The short version
Most termite problems in Colorado Springs 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 Colorado Springs 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. Winter lows around Colorado Springs average near 18°F, so termites retreat deeper into the soil, though colonies under heated basements can stay active all winter. Spongy floors or bubbling paint usually mean long-running damage. So it's worth an inspection, even for one or two signs.
- 1Screwdriver sinks easily into sills or trim.
- 2Live pale insects inside a broken mud tube.
- 3Layered, honeycombed wood packed with soil.
- 4Doors and windows that suddenly stick.
- 5Sagging or spongy floors near exterior walls.
- 6Blistered or bubbling paint on wood surfaces.
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.
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Termite activity through the year in Colorado Springs
Spring
swarm season in Colorado Springs, often on a warm day after rain. Check windowsills for wings.
Summer
with highs around 84°F in Colorado Springs, termites follow moisture, so watch AC drain lines, sprinkler zones and hose bibs.
Fall
with about 16 inches of rain a year in Colorado Springs, make sure gutters and downspouts carry water well away from the foundation.
Winter
a good time to book an inspection in Colorado Springs, before swarm season starts.
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 Colorado Springs 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 Colorado Springs, 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
Bait Station System with Monitoring
$1,500–$3,500 install, plus $300–$500 per year
Bait stations are set into the ground every 10 to 20 feet around a Colorado Springs home. Foraging workers carry the slow-acting bait home, and the colony collapses.
- Time
- 2–4 hours to install; checked quarterly
- Best for
- Colony elimination, wells and slabs, homes near water
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.How treatment works on a typical Colorado Springs home.
With a basement, the crew treats soil along the outside. Inside, they may drill where the floor meets the walls. Bait stations are the other main option. They're spaced every 10 to 20 feet. Termites carry the bait back to the colony. The stations are checked on a schedule, often every few months.
Which termites live around Colorado Springs.
It needs steady moisture. It nests in soil and builds mud tubes to reach wood. The termite you're most likely to meet in Colorado Springs is the arid-land subterranean termite.
Subterranean termites don't stop in winter; they just go deeper. A quiet season is a good time for a non-urgent inspection.When termites swarm here.
Save a few in a bag, or snap a clear photo. A swarm inside usually means it's in the house. A swarm outside means a colony is nearby. Around Colorado Springs, 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.
Where to look around your house.
The same advice applies across the area, from Colorado Springs out to Castle Rock and Pueblo. 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 Colorado Springs have basements, so check where the wood framing sits on top of the foundation wall.
A year of termites in Colorado Springs.
- Spring: swarm season in Colorado Springs, often on a warm day after rain. Check windowsills for wings. - Summer: with highs around 84°F in Colorado Springs, termites follow moisture, so watch AC drain lines, sprinkler zones and hose bibs. - Fall: with about 16 inches of rain a year in Colorado Springs, make sure gutters and downspouts carry water well away from the foundation. - Winter: a good time to book an inspection in Colorado Springs, before swarm season starts.
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. They'll check the basement walls and sill plate. 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?
- 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. - Waist: termites are thick through the middle. Ants are pinched. - Wings: termite wings are all the same length. Ant wings aren’t.
Getting ready for treatment day.
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. Keep kids and pets inside while the Colorado Springs crew applies the product, and ask how long to stay off treated soil. Around Colorado Springs, swarms usually show up from July through September as the summer rains start. Drill holes in slabs or patios get patched afterward.
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 Colorado Springs's dry climate the risk is irrigation and leaky hose bibs rather than rain. Wood chips touching the siding trap the moisture termites are after.
Questions to ask before you sign.
- 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 product or system will you use? - Which termites did you find, and where?
What affects the price
- Whole-house fumigation versus spot treatment.
- Amount of drilling through concrete and patios.
- Wells, drains, or water features limiting chemical use.
- Local labor rates and licensing requirements.
- Annual renewal and monitoring fees.
- Warranty type: retreatment only or damage repair.
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What's your biggest concern about termites?
When to call for help
Termites leave mud. Carpenter ants leave clean tunnels and sawdust. It's also the cheapest termite service. Lenders often ask for one. Get a wood-destroying insect (WDI) report either way. Buying or selling? Hollow-sounding wood is another clue. Call if you see mud tubes, pellets or an indoor swarm.
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 Colorado Springs
A local provider who knows Colorado Springs and Colorado can point out the specific conditions that matter most here before you commit to a plan. Around Colorado Springs, take a minute to note where you have seen activity and when it appears, so the inspection is faster and the quote more accurate. Around Colorado Springs, most of the housing is urban, so the usual entry points, moisture spots, and sheltered areas near the structure are what an inspection checks first. Colorado Springs has a semi-arid climate, and termites activity here tends to pick up spring swarm season (March-May), warmer earlier in the south. A typical home in Colorado Springs is worth around $455k, which puts a few hundred dollars for an inspection and prevention in perspective. With summer highs around 84°F, Colorado Springs's semi-arid climate decides when local termites are busiest. Not every house gets them, but plenty do. Termites are a steady, moderate risk in Colorado. Colorado Springs only sees about 16 inches of rain a year, so local termites gather wherever water collects, like sprinkler zones, hose bibs and AC drain lines.
Local research
Termites in Colorado Springs, CO: what the public record shows
Before you compare quotes, it helps to know which termites actually live in Colorado, when they are busiest around Colorado Springs, and what the state figures look like. Everything below links to the agency or university page it came from.
When termites are busiest around Colorado Springs
July–September (desert subterranean, late afternoon/evening with summer rains); summer–fall (drywood). UC IPM: 'Heterotermes aureus flies in the late afternoon or early evening in July, August, and September', which coincides with the Southwest monsoon months. Arizona Extension lists Heterotermes aureus as an 'important structural pest' and notes drywood species Incisitermes minor and Marginitermes hubbardi in the desert Southwest. Drywood swarmers appear 'during daytime hours during summer and fall'.
Based on Colorado Springs’s semi-arid 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
- Extend downspouts so water drains away from walls.
- Paint or seal exposed exterior wood.
- Keep gutters clean so water does not pool.
- Caulk gaps around plumbing and utility penetrations.
- Inspect used furniture for drywood pellets before bringing indoors.
A liquid soil treatment goes into a trench along the foundation so termites cross it on their way to the house.Did you know?
Around Colorado Springs, when danger shows up, soldier termites bang their heads against the tunnel walls to warn the colony.
Some African termite mounds stand more than 25 feet tall.
Questions people ask
What is the difference between subterranean and drywood termites?
Around Colorado Springs, the subterranean kind causes most problems. Drywood termites live inside the wood and leave tiny pellets. Subterranean termites live in soil and build mud tubes.
Can I treat termites myself?
Store-bought sprays usually kill only what you see. It also needs even coverage around the foundation. The product must reach the whole colony. An active colony is harder. Prevention, yes.
How long does termite treatment take?
Fumigation takes two to three days. Bait stations take a few hours to install. A liquid barrier takes half a day to a day.
Will termites come back after treatment?
That's what yearly inspections and renewal plans are for. Treatments wear down and new colonies move in. They can.
How often does a termite treatment need a callback?
Around Colorado Springs, termites are best caught early through inspection, because the damage is hidden inside wood until it is far along. Around Colorado Springs, 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 Colorado?
Around Colorado Springs, the usual culprit is the arid-land subterranean termite.
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Sources (11)
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