The short version
Most termite problems in San Bernardino 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.
Anyone in San Bernardino 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. Winters around San Bernardino stay mild, with average lows near 42°F, so colonies keep feeding all year. Spongy floors or bubbling paint usually mean long-running damage. So it's worth an inspection, even for one or two signs.
- 1Crumbling baseboards behind furniture.
- 2Layered, honeycombed wood packed with soil.
- 3Small kick-out holes in exposed wood.
- 4Blistered or bubbling paint on wood surfaces.
- 5Doors and windows that suddenly stick.
- 6Mud tubes running up foundation walls or piers.
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 San Bernardino
Spring
swarm season in San Bernardino, usually after monsoon storms. Watch porch lights at dusk.
Summer
with highs around 96°F in San Bernardino, termites follow moisture, so watch AC drain lines, sprinkler zones and hose bibs.
Fall
with about 16 inches of rain a year in San Bernardino, make sure gutters and downspouts carry water well away from the foundation.
Winter
a good time to book an inspection in San Bernardino, 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)
A soil barrier stops termites from reaching wood through the ground. For most San Bernardino homes with active subterranean termites, this is the fastest way to end feeding.
- 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 San Bernardino, 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
Fumigation for Drywood Termites
$1,200–$4,000 (often $1–$4 per square foot)
Tenting is thorough but leaves no residual protection behind. New drywood swarmers can land on a San Bernardino home the following season, so follow-up inspections still matter.
- 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.
In a basement, the wooden sill plate on top of the block wall is the first piece of wood termites reach.How treatment works on a typical San Bernardino home.
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. For San Bernardino homes, on a slab, the crew treats the soil along the outside walls. Under patios and garage floors, they drill small holes. Treatment goes in through the holes, which get patched afterward.
Which termites live around San Bernardino.
Drywood termites are common around San Bernardino 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 San Bernardino'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 San Bernardino is the desert subterranean termite. It nests in soil and builds mud tubes to reach wood. It needs steady moisture.
A downspout that dumps water at the foundation keeps the soil wet year-round. Extend it well away from the house.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 San Bernardino homes, desert subterranean termites usually swarm from July through September, around dusk after monsoon storms. Drywood termites around San Bernardino 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 San Bernardino out to Fontana and Moreno Valley. Many homes in San Bernardino 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 San Bernardino.
- Summer: with highs around 96°F in San Bernardino, termites follow moisture, so watch AC drain lines, sprinkler zones and hose bibs. - Fall: with about 16 inches of rain a year in San Bernardino, make sure gutters and downspouts carry water well away from the foundation. - Winter: a good time to book an inspection in San Bernardino, before swarm season starts. - Summer: swarm season in San Bernardino, usually after monsoon storms. Watch porch lights at dusk.
What happens at an inspection.
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. 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.
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.
Mark sprinkler heads and any buried lines. 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.
Mulch and termites.
A dry strip along the house lets you spot mud tubes. Wood chips right against siding hold moisture termites like. Keep mulch thin and pull it back from the foundation.
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
- Whole-house fumigation versus spot treatment.
- Cubic footage under the tent for fumigation.
- Attached garages, decks, and additions.
- Extent of existing damage needing repair.
- Amount of drilling through concrete and patios.
- Local labor rates and licensing requirements.
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What's your biggest concern about termites?
When to call for help
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. Lenders often ask for one. It's also the cheapest termite service. Carpenter ants leave clean tunnels and sawdust. Termites leave mud.
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 San Bernardino
San Bernardino 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. Termite activity in California is above average. Most houses will see termites at some point. With summer highs around 96°F, San Bernardino's semi-arid climate decides when local termites are busiest. A typical home in San Bernardino is worth around $420k, which puts a few hundred dollars for an inspection and prevention in perspective.
Local research
Termites in San Bernardino, 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 San Bernardino, 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 San Bernardino
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
- Extend downspouts so water drains away from walls.
- Keep the termite renewal contract current after treatment.
- Remove tree stumps and buried wood near the house.
- Fix leaking hose bibs, faucets, and pipes promptly.
- Use borate-treated or pressure-treated lumber for repairs.
- Inspect used furniture for drywood pellets before bringing indoors.
Keep the inspection diagram, treatment record and warranty together. Buyers and inspectors will ask for them later.Did you know?
For San Bernardino homes, when danger shows up, soldier termites bang their heads against the tunnel walls to warn the colony.
Questions people ask
How do I choose a termite company?
Make sure they're licensed in California. Ask which termites they found and what product they'll use. Ask what the warranty covers. Compare the proposals, not just the totals.
Do I need a termite inspection when buying a house?
Usually, yes. Many lenders ask for a wood-destroying insect (WDI) report. Either way, it's cheap peace of mind. Ask your agent when it's due.
Can termites damage a house on a concrete slab?
Yes. They come up through expansion joints, plumbing gaps and small cracks. Most homes around San Bernardino sit on slabs, so inspectors check those spots first.
What is the difference between subterranean and drywood termites?
Subterranean termites live in soil and build mud tubes. Drywood termites live inside the wood and leave tiny pellets. Both turn up around San Bernardino.
Can I treat termites myself?
Prevention, yes. An active colony is harder. The product must reach the whole colony. It also needs even coverage around the foundation. Store-bought sprays usually kill only what you see.
Are termite baits or liquid treatments more common?
Most professionals use both. A homeowner comparing quotes should expect to see both baits and a liquid barrier proposed: 48% of professionals in PCT magazine's 2025 termite market report (about 145 pest-control professionals, 2024 operations) primarily used the two together.
Can you treat for termites before building a house?
Yes, and most termite companies offer it. For San Bernardino homes, anyone planning a build can usually find a termite pre-treatment locally: 79% of locations responding to PCT magazine's 2025 termite market report (about 145 pest-control professionals, 2024 operations) offered it. A good pro in San Bernardino will explain how their plan fits what they found at your home.
Are termites common in California?
Around San Bernardino, the usual culprit is the desert 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