Termite Control in Houston: What Every Homeowner Should Know

Termites aren’t just an occasional nuisance in Houston; they’re a year-round reality. The city’s humid climate and soft clay soil create perfect conditions for these silent invaders to thrive. By the time you notice bubbling paint, hollow wood, or discarded wings near your windowsills, the damage may already be underway. So, can you control termites yourself, or is this a job best left to the pros? Let’s unpack the options, the risks, and what really works in Houston’s environment.

The Realities of Termite Control in Houston

Termites in Houston are typically subterranean, meaning they live underground and build elaborate tunnels to reach the wooden parts of your home. Their colonies can number in the hundreds of thousands, making them tough to fully eliminate without the right tools.

Why Houston Homes Are Especially Vulnerable

• Moisture and warmth: Termites thrive in humidity. Houston offers both almost year-round.
• Expansive soil: Frequent rainfall and flooding can crack foundations, creating easy termite entry points.
• Wood-frame construction: Many Houston homes rely on wood framing, which offers an ideal food source.

Can You Handle Termite Control on Your Own?

In short: it depends on the scale of the infestation.

DIY termite control can help in early or preventive stages, but once termites have spread through walls or foundations, professional equipment and expertise are usually necessary.

What many Houston homeowners don’t realize is that the two dominant termite species in Houston—Eastern subterranean termites and Formosan subterranean termites—often live deep inside wall voids, not just in the soil. Formosan termites are especially challenging because they can survive completely inside the walls without any soil connection, creating hidden “aerial” colonies that DIY methods cannot reach. This behavior is a major reason why professional baiting systems outperform DIY treatments.

DIY Termite Control Options

Homeowners can use:

• Bait systems: These lure termites away from the structure and slowly eliminate colonies.
• However, DIY versions are far less effective than professional-grade systems and may not reach termites living inside walls, especially aerial Formosan colonies.
• Liquid treatments: Applied around the home’s foundation, they create a chemical barrier.
• These can help with soil-foraging termites but often fail to reach termites nesting in wall voids.
• Wood treatments: Borate-based products can be applied to exposed wood for prevention.

If you choose to handle termite control yourself, follow the manufacturer’s directions closely and commit to regular monitoring. DIY options take persistence and patience.

The Risks of DIY Termite Control

Houston’s environment makes termite management tricky. Even if you treat visible areas, hidden colonies may continue thriving underground or inside walls. The two major species here make DIY especially risky:

• Eastern subterranean termites may create secondary colonies inside walls where moisture is present, bypassing soil treatments entirely.
• Formosan subterranean termites can establish huge colonies inside wall voids with no soil contact, meaning many DIY treatments never reach them.

The most common pitfalls of DIY control include:

• Incomplete treatments that only affect part of the colony
• Lack of inspection tools for hidden moisture or structural damage
• Recurring infestations that can double repair costs later

In many cases, homeowners start with DIY efforts but eventually turn to professional treatments for complete eradication and long-term protection, especially when dealing with species that stay hidden inside walls.

When to Call for Professional Help

Certain warning signs mean you’re likely beyond the DIY stage:

• Mud tubes climbing up your foundation or walls.
• Hollow or blistering wood surfaces.
• Live swarming termites or discarded wings indoors.
• Recurring moisture near the foundation or in crawl spaces.

A professional inspection can determine how far the colony has spread and recommend a treatment plan that targets the root cause, not just the surface signs.

Prevention: Houston’s Best Long-Term Defense

Even after treatment, preventing re-infestation is crucial.

Here are simple maintenance steps every Houston homeowner should take:

1. Control moisture: Fix leaks and ensure proper drainage around your foundation.
2. Eliminate wood-to-soil contact: Use concrete supports or metal barriers for decks and fences.
3. Store firewood away from your home: Keep at least 20 feet of distance if possible.
4. Schedule annual inspections: Early detection is the most cost-effective form of termite control.

How Often Should You Schedule an Inspection in Houston?

Given Houston’s subtropical climate, a yearly inspection is recommended for most homes. If your property is near wooded areas or has a history of infestation, every six months may be more appropriate. Preventive treatments can be applied seasonally, especially in spring and early summer when termite activity peaks.

How Long Do Termite Treatments Last?

Modern treatments can last anywhere from five to ten years, depending on soil conditions, rainfall, and maintenance. In Houston’s climate, where heavy rain can dilute soil barriers, homeowners should plan for reapplication or reinspection every few years.

Bottom Line

You can take steps to control termites yourself, but Houston’s environment often makes complete eradication difficult without professional-grade solutions.

The smartest strategy combines prevention, regular monitoring, and expert guidance when necessary. Termites work silently, but with a proactive approach, you can stop them long before they cause serious damage