Signs of termites in a house
- Hollow-sounding or sagging wood that sounds papery when tapped with a screwdriver handle
- Bubbling or buckling paint, warped doors and windows that suddenly stick, and soft spots in baseboards
- Mud tubes: pencil-width tunnels of soil on foundation walls, piers or sill plates
- Frass: tiny six-sided wood pellets from drywood termites, kicked out of small holes
- Swarmers: winged termites near windows and lights, usually in spring, and piles of shed wings
Prevent termites around the house
- Store firewood, lumber and cardboard off the ground and away from the foundation
- Seal cracks around pipes and utility penetrations
- Fix leaking gutters, hose bibs, AC condensate lines and irrigation spray against the wall
- Schedule an inspection every year, and after any flood or major plumbing leak
- Keep mulch, soil and plants a few inches below siding and out of contact with wood
What a termite inspection should cover
The inspector checks the foundation perimeter, crawl space or garage slab edges, attic framing, window and door frames, decks, fence posts that touch the house, and any wood in contact with soil. Tools are a flashlight, a moisture meter and a probe.
When a home is being sold, the lender can require a wood-destroying insect report. The report notes what the inspector found and which areas could not be reached, and it makes no promise about what happens later.
Termite treatment methods compared
| Method | How it works | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Liquid termiticide (soil trench and rod) | A treated zone in the soil around the foundation stops termites from reaching the structure | Subterranean termites around slab and crawl space foundations |
| Structural fumigation (tenting) | A gas fills the whole structure for a set time while the home is vacated | Widespread drywood termites in several areas of the house |
| Spot and localized wood treatment | Foam, dust or injected product placed into the infested wood | Small drywood infestations in accessible wood |
| Moisture and wood-to-soil fixes | Removing wood contact, repairing leaks and improving drainage | Every case, because it removes what termites need |
| Bait stations | Stations in the ground hold a slow-acting bait that workers carry back to the colony | Subterranean termites when soil treatment is hard, or alongside it |
What happens after treatment
Expect soil treatments and bait stations to take weeks rather than hours to work, and remember that mud tubes can remain in view after the termites have gone. Ask the provider what signs to watch for, the date of the next inspection, and which situations the written guarantee covers and which it leaves out.
Do not knock down or scrape active mud tubes ahead of the inspection; a photograph does the job without disturbing the evidence.
Subterranean, drywood and Formosan termites
Because subterranean termites nest underground and depend on moisture, they construct mud tubes to get up to the wood above the soil, and across much of the country they are the leading wood-destroying insect. Drywood termites take a different route: they get in through attic vents, eaves and cracks, then live wholly inside dry timber and leave frass behind. The Formosan termite, found in Gulf and southeastern states, is an aggressive subterranean species whose colonies grow very large.
Naming the species and pointing out where it is active is the first thing a good provider does. Picking a treatment before that identification is guesswork.
Questions to ask before you agree to any termite control
- What species or problem did you find, and what did you see that proves it?
- Which products, baits or devices will you use, and where will they go?
- What will you seal, remove or fix, and what stays my job?
- Who is on site, and can you show the state licence or applicator ID for the work?
- What will you write down for me: scope, exclusions, follow-up and product list?
- How many visits are in the plan, and what happens if activity returns?
What makes termite control different in Amarillo
Amarillo is a High Plains city with wind, hail, cold winters and hot dry summers, and many older brick homes and slab foundations. Playa lakes and irrigation put standing water around the city after rain and support mosquitoes.
Cold nights push mice and spiders into garages and homes in fall. Termites are active in Texas, and wood near soil or leaks raises the risk. What works in one climate or housing style can fall flat in the next, so ask each provider to explain how these local details shape the plan for your property.
Termite control across Amarillo and nearby cities
These Amarillo, Texas are covered by Pest Control Amarillo TX: . Requests can also be passed to providers who serve Canyon, Bushland, Lake Tanglewood, Washburn and Wildorado. Because coverage is confirmed address by address, mention your ZIP code when you phone.
Start by using Call Now at the top of the page and explaining what you have noticed. You will reach an independent provider in your area, who confirms the address, inspects the property and puts the scope in writing for you.