wherever water collects, like sprinkler zones, hose bibs and AC drain lines. Montana is on the low end for termites.
Local research
Termites in Great Falls, MT: what the public record shows
Before you compare quotes, it helps to know which termites actually live in Montana, when they are busiest around Great Falls, and what the state figures look like. Everything below links to the agency or university page it came from.
When termites are busiest around Great Falls
April–May (spring), later than in the South. Minnesota: 'Termites are uncommon to rare in Minnesota and are generally seen only in the southern third of the state'; 'When present, swarmers are found during spring'. Texas A&M notes the north-south lag: 'In the Panhandle region of Texas, swarms do not occur until April or May'. Kentucky Extension notes swarms are 'Triggered by warmer temperatures and rainfall'.
Based on Great Falls’s semi-arid continental climate profile.
Sources: University of Georgia Extension; University of Missouri Extension. Figures are quoted as the source prints them. How we check our sources
Simple ways to keep termites away
- 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.
- Ventilate crawl spaces and control humidity.
- Install a vapor barrier over crawl space soil.
- Store firewood well away from the house, off the ground.
An inspection starts outside, with a flashlight along the foundation line where mud tubes show up first.Did you know?
Some African termite mounds stand more than 25 feet tall.
Around Great Falls, some tropical termites grow fungus gardens inside the nest and eat the harvest.
Questions people ask
What is the difference between subterranean and drywood termites?
Drywood termites live inside the wood and leave tiny pellets. Around Great Falls, the subterranean kind causes most problems. Subterranean termites live in soil and build mud tubes.
How long does termite treatment take?
Bait stations take a few hours to install. Fumigation takes two to three days. A liquid barrier takes half a day to a day.
Do I have to leave my house during termite treatment?
Fumigation is different. Everyone leaves for two to three days, pets and houseplants included. Not for a soil treatment or bait stations.
Can I treat termites myself?
The product must reach the whole colony. It also needs even coverage around the foundation. Store-bought sprays usually kill only what you see. Prevention, yes. An active colony is harder.
Will termites come back after treatment?
Treatments wear down and new colonies move in. That's what yearly inspections and renewal plans are for. They can.
Are termite treatment prices going up?
Around Great Falls, termites are best caught early through inspection, because the damage is hidden inside wood until it is far along. Around Great Falls, a professional inspection looks for mud tubes, damaged wood, and swarming activity, and treatment targets the soil and the colony rather than just the visible wood.
Are termites common in Montana?
Low isn't zero, though. Around Great Falls, the usual culprit is the arid-land subterranean termite.
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Sources (10)
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