Drywood Termite Treatment
Drywood termites do not need soil, water pipes or mud tubes. They fly in, often during spring swarm season, and spend years quietly hollowing the wood your house is built from. The treatment question is always the same: how much of the structure are they in?
How to Spot Drywood Termites
- Frass: tiny oval pellets, like coarse pepper or seeds, piling under furniture, windowsills or attic framing
- Kick-out holes: pinhead holes in wood or drywall where the pellets are pushed out
- Blistered or bubbled paint on trim and door frames
- Swarmers: winged termites around lights in spring and early summer, and their shed wings
- Hollow-sounding wood when tapped
Two Honest Treatment Paths
Localized (spot) treatment
If the infestation is confirmed small and every colony is in wood a technician can reach, targeted treatments (injected foams, dusts or direct wood treatment) can solve it without tenting. The limit is visibility: we can only treat colonies we can find, and drywoods are good at hiding. Spot work carries a guarantee on the treated areas only.
Whole-structure fumigation
When frass shows up in multiple rooms, in the attic, or in furniture across the house, the colony network is bigger than any spot treatment can certify. Tent fumigation treats the entire structure at once and carries our 1-year retreatment guarantee. For most widespread drywood cases it is also the most economical path once repeat spot visits are priced honestly.
Protecting Furniture and Antiques
Drywoods love furniture, picture frames and stored wood. Individual pieces can often be fumigated without tenting the whole home: ask about vault and trailer fumigation for furniture, antiques and infested items during your inspection.
After Treatment
Dead colonies do not repair wood, so part of our inspection is telling you which members are cosmetic damage and which need a carpenter. Then seal entry points, keep attic vents screened, and schedule annual checks so the next swarm is caught at the door.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I treat drywood termites myself?
Surface sprays do not reach colonies sealed inside wood, and hardware-store treatments routinely fail while the colony keeps eating. The expensive mistake is waiting: a small, professionally treated infestation is far cheaper than structural repair later.
How fast do drywood termites damage a home?
Slowly but constantly. A single colony eats modest amounts, but homes usually host multiple colonies for years before frass becomes obvious. Structural damage typically appears after several seasons of quiet feeding.
Does fumigation kill drywood eggs too?
Yes. Properly dosed fumigant penetrates wood throughout the structure and kills all life stages present, including eggs, which is one reason it outperforms surface treatments.
Will they come back after fumigation?
A new swarm can re-infest any Florida home. Our 1-year guarantee covers retreatment if activity returns in the treated structure, and annual renewals plus inspections keep you covered.