HOW TO GET RID OF TERMITES
A step-by-step guide from licensed Central Texas pest control professionals. We'll walk you through identifying an infestation, understanding your treatment options, and protecting your home long-term.
IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM
Before you can remove termites, you need to confirm you're actually dealing with them — and figure out what type. Misidentification is one of the most common reasons DIY termite attempts fail.
TYPES OF TERMITES
Subterranean Termites
The most common species in Central Texas. They live in underground colonies and travel up through the soil or in mud tubes to reach wood. They need moisture to survive and are responsible for the majority of structural termite damage in the U.S.
Formosan Termites
An aggressive subterranean species expanding across Texas. Their colonies are significantly larger than native subterranean termites and can cause damage at a faster rate. They also build distinctive carton nests.
Drywood Termites
Unlike subterranean termites, drywood termites live entirely inside the wood they consume — no soil contact required. They're commonly found in attics, furniture, and structural framing. Infestations are often harder to detect.
WARNING SIGNS TO LOOK FOR
DON'T PANIC — BUT ACT FAST
Discovering termites is stressful. But finding them is actually a good thing — it means you can do something about it before the damage gets worse. Termite infestations don't cause catastrophic damage overnight.
A mature subterranean termite colony can consume about a foot of 2x4 lumber in six months. That's meaningful damage, but it also means a few weeks to get a professional inspection and treatment plan in place won't be the difference between a repair and a rebuild.
What matters is not waiting months or years. The longer a colony has to establish itself, the harder it is to fully eliminate and the more structural damage accumulates — often silently, inside walls and under floors where you can't see it.
Early detection
Smaller colonies are easier to eliminate completely. Treatment costs are lower and damage is minimal.
Established colony
Larger colonies spread farther into your structure. Multiple treatment points may be needed.
Years untreated
Structural damage that requires repairs beyond pest control — framing, flooring, support beams.
GET A PROFESSIONAL INSPECTION
DIY identification has real limits. Termite activity is often hidden inside walls, beneath slabs, and in crawlspaces that aren't easily accessible. A professional inspector knows exactly where to look — and what they're looking at when they find it.
STRUCTURAL ACCESS
A licensed inspector examines your foundation, crawlspace, attic, garage, and any accessible void spaces — the areas where termites establish themselves before you ever see them.
SPECIES ID
Knowing whether you have subterranean, Formosan, or drywood termites determines the entire treatment approach. The wrong treatment for the wrong species is wasted money.
DAMAGE ASSESSMENT
Inspectors can determine how long an infestation has been active and how far it has spread — information you need before choosing a treatment method.
FREE TERMITE INSPECTIONS
Cowboy Pest Eliminators offers free termite inspections for Central Texas homeowners. We'll check your foundation, crawlspace, and attic and give you a straight answer on what we find — no pressure, no upsell.
Schedule Free Inspection — (512) 229-5001TREATMENT OPTIONS
There is no single "best" termite treatment. The right approach depends on the species, the size of the infestation, your home's construction, and whether you're treating an active infestation or preventing a future one. Here's what's available and how each works.
LIQUID BARRIER TREATMENT
Most common — subterranean termitesA trench is dug around your home's foundation and a non-repellent termiticide (like Termidor) is applied to the soil. Termites pass through the treated zone, carry the product back to the colony on their bodies, and spread it through social contact. The entire colony is eliminated — typically within 90 days.
Advantages
- Highly effective against subterranean and Formosan termites
- Colony elimination, not just suppression
- Long-lasting residual — typically 10+ years
- Odorless and undetectable to termites
Limitations
- Requires trenching around foundation
- Not effective for drywood termites
- Requires licensed applicator
The standard of care for subterranean termite treatment in Central Texas. Highly effective given our soil conditions and termite pressure.
BAIT STATION SYSTEMS
Monitoring + eliminationIn-ground stations containing cellulose bait are installed at regular intervals around the perimeter of your home. Foraging termites find the bait, consume it, and share it with nestmates through grooming and feeding. Stations are monitored quarterly and bait is replenished as needed.
Advantages
- Minimal disruption to landscaping
- Ongoing monitoring detects new activity early
- Effective colony elimination over time
- Lower upfront cost than full liquid treatment
Limitations
- Slower acting than liquid barriers
- Requires regular monitoring visits
- Termites must find the stations to be effective
A good option for prevention and for homeowners who want ongoing monitoring. Often used in combination with liquid treatment for active infestations.
