The short version
Most termite problems in Houston are eastern 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 from February through April.
- Drywood termites need wood treatment or fumigation instead.
- An inspection typically costs $75–$250.
- Insurance usually doesn’t cover termite damage.
Anyone in Houston 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. Winters around Houston stay mild, with average lows near 44°F, so colonies keep feeding all year.
- 1Termite activity reported at a neighbor's home.
- 2Dry hexagonal pellets under window frames or eaves.
- 3Mud in cracks of subfloor or joists.
- 4Mud tubes running up foundation walls or piers.
- 5Damage found during a remodel or repair.
- 6Layered, honeycombed wood packed with soil.
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.
- Formosan colonies are large and can do serious damage quickly.
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
Fumigation for Drywood Termites
$1,200–$4,000 (often $1–$4 per square foot)
Fumigation does not treat subterranean termites living in the soil. A Houston home with both species may need a soil barrier as well as the tent.
- Time
- 2–3 days including tenting and aeration
- Best for
- Widespread drywood termites throughout a structure
Liquid Soil Termiticide Barrier
$1,200–$3,500 (often $3–$16 per linear foot)
A soil barrier stops termites from reaching wood through the ground. For most Houston homes with active subterranean termites, this is the fastest way to end feeding.
- 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
Spot treatment works when the Houston inspector can see and reach the whole infestation. Small drywood galleries, porch posts, and exposed sills are typical targets.
- Time
- 1–3 hours
- Best for
- Small drywood spots, wall voids, and exposed framing
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 Houston.
The termite you're most likely to meet in Houston is the eastern subterranean termite. It nests in soil and builds mud tubes to reach wood. It needs steady moisture. Formosan termites have spread into parts of Texas too. Their colonies dwarf native ones. Inspectors take them seriously. Drywood termites turn up now and then, mostly in older wood. Look for tiny piles of hard, sand-like pellets.
Local termites conditions in Houston.
Knowing Houston'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 Houston and Texas 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. Houston sits in a local climate, and that sets the pace for termite activity here: the warmer months. In Houston, 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 Houston usually starts outside and works inward, checking the foundation, gaps around doors and windows, and any moisture or clutter near the structure first.
Sealing the gap where pipes enter the house takes away one of the easiest routes in. It won't replace treatment, but it helps.When termites swarm here.
Swarm season is when termites show themselves. In Houston, eastern subterranean termites usually swarm from February through April, typically on a warm, sunny day after rain. Formosan termites in Texas swarm later, from late April into June. Look for them on warm, humid evenings around porch lights. Drywood termites swarm on spring and summer evenings, often near lights. 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.
Outside, watch for mud tubes behind shrubs. Keep soil and mulch below the slab edge. Many homes in Houston sit on concrete slabs, so termites come up through expansion joints, plumbing gaps and settlement cracks. Check the garage edges and behind baseboards. Look where pipes come through the floor.
A year of termites in Houston.
- Summer: with highs around 95°F in Houston, termites follow moisture, so watch AC drain lines, sprinkler zones and hose bibs. - Fall: with about 50 inches of rain a year in Houston, make sure gutters and downspouts carry water well away from the foundation. - Winter: a good time to book an inspection in Houston, before swarm season starts. - Spring: swarm season. In Houston, expect it from February through April. Check windowsills and light fixtures for wings.
What happens at an inspection.
On a slab, they focus on joints, cracks and pipe gaps. A moisture meter and a probe help them find hidden activity. Afterward, ask them to show you what they found. Photos help. Most inspections take an hour or two. The inspector walks the outside of the house first. They check the foundation, the soil line and nearby wood. Inside, they check the garage, baseboards, plumbing gaps and the attic.
Termites or ants?
- 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. - Wings: termite wings are all the same length. Ant wings aren’t. - Waist: termites are thick through the middle. Ants are pinched.
Getting ready for treatment day.
Clear a path along the outside walls. Move stored boxes away from garage walls. Mark sprinkler heads and any buried lines. Keep pets and kids inside while the crew works outside. Ask how long to stay off treated soil. Any drill holes in a slab or patio get patched. Soil treatments and bait stations need little prep.
Mulch and termites.
