Houston termite questions, answered fast

Termite swarmers have straight antennae, a thick waist and wings of equal length. Flying ants have elbowed antennae, a pinched waist and uneven wings.

Not always, but it means a colony is close. Swarmers emerging indoors point strongly to activity inside the structure.

Yes, through cracks, expansion joints and gaps around plumbing that passes through the slab.

Each fits different situations. A professional explains which suits your house after an inspection.

The Texas Department of Agriculture's Structural Pest Control Service licenses people who apply pesticides in and around structures. ^[4]

Your call connects to an independent licensed pest control professional and you speak with them directly. We do not collect your details or call you back.

Yes. Check used wooden furniture for pellets before bringing it home.

Ask; docks and bulkheads stay damp and can host termites.

They keep wood damp, which makes prevention more important.

It is used for widespread drywood infestations.

They are more common near the coast. Pellets are the main sign.

Ideally not, since it gives termites a path to the walls.

Leaks and flooding create damp wood that termites favor.

Yes, for subterranean and Formosan termites, not drywood.

Fences, decks, storm history and what signs you found.

Often, with repair of damaged bases after treatment.

Ask the professional; older raised houses often warrant regular checks.

They damage the wood framing behind stucco, entering through gaps near the soil.

Better to treat before closing walls and floors.

Wood near the soil and damp crawlspaces make regular inspection important.

Yes. Treat before closing walls and replacing wood.

Sometimes. Damaged bases can often be repaired after treatment.

It is where damage often hides, so yes if access allows.

Foundation, porch condition, restoration plans and signs you found.

Grinding stumps near the foundation removes a food source close to the house.

Crews can avoid large roots or use baits nearby. Ask before work starts.

Pretreatment helps, but periodic inspections still catch problems early.

Healthy trees rarely do; dead wood and stumps are what feed colonies.

They can feed colonies near the house. Removing them helps.

Disturbed colonies may move. Watch for new signs.

Many are pretreated during construction. Ask for records.

It holds moisture and hides tubes. Keep a clear strip at the foundation.

Trees, stumps, mulch, foundation type and nearby construction.

Often, by trenching from the perimeter and treating through access points, though inspection may be limited.

Original houses were not. Newer additions and rebuilds may have been.

On humid evenings during swarm season, turning it off reduces swarmers around the door.

Yes, from below through joists and subfloor. A crawlspace inspection shows what is happening under them.

Wood sits closer to the soil and crawlspaces can stay damp, so they need regular inspection.

Usually. Soil around the porch is treated, and damaged wood is replaced afterward.

Formosan termites swarm at dusk and are drawn to lights.

Many buyers do, given the age of the houses.

No, but exterior wood repairs may need to follow district rules.

Foundation type, crawlspace access, renovation history and what you found.

Ask the professional to inspect after significant flooding; retreatment may be needed.

Treatment covers the new piers or foundation and any soil contact points.

Yes, if the trap was left open. Ask whether it was treated.

Less at first if pretreated, but inspections are still recommended.

Wet wood and disturbed soil can make conditions better for termites.

Raising disturbs the soil. Ask whether the new foundation was treated.

Many are pretreated. Ask the builder for records.

Cracks, expansion joints, plumbing gaps and bath traps.

Flood history, foundation work and where you found signs.

Yes, through shared foundations and walls, which is why building-wide plans help.

On close Montrose lots, yes. Check your own house and consider an inspection.

It needs to be included. It is a separate structure with its own foundation.

Usually the owner arranges it, but tenants should report signs promptly.

Yes. Outbuildings are often older and close to the soil.

Usually the property owner, with access to every unit.

They hold moisture and hide tubes, which makes conditions better for termites.

Treatment itself is not restricted. Replacing visible exterior wood in Audubon Place, Avondale or Westmoreland may need city review.

Number of units, outbuildings, foundation types and what you found.

Neither is better everywhere. The house and termites decide.

Liquid treatments usually act faster.

Bait stations.

The foundation, what surrounds it, and any wells, ponds or gardens.

Break a small section to check for activity, but leave the rest for the inspector.

Yes, on walls, in closets or behind baseboards.

They show past activity. An inspection confirms whether termites have returned.

Where the tubes are, how long, and whether they were rebuilt after you broke them.

Usually not for liquid or bait treatments. Fumigation requires leaving.

Pull it back from the foundation if asked; a clear strip helps long term.

Mention it on the call so the plan accounts for it.

Pets, wells, ponds, gardens, health concerns and access limits.

Yes. Activity can stay hidden for a long time, which is why inspections matter.

No. Flying ants swarm too. Compare antennae, waist and wings.

Not necessarily. Break a small piece and see whether it is rebuilt.

What you found, where, when, and whether the house is on a slab or piers.

No. The colony's workers do the damage.

Most fail, but some succeed where soil and moisture are available.

Formosan swarmers fly at dusk and are drawn to lights.

When the swarm happened, where swarmers emerged, and whether you saved samples.

The technician will show you activity during visits if you ask.

No. They are simple housings in the soil.

Technicians clear and reset stations during visits.

Yes, though termite feeding may be slower until weather warms.

Slowly, often over months, because the bait spreads through the colony.

Termites forage in the soil already. Stations intercept them; they do not draw colonies from far away.

Yes. They sit flush with the ground.

Termites may consume the bait and move on, or stations may sit unchecked. Regular visits are essential.

No. Drywood termites live inside wood and do not forage in soil.

They are locked and require a tool to open, and bait is contained inside.

Where you saw activity, what surrounds the house and whether you have gardens, wells or ponds nearby.

Heavy rain or saturated soil may delay treatment to avoid runoff and poor coverage.

Some products have a mild odor during application. Ask about your specific product.

The treatment itself does not, but periodic inspections are wise.

Yes. Ask the professional for the label or safety data sheet.

Usually not, though you may be asked to keep pets and children away from the work areas until the soil dries.

Small holes are drilled and patched. Patches are usually visible up close.

Activity often slows over weeks as termites contact the treated soil.

Ask first. Digging along the foundation can disturb the treated zone.

No. Drywood termites live in the wood and need a different approach.

Products are applied by label directions. Mention edible gardens near the house on the call.

Foundation type, patios and driveways against the house, any well or pond, and where you saw signs.

Yes, and it helps. You can point out what you found and see the findings yourself.

Ask when booking. Attics matter for Formosan activity and roof leaks.

An open area of soil under a tub drain left during construction, a common termite entry in slab homes.

They explain options; the choice is yours after you understand the plan.

It depends on the size and access of the house. Crawlspaces and large attics add time.

No. Inspections are visual and use probing and moisture meters on accessible wood.

Yes, in hidden areas. Inspectors note what they could not see.

Many Houston owners schedule them anyway, because termites often stay hidden until damage appears.

Keep them in a sealed bag or jar and give them to the inspector to identify.

It follows a standard reporting format but looks for the same evidence.

What you found, where, when, whether the house is on a slab or piers, and any past treatment.

Severe structural damage can weaken floors or framing. Have soft areas checked.

They eat the paper facing, which can look like blistering or lines.

Lightly damaged wood sometimes can; structural members are usually repaired.

Yes, if you have removed any, keep a piece to show them.

No. Much damage is to trim and frames, but structural members should be checked.

Usually not. Treat first so new wood is not attacked.

They assess and treat. Carpenters or contractors usually make repairs.

Soft, bouncy or sagging floors need a professional look. Keep weight off until checked.

Once termites are controlled, damage should stop progressing. Rot from moisture can continue.

Usually not. Check your policy and any treatment warranty.

Where you see damage, whether floors are soft and whether the house is on piers or a slab.