DIRECT WOOD TREATMENT
Active infestation — spot treatmentTermiticide is injected directly into termite galleries, wall voids, and infested wood using a drill-and-treat method. Foam formulations can penetrate deep into void spaces that liquid alone can't reach. Used for drywood termites and as a supplement to soil treatment.
Advantages
- Addresses active infestation directly
- Effective for drywood termites
- Can reach difficult void spaces
Limitations
- Does not protect the full structure
- May require drilling into finished surfaces
- Not a standalone solution for large infestations
Commonly used for drywood termites in attics and for supplementing subterranean treatment in areas with confirmed active feeding.
FUMIGATION (TENTING)
Whole-structure — drywood termitesThe entire structure is enclosed in a tent and filled with a fumigant gas (typically sulfuryl fluoride). The gas penetrates all wood in the structure and eliminates all life stages of termites throughout the entire home. Requires vacating for 2-3 days.
Advantages
- Complete elimination throughout the entire structure
- Reaches every void and piece of wood
- One-time treatment for drywood infestations
Limitations
- No residual protection after treatment
- Requires vacating the home
- Higher cost and logistical complexity
- Overkill for localized infestations
Used when drywood termite infestation is widespread throughout the structure. For localized drywood infestations, direct treatment is usually sufficient and more practical.
PREVENT TERMITES FROM COMING BACK
Treatment eliminates your current infestation. Prevention protects you from the next one. These steps reduce the conditions that attract termites to your property in the first place.
CONTROL MOISTURE
Subterranean termites need moisture to survive. Fix leaky faucets, repair damaged gutters, ensure proper grading away from your foundation, and ventilate crawlspaces. Dry conditions make your home significantly less attractive.
ELIMINATE WOOD-TO-SOIL CONTACT
Structural wood that touches soil gives subterranean termites direct access without needing to build mud tubes. Keep siding, door frames, and wood siding at least 6 inches above soil grade. Remove wood debris, mulch piles, and lumber from around your foundation.
STORE FIREWOOD AWAY FROM THE HOUSE
Firewood stacked against your exterior is an ideal termite habitat — wood, moisture, and shelter. Store firewood at least 20 feet from your home and off the ground.
SCHEDULE ANNUAL INSPECTIONS
Annual termite inspections catch new activity before it becomes a major infestation. This is especially important in Central Texas, where termite pressure is high year-round and new colonies can establish quickly.
MAINTAIN BAIT STATION MONITORING
If your property has bait stations installed, keeping up with quarterly monitoring visits is essential. Stations only work if they're checked and replenished. Skipping monitoring defeats the purpose.
SEAL ENTRY POINTS
Caulk gaps around utility penetrations, expansion joints, and where wood meets concrete. While termites can squeeze through very small gaps, reducing access points adds a meaningful layer of protection.
CAN YOU TREAT TERMITES YOURSELF?
Honest answer: store-bought termite products can kill the termites you see. They cannot eliminate the colony.
Subterranean termite colonies live underground — sometimes 10 to 20 feet below the surface — and can number in the hundreds of thousands to millions of individuals. The workers you see in your walls or on your wood represent a small fraction of the colony. Killing them disrupts foraging in that area, but the colony survives and simply sends workers elsewhere.
Effective termite elimination requires either transferring a slow-acting termiticide back to the colony (non-repellent liquid barriers and baits) or reaching the colony directly. Consumer-grade products are generally repellent — termites detect and avoid them, driving the colony deeper or to another part of your structure.
Professional-grade termiticides like Termidor are non-repellent and formulated for transfer between colony members. They are not available to the public and require a licensed applicator. The tools and chemistry that actually work are simply not sold at hardware stores.
The bottom line: DIY products may slow visible activity temporarily. For complete colony elimination — which is the only outcome that actually protects your home — you need a licensed professional using the right chemistry applied in the right places.
GET YOUR FREE TERMITE INSPECTION
We'll inspect your foundation, crawlspace, and attic and give you a straight answer on what we find. No pressure, no upsell — just honest information.
Serving Lexington, Georgetown, Taylor, Bastrop, and surrounding Central Texas communities. TDA License #0971524.