The short version
Most termite problems in Irving are eastern 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 from March through May.
- 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 Irving 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 37°F slow termites near the surface around Irving, 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.
- 1Sagging or spongy floors near exterior walls.
- 2Dry hexagonal pellets under window frames or eaves.
- 3Blistered or bubbling paint on wood surfaces.
- 4Screwdriver sinks easily into sills or trim.
- 5Buckling laminate or warped hardwood flooring.
- 6Termite tubes hanging down from ceilings or joists.
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
Localized Wood, Foam, and Borate Treatment
$250–$1,500
A local treatment is cheaper than fumigation but only covers what the Irving technician can find. Hidden drywood galleries elsewhere in the house are not touched.
- Time
- 1–3 hours
- Best for
- Small drywood spots, wall voids, and exposed framing
Bait Station System with Monitoring
$1,500–$3,500 install, plus $300–$500 per year
Ask how many stations they plan for your Irving home, how often they'll check them, and what the annual fee covers.
- Time
- 2–4 hours to install; checked quarterly
- Best for
- Colony elimination, wells and slabs, homes near water
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.
A slow leak under a sink keeps the wood damp, and damp wood is exactly what termites are looking for.Which termites live around Irving.
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. The termite you're most likely to meet in Irving is the eastern subterranean termite.
Local termites conditions in Irving.
Across Irving, 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 Irving usually starts outside and works inward, checking the foundation, gaps around doors and windows, and any moisture or clutter near the structure first. Knowing Irving'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 Irving 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. Irving sits in a local climate, and that sets the pace for termite activity here: the warmer months.
Mulch piled against the house and a dripping hose bib give termites moisture and cover. Pull mulch back and fix the drip.When termites swarm here.
Across Irving, eastern subterranean termites usually swarm from March through May, 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. 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. Swarm season is when termites show themselves.
Where to look around your house.
Check the garage edges and behind baseboards. Look where pipes come through the floor. Outside, watch for mud tubes behind shrubs. Keep soil and mulch below the slab edge. The same advice applies across the area, from Irving out to Carrollton and Dallas. Many homes in Irving sit on concrete slabs, so termites come up through expansion joints, plumbing gaps and settlement cracks.
A year of termites in Irving.
- Winter: a good time to book an inspection in Irving, before swarm season starts. - Spring: swarm season. Across Irving, expect it from March through May. Check windowsills and light fixtures for wings. - Summer: with highs around 96°F in Irving, termites follow moisture, so watch AC drain lines, sprinkler zones and hose bibs. - Fall: with about 39 inches of rain a year in Irving, make sure gutters and downspouts carry water well away from the foundation.
What happens at an inspection.
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. 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.
Termites or ants?
- 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. - Antennae: termite antennae are straight. Ant antennae bend like an elbow. - Debris: termites leave mud. Carpenter ants leave sawdust.
Getting ready for treatment day.
Clear a walking path along the exterior walls. Move boxes away from garage walls. Flag sprinkler heads and buried lines. Keep kids and pets inside while the Texas crew applies the product, and ask how long to stay off treated soil. In Texas, swarms begin in January–February in South Texas and not until April or May in the Panhandle (Texas A&M). Drill holes in slabs or patios get patched afterward. Prep is light for liquid treatments and bait stations.
Mulch and termites.
A dry gap along the house makes mud tubes easier to spot; in Texas that means extending downspouts and pulling mulch back from the slab. Wood chips touching the siding trap the moisture termites are after. Pull mulch back from the foundation and keep the layer thin.
Questions to ask before you sign.
- What do I need to do before and after treatment? - 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 affects the price
- Cubic footage under the tent for fumigation.
- Amount of drilling through concrete and patios.
- Whole-house fumigation versus spot treatment.
- Wells, drains, or water features limiting chemical use.
- Extent of existing damage needing repair.
- Attached garages, decks, and additions.
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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 Irving
Like nearby Dallas, Irving gets about 39 inches of rain a year, which is plenty for subterranean termites along any damp side of the house. Texas is one of the most termite-active states in the country. An annual inspection is common sense here.
Local research
Termites in Irving, 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 Irving, 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 Irving
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
- Check the foundation for mud tubes every spring.
- Keep the termite renewal contract current after treatment.
- Install a vapor barrier over crawl space soil.
- Paint or seal exposed exterior wood.
- Use borate-treated or pressure-treated lumber for repairs.
- Set deck and porch posts on concrete, not soil.
An inspection starts outside, with a flashlight along the foundation line where mud tubes show up first.Did you know?
Across Irving, some tropical termites grow fungus gardens inside the nest and eat the harvest.
Questions people ask
Does fumigation kill subterranean termites too?
Fumigation and subterranean treatment solve different problems for an Irving home. Gas handles drywood termites hidden in framing and furniture. Soil treatment handles colonies that tunnel in from outside. Many Irving homes with both species end up needing both.
How do I choose a termite company?
A strong termite proposal in Irving explains itself. It names the species, the method, the active ingredient, the linear footage for your Irving home, and what happens if termites return. If an Irving pro cannot answer those questions clearly, keep looking.
Can I treat termites myself?
You can handle prevention and borate on bare wood yourself in Irving. You cannot realistically eliminate a subterranean colony with retail products. Concentrated termiticides are restricted to licensed applicators. An Irving professional brings the product, the equipment, and the plan that makes it work.
How long does termite treatment take?
A liquid barrier around a typical Irving home takes a half day to a full day. Bait stations take a few hours to install, though colony elimination around an Irving home unfolds over weeks or months. Fumigation of an Irving house takes two to three days including tenting and aeration.
What time of year do termites swarm?
Swarm season in Irving, Texas depends on the species and the weather. Most native subterranean swarms happen from March through May. Drywood swarms come later in the year. Either way, swarmers indoors in Irving are a reason to schedule an inspection.
Are termites common in Texas?
Around Irving, the usual culprit is the eastern subterranean termite.
Sources (6)
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