Top 5 Signs You Need
Termite Treatment in Houston

The Silent Destroyer: Termites cause an estimated $5 billion in property damage annually. In Houston, they don't take breaks. They eat 24/7/365.

Most homeowners assume they are safe because they have a brick home. This is a myth. Termites don't eat the brick; they tunnel behind it to eat the wooden studs holding your house together. By the time you see damage on the outside, the infestation is often severe inside.

Here are the top 5 signs our inspectors look for in Houston homes. If you see any of these, call us immediately.

1. Mud Tubes on the Foundation

Subterranean termites require moisture to survive. They cannot be exposed to the open air or they will dry out and die. To travel from the soil to your wood, they build Mud Shelter Tubes.

What to look for: Brown, pencil-width tunnels running up your concrete foundation slab. They look like lines of dried mud.

2. Discarded Wings (The "Swarm")

In the spring (usually March to May in Houston), termite colonies send out "Swarmers" (Alates) to start new colonies. These flying termites are poor fliers. They land, shed their wings, and crawl away to mate.

What to look for: Piles of translucent, papery wings on your window sills, near door frames, or trapped in spider webs in the corner of your garage. If you see wings inside the house, the colony is likely already under your floor.

3. Blistered or Bubbling Paint

Termites consume wood from the inside out, leaving a thin veneer of paint or drywall surface intact. As they eat, they release moisture.

What to look for: Paint that looks uneven or bubbled, similar to water damage. If you press on it and your finger goes right through the wall, termites have hollowed out the sheetrock paper or the stud behind it. This is often mistaken for a plumbing leak.

4. Hollow Sounding Wood

Since termites eat the soft grain of the wood and leave the hard grain, structural beams lose their density.

The Screwdriver Test: Take the handle of a screwdriver and tap along your baseboards and window frames. Healthy wood should sound solid. If you hear a hollow, papery sound or if the screwdriver breaks through the surface easily you have significant termite damage.

5. Frass (Termite Droppings)

This sign is specific to Drywood Termites, which are common in Houston attics and eaves. Unlike subterranean termites, Drywoods don't use their feces to build mud tubes. Instead, they kick it out of the colony through tiny "kick-out holes."

What to look for: Small piles of pellets that look like sawdust, coffee grounds, or sand. You will often find these piles on the floor directly underneath a kick-out hole in the ceiling or wall.