The short version
Most termite problems in Reno are western 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.
- 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 Reno 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 Reno average near 23°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.
- 1Buckling laminate or warped hardwood flooring.
- 2Piles of identical shed wings on windowsills.
- 3Winged swarmers indoors, especially in spring.
- 4Crumbling baseboards behind furniture.
- 5Layered, honeycombed wood packed with soil.
- 6Dry hexagonal pellets under window frames or eaves.
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.
📅
Termite activity through the year in Reno
Spring
swarm seasons. Across Reno, swarms often follow the first warm days and the first fall rain.
Summer
with highs around 91°F in Reno, termites follow moisture, so watch AC drain lines, sprinkler zones and hose bibs.
Fall
with about 7 inches of rain a year in Reno, make sure gutters and downspouts carry water well away from the foundation.
Winter
a good time to book an inspection in Reno, 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
Spot treatment works when the Reno inspector can see and reach the whole infestation. Small drywood galleries, porch posts, and exposed sills are typical targets.
- Time
- 1–3 hours
- Best for
- Small drywood spots, wall voids, and exposed framing
Liquid Soil Termiticide Barrier
$1,200–$3,500 (often $3–$16 per linear foot)
The label on the termiticide is federal law, so a licensed Reno applicator follows it exactly. Ask which active ingredient is used and how long it lasts.
- Time
- Half a day to a full day
- Best for
- Active subterranean termites; fast knockdown around the foundation
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.How treatment works on a typical Reno home.
Under patios and garage floors, they drill small holes. Treatment goes in through the holes, which get patched afterward. 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. Across Reno, on a slab, the crew treats the soil along the outside walls.
Which termites live around Reno.
It nests in soil and builds mud tubes to reach wood. It needs steady moisture. The termite you're most likely to meet in Reno is the western subterranean termite.
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 Reno, western subterranean termites usually swarm in spring, and again in fall after the first good rain. 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 Reno out to Sparks and Carson City. Many homes in Reno sit on concrete slabs, so termites come up through expansion joints, plumbing gaps and settlement cracks.
A year of termites in Reno.
- Spring and fall: swarm seasons. Across Reno, swarms often follow the first warm days and the first fall rain. - Winter: a good time to book an inspection in Reno, before swarm season starts. - Fall: with about 7 inches of rain a year in Reno, make sure gutters and downspouts carry water well away from the foundation. - Summer: with highs around 91°F in Reno, termites follow moisture, so watch AC drain lines, sprinkler zones and hose bibs.
What happens at an inspection.
Afterward, ask them to show you what they found. A moisture meter and a probe help them find hidden activity. On a slab, they focus on joints, cracks and pipe gaps. 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.
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.
Keep kids and pets inside while the Reno crew applies the product, and ask how long to stay off treated soil. Around Reno, swarms usually show up from July through September as the summer rains start. Flag sprinkler heads and buried lines. 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.
Mulch and termites.
A dry gap along the house makes mud tubes easier to spot; in Reno's dry climate the risk is irrigation and leaky hose bibs rather than rain. 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 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.
- Species: subterranean, drywood, or Formosan.
- Slab, crawl space, or basement construction.
- Time of year and how booked up local companies are.
- Extent of existing damage needing repair.
- Linear feet of foundation to be treated.
📊
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
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 Reno
A local provider who knows Reno and Nevada can point out the specific conditions that matter most here before you commit to a plan. Across Reno, take a minute to note where you have seen activity and when it appears, so the inspection is faster and the quote more accurate. Across Reno, 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. Reno 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 Reno is worth around $530k, which puts a few hundred dollars for an inspection and prevention in perspective. With summer highs around 91°F, Reno'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 Nevada. Reno only sees about 7 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 Reno, NV: what the public record shows
Before you compare quotes, it helps to know which termites actually live in Nevada, when they are busiest around Reno, and what the state figures look like. Everything below links to the agency or university page it came from.
When termites are busiest around Reno
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 Reno’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
- Caulk gaps around plumbing and utility penetrations.
- Check the foundation for mud tubes every spring.
- Screen attic and foundation vents with fine mesh.
- Store firewood well away from the house, off the ground.
- Trim shrubs so foundation walls stay visible and dry.
- Keep six inches between soil and siding or wood.
Compare quotes line by line: the areas treated, the product, the warranty and the renewal fee. The lowest total isn't always the best deal.Did you know?
Across Reno, some tropical termites grow fungus gardens inside the nest and eat the harvest.
Some African termite mounds stand more than 25 feet tall.
Questions people ask
Do I have to leave my house during termite treatment?
Everyone leaves for two to three days, pets and houseplants included. Fumigation is different. Not for a soil treatment or bait stations.
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.
How do I choose a termite company?
Compare the proposals, not just the totals. Ask what the warranty covers. Ask which termites they found and what product they'll use. Make sure they're licensed in Nevada.
Can termites damage a house on a concrete slab?
Most homes around Reno sit on slabs, so inspectors check those spots first. They come up through expansion joints, plumbing gaps and small cracks. Yes.
Is termite treatment safe for kids and pets?
Ask for the label and follow any re-entry times. Bait stations are locked and buried. Soil treatments stay in the ground. Used according to the label, yes.
Is termite prevention cheaper than repairing termite damage?
Across Reno, termites are best caught early through inspection, because the damage is hidden inside wood until it is far along. Across Reno, 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 Nevada?
Around Reno, the usual culprit is the western subterranean termite.
Nearby cities
Related guides
Sources (10)
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