The short version
Most termite problems in Pomona 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.
Homeowners, landlords and anyone buying or selling a house in Pomona, whether you've spotted something or just want to know what to watch for.
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 Pomona stay mild, with average lows near 42°F, so colonies keep feeding all year.
- 1Live pale insects inside a broken mud tube.
- 2Tiny pinholes in drywall rimmed with mud.
- 3Crumbling baseboards behind furniture.
- 4Mud in cracks of subfloor or joists.
- 5Blistered or bubbling paint on wood surfaces.
- 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.
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)
Some companies in Pomona offer heat treatment as a tent-free option for small drywood termite spots. Whole-structure fumigation remains the standard when galleries are spread throughout.
- Time
- 2–3 days including tenting and aeration
- Best for
- Widespread drywood termites throughout a structure
Localized Wood, Foam, and Borate Treatment
$250–$1,500
Borate is brushed or sprayed onto bare wood in crawl spaces. Termites that eat treated wood around a Pomona home die, and the protection lasts as long as the wood stays dry.
- Time
- 1–3 hours
- Best for
- Small drywood spots, wall voids, and exposed framing
Annual Renewal and Monitoring
$150–$400 per year
Ask what a renewal in Pomona 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
Prices are typical published ranges. Ask what’s included before you compare quotes.
Crawl spaces are where termites usually get in. Joists, piers and the sill plate should all get a close look.Which termites live around Pomona.
It nests in soil and builds mud tubes to reach wood. It needs steady moisture. Drywood termites are common around Pomona 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 Pomona's dry heat, desert subterranean termites can build tubes that hang free from ceilings. They'll eat fences, door frames, anything wooden. The termite you're most likely to meet in Pomona is the desert subterranean termite.
Local termites conditions in Pomona.
Pomona sits in a local climate, and that sets the pace for termite activity here: the warmer months. For Pomona homes, 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 Pomona usually starts outside and works inward, checking the foundation, gaps around doors and windows, and any moisture or clutter near the structure first. Knowing Pomona'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 Pomona 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.
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.
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. For Pomona homes, desert subterranean termites usually swarm from July through September, around dusk after monsoon storms. Drywood termites around Pomona tend to swarm in late summer and fall.
Where to look around your house.
Outside, watch for mud tubes behind shrubs. Keep soil and mulch below the slab edge. The same advice applies across the area, from Pomona out to Ontario and Rancho Cucamonga. Many homes in Pomona 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 Pomona.
- Fall: with about 15 inches of rain a year in Pomona, make sure gutters and downspouts carry water well away from the foundation. - Winter: a good time to book an inspection in Pomona, before swarm season starts. - Summer: swarm season in Pomona, usually after monsoon storms. Watch porch lights at dusk. - Summer: with highs around 95°F in Pomona, termites follow moisture, so watch AC drain lines, sprinkler zones and hose bibs.
What happens at an inspection.
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. A moisture meter and a probe help them find hidden activity. Afterward, ask them to show you what they found. Photos help.
Termites or ants?
- 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. - Antennae: termite antennae are straight. Ant antennae bend like an elbow.
Getting ready for treatment day.
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. Clear a path along the outside walls. Move stored boxes away from garage walls. Mark sprinkler heads and any buried lines.
Mulch and termites.
Keep mulch thin and pull it back from the foundation. A dry strip along the house lets you spot mud tubes. Wood chips right against siding hold moisture termites like.
Questions to ask before you sign.
- 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? - Is the whole foundation treated, or just one spot?
What affects the price
- Species: subterranean, drywood, or Formosan.
- Cubic footage under the tent for fumigation.
- Access to crawl spaces and attics.
- Warranty type: retreatment only or damage repair.
- Extent of existing damage needing repair.
- 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 Pomona
Termite activity in California is above average. Most houses will see termites at some point. Like nearby Ontario, Pomona gets about 15 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 Pomona, 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 Pomona, 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 Pomona
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
- Keep mulch at least a foot from the foundation.
- Keep gutters clean so water does not pool.
- Screen attic and foundation vents with fine mesh.
- Never leave form boards or scrap lumber in the soil.
- Store firewood well away from the house, off the ground.
- Repair rotting trim, fascia, and window frames.
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?
For Pomona homes, termites are closer cousins to cockroaches than to ants, despite the old nickname white ants.
Some African termite mounds stand more than 25 feet tall.
Questions people ask
Will termites come back after treatment?
Bait systems only work while monitored. That's why companies in Pomona offer annual renewals: a yearly inspection catches new activity before it matters. They can. A liquid barrier around a Pomona home breaks down over years, and new colonies can move in from neighboring soil.
Do I need a termite inspection when buying a house?
Many lenders serving Pomona require a WDI report before closing, and VA loans require one in many states. Even when it is optional, an inspection on a Pomona home costs little and can surface damage or old treatments the seller may not know about. In most cases, yes.
What time of year do termites swarm?
Drywood swarms come later in the year. Either way, swarmers indoors in Pomona are a reason to schedule an inspection. Swarm season in Pomona, California depends on the species and the weather. Most native subterranean swarms happen from March through May.
How long does termite treatment take?
Baiting is quick to install but needs quarterly checks. If your Pomona pro recommends fumigation, plan to be out of the house for about three days. Most Pomona, California termite jobs are finished in one visit. Trenching and drilling for a barrier is the longest part.
What does a WDI report include?
Recommendations for treatment or repair follow. Lenders in Pomona usually want the report dated within about 30 days of closing. Expect a form with checkboxes and a diagram of the Pomona house. The inspector marks where evidence was found and whether active.
Are termites common in California?
Around Pomona, the usual culprit is the desert subterranean termite.
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