Signs of termites in San Diego County
Termites work quietly inside wood, so most damage is found well after the colony has been active for a while. A few visible clues usually give away an infestation before major damage sets in.
How to tell if you have termites
- Discarded wings near windows or doorsA pile of small, uniform wings on a windowsill after a warm evening often means a drywood termite swarm just occurred.
- Small pellet piles under wood trimTiny, six-sided pellets that look like coarse sand collecting beneath baseboards or window frames are drywood termite droppings.
- Mud tubes on foundation wallsPencil-width mud tubes running up an exterior foundation wall are a subterranean termite highway between soil and wood.
- Hollow or blistered woodWood trim, fence posts, or door frames that sound hollow when tapped or show blistered paint often hide termite tunneling underneath.
- Sagging floors or sticking doorsDoors and windows that suddenly stick, or floors that feel soft, can point to structural wood damage from a longer-term infestation.
What to do next
Schedule a termite inspection every one to two years, keep irrigation away from the foundation, and remove wood debris touching the soil around the house.
Ready to act? How to get rid of termites.
Signs of termites in your city
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Common questions
How much does termite treatment cost in San Diego County?
Spot treatment for a localized drywood colony runs $400 to $1,500, subterranean soil treatment runs $800 to $2,800, and whole-structure fumigation runs $1,500 to $4,500 depending on home size.
Do I need fumigation or spot treatment in San Diego?
Spot treatment works for a single confirmed, accessible colony, while fumigation is recommended when drywood termite activity is found in multiple areas of the structure.
How often should homes in San Diego County get a termite inspection?
Given San Diego County's termite pressure, an inspection every one to two years catches most colonies before they cause structural damage.
Spotting signs of termites?
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