Subterranean termite treatment
The common case in Florida. Treatment targets the soil around the foundation and the colony that feeds from it, and it is paired with fixes to the moisture conditions that drew the termites to the wood.
Serving Hillsborough County
Termite Inspection and Treatment in Tampa, FL
Inspection and treatment for subterranean termites in Tampa homes, from the soil line up through the wood framing.
- Phones answered 24/7
- Same-day service when available
- Price approved before any treatment
- Termites, mosquitoes, roof rats and more
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Fastest: call (855) 974-4733. Or send this and we call you back.
Termite Work
Termite Inspection and Treatment: what it covers
Quick answer
Termite inspection looks for signs of subterranean termites, including mud tubes, damaged wood and discarded swarmer wings, and then sets out a treatment plan for the soil and the structure. Subterranean termites are a Florida-wide risk, and UF/IFAS reports the Asian subterranean termite has moved into Hillsborough County. The price is confirmed before any work starts.
Subterranean termites live in the soil and reach the wood in a building through mud tubes, cracks in the foundation and any wood that touches the ground. A home can hold a live colony in its framing long before anyone sees a wing. That is why termite work starts with an inspection rather than a spray, and why the inspection looks first at the foundation, the crawl space, the slab edges and the wood nearest the soil.
Florida treats termite work as its own category. Under Chapter 482 of the Florida Statutes, termite and other wood-destroying organism work sits in a certification category separate from general household pest work, and the technician doing it must hold that certification. Ask for the certificate, and check it with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, before you agree to a treatment plan.
The first visit is a survey, not a sales call. The technician records what was seen, what could not be reached and what the next step should be. Where the evidence points to treatment, the plan is written out, the price is explained and approved before anything is applied, and the homeowner decides.
- Service area
- Tampa & Hillsborough County
- Availability
- Phones answered 24/7
- Phone
- (855) 974-4733
How do I know if termites are in my house?
Look for mud tubes on the foundation, hollow-sounding wood, swarmer wings and doors that stick. Subterranean termites stay hidden by design, so a house that looks clean can still have activity. A professional inspection with a moisture meter and access to the crawl space is the reliable way to check.
Termite damage is often found by accident, when a floor sounds soft or a window will not close. An inspection before that point is the cheaper path. The technician looks where soil and wood meet, because that is where a colony usually gets in, and explains what the evidence shows and what it does not.
Why does moisture matter for termite control?
Moisture draws termites toward a building and keeps the soil near the foundation damp enough for them to travel. Gutters that overflow, sprinklers that hit the siding and mulch piled against the wall all give termites a route. Correcting those conditions is part of the plan, not an extra.
The rainy season runs from roughly late May to early October, according to the National Weather Service, and that is when saturated ground is most common. A treatment applied while a sprinkler still runs against the wall is likely to need more attention later than one applied after the water has been moved away from the foundation.
Are termite treatments disruptive to the household?
Usually less than people expect. Soil work is done outside, crawl space work needs access for a few hours, and the technician explains any area that must be kept clear. The price is confirmed before work starts, and the schedule is written out in advance.
Crawl space work is the part most people notice. The technician may need stored items moved, an access hatch opened or a route cleared to get under the house. Ask beforehand what must be moved and what should stay outside the area while the treatment goes in.
What paperwork should I expect after a termite inspection?
A written report that lists the evidence found, the areas inspected and the areas that could not be reached, with photographs and a recommendation. If a treatment is chosen, the plan and the price are written down before the work starts.
Keep the report with your home records. If you sell the house, the buyer may ask for a WDO inspection report, which is a separate state document with its own purpose. Ask whether the report will name any area that needs repair, and whether a follow-up inspection is included in the price.
Warning signs
Signs you need termite inspection and treatment
Do not disturb mud tubes or cut into wood that looks damaged, because that can release a colony and hide the evidence the inspector needs. Keep sprinklers and gutters away from the foundation while you wait for the visit, and do not apply a store-bought termite product yourself, since it can interfere with a professional treatment.
- Mud tubes running up a foundation wall, a pier or a crawl space post
- Wood that sounds hollow when tapped, or that crumbles at the surface
- Blistered paint or bubbling on a sill, door frame or baseboard
- Discarded wings in a window sill, near a light or at a door after a flight
- Doors or windows that begin to stick with no other cause
- Soft or spongy floorboards near an exterior wall, often where the wood meets the soil
- Hairline cracks in drywall or plaster that run along a wall line
Our process
How our termite inspection and treatment visit works
Survey the outside first
The technician walks the perimeter and looks for soil touching wood, mulch or landscaping piled against siding, and gaps where tubes could start. Downspouts and sprinklers that wet the foundation are noted too.
Inspect the crawl space, slab edges and framing
Access points, sill plates, floor joists and any wood in the crawl space are checked with a moisture meter and a probe. Where a slab is reachable, its edges and the utility penetrations get the same look.
Record the evidence and what was not reached
Findings are written down with photographs. Areas that could not be reached are listed as not inspected, so the homeowner knows exactly what the report covers.
Set out the treatment options
The technician explains the methods available, which may include soil treatment, bait stations or a combination, and what each one asks of the home. Nothing is applied before the homeowner agrees to the plan and the price.
Monitor and compare
Monitoring visits check whether activity has stopped and whether new evidence has appeared. The first survey is kept on file so a later inspection can be compared with it.
