The short version
Most termite problems in New Braunfels 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.
Homeowners, landlords and anyone buying or selling a house in New Braunfels, whether you've spotted something or just want to know what to watch for.
What to look for
A colony can feed inside a wall for years. Termites work quietly. So it's worth an inspection, even for one or two signs. Spongy floors or bubbling paint usually mean long-running damage. Mild winters barely slow them down.
- 1Doors and windows that suddenly stick.
- 2Live pale insects inside a broken mud tube.
- 3Screwdriver sinks easily into sills or trim.
- 4Wood that sounds hollow when tapped.
- 5Small kick-out holes in exposed wood.
- 6Damage found during a remodel or repair.
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
Annual Renewal and Monitoring
$150–$400 per year
Bait systems require monitoring to keep working. A New Braunfels pro checks each station, replaces consumed bait, and notes any new activity around the house.
- Time
- 30–60 minutes per visit
- Best for
- Keeping a treated home protected after the initial job
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 New Braunfels clears the structure with monitors before anyone returns.
- 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)
Crews in New Braunfels 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
Prices are typical published ranges. Ask what’s included before you compare quotes.
Cardboard boxes stacked on a garage slab are termite food sitting right on their doorstep. Keep storage on shelves.Which termites live around New Braunfels.
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. The termite you're most likely to meet in New Braunfels is the eastern subterranean termite.
Local termites conditions in New Braunfels.
A provider who works New Braunfels 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. New Braunfels sits in a local climate, and that sets the pace for termite activity here: the warmer months. Across New Braunfels, 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 New Braunfels usually starts outside and works inward, checking the foundation, gaps around doors and windows, and any moisture or clutter near the structure first. Knowing New Braunfels'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.
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.
Across New Braunfels, 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. 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 New Braunfels out to San Antonio and Austin. Many homes in New Braunfels sit on concrete slabs, so termites come up through expansion joints, plumbing gaps and settlement cracks.
A year of termites in New Braunfels.
- Spring: swarm season. Across New Braunfels, expect it from February through April. Check windowsills and light fixtures for wings. - Summer: termites follow moisture. Watch AC lines, sprinklers and hose bibs. - Fall: clear gutters and move firewood away from the walls. - Winter: a good time to book an inspection in New Braunfels, before swarm season starts.
What happens at an inspection.
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. On a slab, they focus on joints, cracks and pipe gaps.
Termites or ants?
- 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. - Wings: termite wings are all the same length. Ant wings aren’t.
Getting ready for treatment day.
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. Clear a walking path along the exterior walls. Move boxes away from garage walls. Flag sprinkler heads and buried lines.
Mulch and termites.
Pull mulch back from the foundation and keep the layer thin. 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.
Questions to ask before you sign.
- 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? - Which termites did you find, and where?
What affects the price
- Liquid barrier versus bait station system.
- Access to crawl spaces and attics.
- Annual renewal and monitoring fees.
- Time of year and how booked up local companies are.
- Linear feet of foundation to be treated.
- Wells, drains, or water features limiting chemical use.
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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
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 New Braunfels
An annual inspection is common sense here. Termites need moisture. Around here they gather where water collects. Think leaky hose bibs, AC drain lines, sprinkler zones and short downspouts. Texas is one of the most termite-active states in the country.
Local research
Termites in New Braunfels, 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 New Braunfels, 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 New Braunfels
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
- Paint or seal exposed exterior wood.
- Set deck and porch posts on concrete, not soil.
- Caulk gaps around plumbing and utility penetrations.
- Remove tree stumps and buried wood near the house.
- Keep six inches between soil and siding or wood.
- Grade soil to slope away from the foundation.
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?
Across New Braunfels, soldier termites can't feed themselves, so the workers feed them mouth to mouth.
Across New Braunfels, a termite queen can keep laying eggs for 25 years or more.
Questions people ask
Are mud tubes always a sign of active termites?
Active colonies patch tubes within hours. If nothing happens, note the spot and mention it to your New Braunfels inspector at the next visit. Old tubes can linger for years after a treatment around a New Braunfels home. The test is simple: break a gap and watch for repair.
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 New Braunfels pro should give you a timeline in the proposal. It depends on the method chosen for your New Braunfels home. Spot treatments take an hour or two.
How do I choose a termite company?
Get two quotes in New Braunfels and compare what each includes. Ask how the New Braunfels technician plans to handle slabs, decks, and crawl spaces. Look for a state license, insurance, and a proposal from any New Braunfels company that names the species, product, and warranty.
Does fumigation kill subterranean termites too?
Subterranean termites need a soil barrier or bait system. A New Braunfels inspector who finds both species will recommend both treatments. No. Fumigation kills every termite inside the tented New Braunfels home, but subterranean colonies live in the soil and simply come back.
What is the difference between subterranean and drywood termites?
Drywood termites in a New Braunfels attic or window frame need localized wood treatment or, when widespread, fumigation. An inspector identifies which one you have. The species matters because the treatment differs. Around New Braunfels, subterranean termites are handled with soil barriers or bait stations.
Are termites common in Texas?
Around New Braunfels, the usual culprit is the eastern 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