Preventative Steps for Termite Control

How to Help Prevent Termites Around Your Home

No preventive measure can guarantee that termites will never infest a home. However, proper maintenance can reduce common risk factors and make evidence of termites easier to detect.

Southern California properties may be affected by both drywood and subterranean termites. These termites behave differently, so prevention should address both types.

1. Repair Leaks and Moisture Problems

Subterranean termites live in or near the soil and require moisture. Damp or decaying wood can also make parts of a structure more vulnerable to termite activity and other wood-destroying organisms.

Reduce moisture around your home by:

• Repairing plumbing and roof leaks promptly
• Cleaning and maintaining gutters
• Directing downspouts away from the foundation
• Correcting areas where water collects next to the building
• Keeping crawl spaces dry and properly ventilated
• Replacing badly decayed exterior wood

Drywood termites do not require soil contact or a plumbing leak to survive, so moisture control alone will not protect a home from every type of termite.

2. Eliminate Wood-to-Soil Contact

Wood that touches the soil can give subterranean termites concealed access to a structure.

Check wooden siding, patio posts, stair supports, door frames, fences, and other components near the ground. When practical, maintain visible separation between structural wood and soil.

Soil, mulch, and landscaping should not cover the foundation or extend over the bottom of exterior siding. Keeping the foundation visible also makes mud tubes easier to find.

3. Remove Scrap Wood and Debris

Remove buried lumber, old tree stumps, cardboard, construction debris, and unnecessary wood from around the foundation.

Store firewood:

• Away from the building
• Above the ground
• In a dry, ventilated location
• Where it does not block inspection of the foundation

Firewood brought indoors should be used promptly rather than stored inside for extended periods.

4. Maintain Exterior Wood

Drywood termites can enter exposed wood through cracks, joints, and other small openings. Keeping exterior wood properly painted or sealed may reduce accessible entry points, although it cannot provide complete protection.

Pay particular attention to:

• Fascia boards and rafter tails
• Roof eaves
• Window and door trim
• Siding
• Patio covers
• Decks and railings

Repair damaged roofing, flashing, paint, and sealants before water causes additional deterioration.

5. Avoid Hiding the Foundation

Dense plants, stored materials, and heavy ground cover can make it difficult to inspect the exterior of a building.

Trim vegetation away from walls and keep the foundation reasonably clear. This improves visibility and can help reveal subterranean termite mud tubes, moisture problems, and damaged wood.

6. Inspect Used Wood Before Bringing It Inside

Drywood termites can be transported in infested furniture, lumber, decorative wood, and other wooden objects.

Before bringing used wooden items into your home, look for:

• Small piles of hard pellets
• Tiny kick-out holes
• Damaged or hollow wood
• Discarded wings
• Live insects

Pellets alone cannot determine whether an infestation is currently active, but suspected evidence should be professionally identified.

7. Know the Warning Signs

Contact a termite professional if you notice:

• Drywood termite pellets
• Mud tubes along the foundation or walls
• Swarmers emerging indoors
• Piles of discarded wings
• Soft, hollow, or blistered wood
• Previously concealed damage found during repairs

Termites swarming outdoors do not necessarily mean your home is infested. Swarmers emerging from the building, however, warrant an inspection.

Avoid spraying or disturbing suspected evidence before it can be examined. Photograph the location and save an insect or sample when possible.

8. Schedule Periodic Termite Inspections

Termites commonly remain concealed inside wood, walls, soil, attics, and crawl spaces. A professional inspection can identify visible evidence, accessible damage, and conditions that may contribute to an infestation.

UC Integrated Pest Management generally recommends termite inspections every three to five years. Consider an earlier inspection if the home has a history of termites, you discover warning signs, or a previous treatment warranty requires one.

An inspection does not guarantee that every hidden termite will be found, and preventive maintenance does not replace treatment when an infestation is present.

Termite Inspections and Treatment in Southern California

Tiger Termite Control has served Chino Hills and surrounding Southern California communities since 1997. We provide termite inspections, drywood and subterranean termite treatments, whole-structure fumigation, and termite damage repairs.

Call Tiger Termite Control at (909) 597-6953 if you discover possible termite evidence or would like to request an estimate.

Free estimates are available when the property is not being sold or refinanced.

Updated September 2026.