Wood chips right against siding hold moisture termites like. Keep mulch thin and pull it back from the foundation. A dry strip along the house lets you spot mud tubes.
Questions to ask before you sign.
- 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? - Which termites did you find, and where? - What product or system will you use?
What affects the price
- Local labor rates and licensing requirements.
- Number of bait stations required.
- Annual renewal and monitoring fees.
- Time of year and how booked up local companies are.
- Slab, crawl space, or basement construction.
- Amount of drilling through concrete and patios.
📊
What's your biggest concern about termites?
When to call for help
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. Lenders often ask for one. It's also the cheapest termite service. Carpenter ants leave clean tunnels and sawdust. Termites leave mud.
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 Houston
An annual inspection is common sense here. With summer highs around 95°F, Houston's humid subtropical climate decides when local termites are busiest. A typical home in Houston is worth around $265k, which puts a few hundred dollars for an inspection and prevention in perspective. Houston gets about 50 inches of rain a year, and average humidity sits near 75%, so the soil around foundations rarely dries out. Texas is one of the most termite-active states in the country.
Local research
Termites in Houston, TX: what the public record shows
Before you compare quotes, it helps to know which termites actually live in Texas, when they are busiest around Houston, and what the state figures look like. Everything below links to the agency or university page it came from.
Annual subterranean termite damage in Texas
Texas is one of the costliest termite states, with both native and Formosan species.
Texas A&M AgriLife ExtensionSwarm onset in South Texas
South Texas homeowners should watch for swarmers a full season before the rest of the country.
Texas A&M AgriLife ExtensionTermite species recorded in Texas
- Eastern subterranean termite (Reticulitermes flavipes) — UGA calls it 'the most widely distributed subterranean termite, and it is the most common termite found in the eastern United States'; it swarms February through April in Georgi…
- 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…
When termites are busiest around Houston
Swarms begin in January–February in South Texas and not until April or May in the Panhandle (Texas A&M).
Texas A&M identifies the eastern subterranean and Formosan subterranean termites as the two economically important species. Termites enter via wood in direct contact with soil and by building shelter tubes over or through foundation cracks; modern termiticides provide approximately 5 years of protection and licensed professionals are recommended.
Sources: Texas A&M AgriLife Extension; Biology of Subterranean Termites in the Eastern United States (B1209); University of Missouri Extension; Formosan Termite Program. Figures are quoted as the source prints them. How we check our sources
Simple ways to keep termites away
- Fix leaking hose bibs, faucets, and pipes promptly.
- Keep the termite renewal contract current after treatment.
- Screen attic and foundation vents with fine mesh.
- Trim shrubs so foundation walls stay visible and dry.
- Seal cracks in the foundation and slab.
- Ventilate crawl spaces and control humidity.
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 Houston, termites have been chewing wood for well over 100 million years, since the age of the dinosaurs.
Questions people ask
What does a WDI report include?
It does not open walls. Hidden damage in a Houston home can still surface later, which the report states. The report is a snapshot of what a licensed inspector could see at a Houston, Texas property on that day. It covers the foundation, crawl space, garage, attic, and exterior.
How long does termite treatment take?
A full liquid barrier takes most of a day. Bait systems keep working for months after a short installation. A Houston pro should give you a timeline in the proposal. It depends on the method chosen for your Houston home. Spot treatments take an hour or two.
How long do termite bait stations take to work?
Once foragers around a Houston home hit a station, the growth regulator spreads through the colony over several weeks. Combined with a spot treatment on active wood, a Houston pro can stop damage quickly while baits finish the job. Faster than most people fear, slower than a liquid barrier.
What time of year do termites swarm?
Formosan termites swarm on humid evenings in late spring. A swarm inside a Houston home means the colony is close. Subterranean termites around Houston typically swarm in spring, often on a warm afternoon after rain. Drywood termites tend to swarm in late summer or fall.
Can I treat termites myself?
Treating the colony is not. Retail sprays kill what they touch and warn the rest. Save the money for a Houston inspection and a proper treatment. Partly. Fixing moisture, moving mulch, and sealing cracks are good Houston, Texas homeowner tasks.
Are termites common in Texas?
Around Houston, the usual culprit is the eastern subterranean termite.
Nearby cities
Related guides
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