Options
Types and options for termite inspection and treatment
Bait station monitoring
Stations placed in the soil around the house are checked on a schedule, and a bait can be delivered to foraging termites. The approach suits homes where a full soil treatment is not chosen, or where ongoing monitoring is wanted.
Structural repair referral
Where damage is found, the technician reports its location and extent and says who should assess it. Repairs to structural wood go to a contractor or builder, not to the pest technician.
Job stories
Typical jobs for termite inspection and treatment
A typical case in Tampa
- What homeowners notice
- A customer contacted Tampa Pest Control to report a typical issue in Tampa.
- What we do
- The technician assessed the situation, provided an estimate, and completed the work professionally.
- What to expect
- The problem was resolved satisfactorily and the customer approved the work.
One call and it gets handled.
Most termite inspection and treatment calls are scheduled the same day when a technician is free, and you approve the price before any work starts.
Hillsborough County
Why termite inspection and treatment is different in Tampa Bay area
Much of Tampa's older housing sits on wood framing and foundations that have been patched over the decades. Hyde Park, Ybor City, West Tampa and Seminole Heights were largely built between about 1900 and 1940, and in those houses the wood near the soil, in crawl spaces, porches and the back of the lot, is what a termite inspection checks first. The Ybor City page describes the building stock there.
South Tampa is where UF/IFAS confirmed in 2023 that the Asian subterranean termite, Coptotermes gestroi, is established. Researchers found it through pest control operators using the UF/IFAS Termite ID service, and they described Tampa as the northernmost known Florida site for this tropical species. The Asian subterranean termite page explains what that finding means for a house in that area.
The rainy season brings wet soil, storms and heavy rain that keep the ground damp around foundations, and Florida's termite swarming periods fall in spring and early summer, when homeowners are most likely to notice wings. Those flight periods are documented across the state, not for any single Tampa street, so treat them as a guide to when to look rather than a schedule.
Related
Related services
Asian Subterranean Termite Control
Inspection and treatment for the tropical Asian subterranean termite, which UF/IFAS confirmed as established in South Tampa.
Drywood Termite Treatment
Inspection and treatment for drywood termites, which live inside dry wood above the soil line and swarm in a different season.
Wood-Destroying Organism Inspection for Home Sales
A Florida WDO inspection report for a home sale, covering the wood that can be reached and listing what could not be.
Where we work
Termite Inspection and Treatment across Hillsborough County
- Termite Work in Hyde Park and Bayshore
- Termite Work in Downtown Tampa
- Termite Work in Ybor City
- Termite Work in West Tampa
- Termite Work in Seminole Heights
- Termite Work in South Tampa and Palma Ceia
- Termite Work in East Tampa
- Termite Work in Sulphur Springs
- Termite Work in Egypt Lake-Leto
- Termite Work in Palm River-Clair Mel
- Termite Work in Port Tampa, Gandy and Bayshore Gardens
- Termite Work in Temple Terrace
- Termite Work in University Area
- Termite Work in Town 'n' Country
- Termite Work in Carrollwood
- Termite Work in Gibsonton
- Termite Work in Seffner and Mango
- Termite Work in Brandon
- Termite Work in Riverview
- Termite Work in Citrus Park
- Termite Work in Thonotosassa
- Termite Work in Westchase
- Termite Work in New Tampa
- Termite Work in Apollo Beach
- Termite Work in Lutz
- Termite Work in Valrico
- Termite Work in St. Petersburg (north-east)
- Termite Work in Clearwater (Countryside)
- Termite Work in Safety Harbor
- Termite Work in Oldsmar
Not sure if you're covered? Check your ZIP code.
Guides
Read before you book
How much does pest control cost in Tampa?
This page does not publish a price list, because no Tampa figure could be tied to a public body.
When is termite swarm season in Tampa?
Florida termite swarms follow a calendar that depends on the species.
What are Asian subterranean termites, and are they in South Tampa?
Asian subterranean termites are a tropical species that UF/IFAS has confirmed as established in South Tampa.
How do I check a Florida pest control license?
Florida regulates pest control through the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services under Chapter 482 of the Florida Statutes.
Does homeowners insurance cover termite or rodent damage in Florida?
Standard homeowners policies typically exclude termite damage and damage from vermin, and the policy wording decides every case.
FAQ
Termite Inspection and Treatment FAQs
Can I treat termites myself with a store product?
Store products are not designed for the situations an inspection usually finds, and a partial treatment can make a later professional job harder to plan. Get the inspection first, then decide what to do.
Is a termite inspection the same as a WDO inspection?
Not always. A WDO inspection is the report used when a home is sold in a real estate transaction in Florida, and it follows state rules. A termite inspection is a service visit that can lead to a treatment plan. Ask which one you need before you book.
Do termites damage a whole house quickly?
Colonies can spread through a building over time, and the damage often goes unseen for months. The point of an inspection is to find activity early and to know what the framing looks like before a problem reaches it.
Will the treatment make my yard unusable?
Soil treatments are applied around the foundation, and the technician explains where the work goes and how long access is limited. Ask for the plan in writing before any work starts.
Who fixes wood that is already damaged?
The pest technician reports the damage and its extent. Structural repairs are done by a contractor, and the technician can tell you what the report needs to show for that work.