Finding termites inside your house means the colony isn’t just near your home. It’s already feeding on it. The good news: termites work slowly. You have time to do this right, and doing it right matters more than doing it fast.
Here’s what to do in the first 24 hours, what to avoid, and how a licensed inspector finds where they’re getting in.
The short answer
Take photos, leave everything in place, and book a termite inspection. Don’t spray, don’t break open mud tubes, and don’t start tearing out drywall. A licensed inspector needs to see the activity as it is to find where the termites are coming from. In Texas, a termite treatment can’t be sold without an inspection first anyway.
First, make sure it’s termites
Most people find termites inside the house in one of three ways:
Mud tubes. Pencil-width tunnels of dirt running up a foundation wall, a slab crack, or along a pipe.
Soft or hollow wood. Baseboards, door frames, or trim that sound hollow when tapped or give way under a screwdriver.
Wings. Small piles of identical wings on a windowsill or near a light. Termites swarm mostly in spring, so in fall you’re more likely to find tubes or damage than live swarmers.
Not sure if it’s termites, water damage, or carpenter ants? Our guide on what termite damage actually looks like walks through how to tell them apart.
What to do in the first 24 hours
Take photos. Get the tubes, the damaged wood, and any wings or insects. Note the room and the date. This helps the inspector and gives you a record for later.
Leave it alone. Don’t break the tubes or scrape off the damage. Termites that get disturbed move to a new spot inside the wall, which makes the colony harder to find.
Bag a sample if you can. If there are wings or dead insects loose on a sill, sweep a few into a sealed plastic bag for the inspector.
Book an inspection. Romex offers a free termite inspection. A licensed inspector checks the whole property, not just the spot you found, to figure out how the colony is getting in.
If a floor feels spongy or a ceiling is sagging, stay off it and mention it when you book. That’s rare, but it means the damage needs repair as well as treatment.
What not to do
Don’t spray store-bought insecticide. It kills the termites you can see and does nothing to the colony underground. It can also scatter them deeper into the wall.
Don’t open up walls to look. You’ll cause damage the inspector didn’t need and likely won’t find the source.
Don’t wait for spring. Subterranean termites feed all year in Texas. The colony doesn’t slow down because you stopped seeing wings.
How termites get inside
Most termites in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Mississippi are subterranean. They live in the soil and travel up into the house. The usual ways in:
Foundation cracks. Termites can fit through an opening less than 1/32 of an inch wide, so a crack you can barely see is still a way in.
Plumbing and utility lines. Gaps where pipes and lines pass through the slab are a common hidden path, especially under bathrooms and kitchens.
Wood touching soil. Deck posts, porch steps, siding, or landscape timbers that touch the ground give termites a bridge into the house.
Moisture. Leaks, poor drainage, and damp crawlspaces soften wood and draw termites in.
This is why an inspection covers the whole property. Texas A&M AgriLife estimates that wooden structures in Texas have more than a 70% chance of termite attack within 10 to 20 years of construction without protection (Texas A&M AgriLife).
In parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, and the Texas Gulf Coast, Formosan termites raise the stakes. Colonies are larger and spread faster. More on that in our Louisiana Formosan termite guide.
How termites inside a house get treated
Once termites are inside, the goal is the colony, not just the termites you can see. There are two main approaches, and the inspector recommends one based on your foundation, your soil, and how the termites are getting in.
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Liquid treatment. A non-repellent liquid is applied to the soil around and under the foundation. Termites can’t detect it, so they pass through it and carry it back to the colony. This is usually the faster option.
Baiting and monitoring. Bait stations like Sentricon go in the ground around the house. Termites feed on the bait and share it with the colony, which takes longer but keeps monitoring your home after the colony is gone.
Some homes get both. Before you agree to anything, ask the inspector:
Which treatment do you recommend, and why for my house?
How will we know the colony is gone?
What does the warranty cover, and for how long?
What happens if termites come back?
If you have kids or pets, here’s what’s actually used in termite treatment and where it goes.
Treatment stops the termites. It doesn’t repair the wood. Damaged trim or framing may need a carpenter, and that’s a separate cost from the treatment itself. For pricing, see our termite treatment cost guide.
How to keep them from coming back
Keep at least 6 inches of space between soil or mulch and your siding.
Fix leaks and point downspouts away from the foundation.
Seal foundation cracks and gaps around pipes.
Store firewood away from the house, not against it.
Keep up with yearly inspections, even after treatment.
None of this will stop termites that are already inside. It lowers the odds of a new colony finding its way in.
Found something that looks like termites? Book a free termite inspection and a licensed Romex inspector will find out what’s going on and where it’s coming from.
Frequently Asked Questions About Termites Inside Your House
What are the most common signs of termites inside a house?
Common indicators include visible swarmers or discarded wings near windows, mud tubes on interior walls, hollow-sounding wood, and structural damage like sagging ceilings or spongy floors. Finding termites indoors means a colony is already established and actively feeding on your home's structure.
How do termites enter and spread through a home?
Termites enter via foundation cracks, plumbing penetrations, wood-to-soil contact, and moisture zones. Once inside, they tunnel through floor joists, climb wall studs, and maintain multiple feeding sites across different rooms simultaneously, following moisture gradients and wood grain.
What should I do immediately if I find termites inside?
Document evidence with photos, avoid disturbing the colony or using DIY treatments, isolate affected items if safe, and schedule a free termite inspection immediately. Check your homeowner's insurance and consult a structural engineer if you notice severe damage.
Can I treat termites inside my house myself?
No. DIY methods won't reach the colony core or prevent re-infestation. Licensed professionals deploy non-repellent liquid termiticides, bait monitoring systems, or combination treatments backed by warranties. Professional termite control typically eliminates colonies within 2–12 months.
How long does professional termite treatment take to eliminate a colony?
Liquid barrier treatments typically eliminate colonies within 2–6 months, while bait station systems may take 3–12 months depending on feeding activity. Combination treatments suit severe infestations, with re-inspection within 30–90 days to confirm elimination and ongoing annual monitoring.
What is the difference between subterranean and Formosan termites inside a house?
Subterranean termites use mud tubes to travel from soil to wood. Formosan termites, common in Louisiana and Texas, build above-ground carton nests inside wall voids when moisture is sufficient, spreading faster and causing more damage than typical subterranean species.