The short version
Most termite problems in Lexington 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 April 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.
Homeowners, landlords and anyone buying or selling a house in Lexington, 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. Winter lows around Lexington average near 25°F, so termites retreat deeper into the soil, though colonies under heated basements can stay active all winter.
- 1Tiny pinholes in drywall rimmed with mud.
- 2Piles of identical shed wings on windowsills.
- 3Crumbling baseboards behind furniture.
- 4Mud tubes running up foundation walls or piers.
- 5Damage found during a remodel or repair.
- 6Sagging or spongy floors near exterior walls.
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 Lexington
Spring
swarm season. Around Lexington, expect it from April through May. Check windowsills and light fixtures for wings.
Summer
with highs around 87°F in Lexington, termites follow moisture, so watch AC drain lines, sprinkler zones and hose bibs.
Fall
with about 45 inches of rain a year in Lexington, make sure gutters and downspouts carry water well away from the foundation.
Winter
a good time to book an inspection in Lexington, 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
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 Lexington 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
Some Lexington homeowners drop the renewal after a quiet year or two. That usually voids the warranty and leaves the barrier untested.
- Time
- 30–60 minutes per visit
- Best for
- Keeping a treated home protected after the initial job
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 Lexington 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.
A slow leak under a sink keeps the wood damp, and damp wood is exactly what termites are looking for.How treatment works on a typical Lexington home.
With a crawl space, the crew treats soil outside and underneath. The stations are checked on a schedule, often every few months. Termites carry the bait back to the colony. They're spaced every 10 to 20 feet. Bait stations are the other main option. Fix any moisture under the house too. They also treat around piers and plumbing.
Which termites live around Lexington.
The termite you're most likely to meet in Lexington is the eastern subterranean termite. It needs steady moisture. It nests in soil and builds mud tubes to reach wood.
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.
A swarm outside means a colony is nearby. Around Lexington, eastern subterranean termites usually swarm from April through May, typically on a warm, sunny day after rain. Swarm season is when termites show themselves. Save a few in a bag, or snap a clear photo. A swarm inside usually means it's in the house.
Where to look around your house.
Check the piers, the sill plate and the floor joists. Take a flashlight underneath. A lot of houses around Lexington are built over crawl spaces, and that's usually where termites start. The same advice applies across the area, from Lexington out to Nicholasville and Georgetown. Standing water or a musty smell needs fixing either way.
A year of termites in Lexington.
- Spring: swarm season. Around Lexington, expect it from April through May. Check windowsills and light fixtures for wings. - Winter: a good time to book an inspection in Lexington, before swarm season starts. - Fall: with about 45 inches of rain a year in Lexington, make sure gutters and downspouts carry water well away from the foundation. - Summer: with highs around 87°F in Lexington, termites follow moisture, so watch AC drain lines, sprinkler zones and hose bibs.
What happens at an inspection.
Inside, they check the garage, baseboards, plumbing gaps and the attic. They check the foundation, the soil line and nearby wood. The inspector walks the outside of the house first. Most inspections take an hour or two. Photos help. Afterward, ask them to show you what they found. A moisture meter and a probe help them find hidden activity. They'll also go into the crawl space.
Termites or ants?
- Waist: termites are thick through the middle. Ants are pinched. - Wings: termite wings are all the same length. Ant wings aren’t. - 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.
Getting ready for treatment day.
Move boxes away from garage walls. Clear a walking path along the exterior walls. Prep is light for liquid treatments and bait stations. Drill holes in slabs or patios get patched afterward. Keep kids and pets inside while the Lexington crew applies the product, and ask how long to stay off treated soil. In Kentucky, spring is when large numbers of swarmers emerge inside homes, triggered by warmer temperatures and rainfall (UKY). Flag sprinkler heads and buried lines.
Mulch and termites.
A dry gap along the house makes mud tubes easier to spot; in Lexington that means extending downspouts and pulling mulch back from the slab. Pull mulch back from the foundation and keep the layer thin. Wood chips touching the siding trap the moisture termites are after.
Questions to ask before you sign.
- What product or system will you use? - Which termites did you find, and where? - 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 affects the price
- Annual renewal and monitoring fees.
- Slab, crawl space, or basement construction.
- Warranty type: retreatment only or damage repair.
- Cubic footage under the tent for fumigation.
- Number of bait stations required.
- Local labor rates and licensing requirements.
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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
Some of the work is yours. Pull mulch back from the foundation. Fix leaks and clear gutters. Keep firewood away from the house. 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.
Termites in Lexington
Lexington has a humid subtropical climate, and termites activity here tends to pick up spring swarm season (March-May), warmer earlier in the south. Around Lexington, 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. Around Lexington, take a minute to note where you have seen activity and when it appears, so the inspection is faster and the quote more accurate. A local provider who knows Lexington and Kentucky can point out the specific conditions that matter most here before you commit to a plan. Around Lexington, before you book, ask whether the inspection is included, what the treatment plan covers, how many visits to expect, and what the written quote includes. Around Lexington, getting the scope, the prep steps, and any follow-up terms in writing makes it much easier to compare providers fairly, and a good provider will walk you through each of these without pressure. Lexington gets about 45 inches of rain a year, and average humidity sits near 70%, so the soil around foundations rarely dries out. Termite activity in Kentucky is above average. Most houses will see termites at some point. With summer highs around 87°F, Lexington's humid subtropical climate decides when local termites are busiest. A typical home in Lexington is worth around $255k, which puts a few hundred dollars for an inspection and prevention in perspective.
Local research
Termites in Lexington, KY: what the public record shows
Before you compare quotes, it helps to know which termites actually live in Kentucky, when they are busiest around Lexington, and what the state figures look like. Everything below links to the agency or university page it came from.
Termite species recorded in Kentucky
- 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…
When termites are busiest around Lexington
Spring is when large numbers of swarmers emerge inside homes, triggered by warmer temperatures and rainfall (UKY).
University of Kentucky: subterranean termites 'are serious pests of buildings'; liquid termiticides should control termites for at least five years when applied per label.
Sources: Biology of Subterranean Termites in the Eastern United States (B1209); University of Missouri Extension. Figures are quoted as the source prints them. How we check our sources
Simple ways to keep termites away
- Ventilate crawl spaces and control humidity.
- Use borate-treated or pressure-treated lumber for repairs.
- Never leave form boards or scrap lumber in the soil.
- Store firewood well away from the house, off the ground.
- Screen attic and foundation vents with fine mesh.
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 Lexington, soldier termites can't feed themselves, so the workers feed them mouth to mouth.
Some African termite mounds stand more than 25 feet tall.
Questions people ask
How do I choose a termite company?
Ask what the warranty covers. Compare the proposals, not just the totals. Make sure they're licensed in Kentucky. Ask which termites they found and what product they'll use.
Are mud tubes always a sign of active termites?
Break off a piece and check back in a week. If it's rebuilt, they're active. Not always. Old tubes can stay on a wall for years.
How do I know if I have termites or flying ants?
Ants have a pinched waist; termites don't. Save one in a bag for the inspector. Check the wings and the waist. Termite wings are all the same length.
Can I treat termites myself?
The product must reach the whole colony. It also needs even coverage around the foundation. Store-bought sprays usually kill only what you see. Prevention, yes. An active colony is harder.
How much does termite treatment cost?
Around Lexington, termites are best caught early through inspection, because the damage is hidden inside wood until it is far along. Around Lexington, 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 Kentucky?
Around Lexington, the usual culprit is the eastern 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