Silver Bullet Pest ControlSoft wood around a back door, dirt tubes on the basement wall of a two-family, or an inspection needed before a closing? Silver Bullet Pest Control inspects Hackensack homes and buildings for termites, tells you plainly what we find, and treats where the colony is getting in — before it becomes a carpentry bill.
4.9 stars on Google • NJ License 90568B • 15+ years • About 15 minutes away in Garfield • Hablamos español
Found winged bugs or dirt tubes? Text a photo to 973-510-2585 and we'll tell you if it's termites.
Silver Bullet Pest Control inspects for and treats termites in Hackensack, NJ, from our base in Garfield about 15 minutes away. A licensed technician checks the foundation, basement, sill plates and wood inside and out, shows you the evidence, and recommends treatment — most often a soil treatment along the foundation plus the active areas. NJ License 90568B, 4.9 stars on Google. Call or text 973-510-2585.
Termites stay hidden inside wood and soil. These are the three things most people actually find:
A swarm inside the house in spring is the clearest sign there's an active colony close by. Workers are what you see if you break into damaged wood — they're pale, about the size of a grain of rice and avoid light.
Subterranean termites build tubes of soil to travel from the ground to the wood without drying out. Cracks in foundation walls and slabs give them a shortcut. Don't scrape the tubes off — send us a photo first.
Carpenter ants damage wood too, but they don't eat it — they carve it out and push the shavings outside. Treatment is different, so we tell you which insect you have before recommending anything.
| What you see | Termites | Carpenter ants | Wood rot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damage | Layered, packed with soil | Smooth, clean tunnels | Soft, crumbly or cracked in squares |
| Debris | Mud tubes, no sawdust | Sawdust-like piles | None, but often musty |
| Insects | Pale workers; winged swarmers in spring | Large dark ants, some with wings | None |
| Where | Sills, joists, trim near the ground | Wet wood: window frames, roof edges, decks | Anywhere wood stays wet |
All three love moisture. Fixing leaks and drainage helps no matter which one you have.
New Jersey's termites are eastern subterranean termites. They live in the soil, need moisture, and come into buildings from the ground looking for wood to eat. A lot of Hackensack's housing gives them easy access.
Termites don't care about building size. Apartment buildings, offices and stores with wood framing, wood trim or wood in contact with soil can get them too.
You're in charge of the whole foundation. One inspection covers the house, porches, decks and garage.
Termites don't stop at the property line between units. We inspect the full foundation and both units' basements or storage areas.
Foundations and common walls are usually the association's responsibility. Tell the board or manager — treatment often has to be planned for the whole building.
Termite damage can affect leases and sales. We inspect, report in writing and work around tenants' hours.
Not sure who's responsible in your building? Check your lease or association documents, and see our landlord vs. tenant guide for the general rules.
Foundation, sill line, porches, decks, steps, wood touching soil, mulch beds, gutters and downspouts.
Foundation walls, sill plates, joists, posts and the places where pipes and wires come through.
Door and window frames, baseboards and trim along outside walls, especially on the ground floor.
We show you live activity, old damage or conditions that invite termites, and explain your options and a free quote.
The goal is to stop termites coming up from the soil and to kill the ones already working in the wood. For most Hackensack homes that means:
Before we start, we tell you where we'll treat, what's involved, how long it takes and any precautions for kids and pets. If we find damaged wood, we'll show you, and after treatment our crew repairs it — sill plates, joists, beams and framing. See our termite damage repair page. More about soil treatment: liquid termite treatment.
Many New Jersey home sales include a wood-destroying insect inspection, and VA loans require one. Deadlines are tight, so call as soon as you have a contract.
More: VA termite inspections in NJ.
| Season | What termites are doing | What you should do |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | Swarmers fly on warm days, often after rain | Watch for winged insects and wings by windows and doors |
| Summer | Colonies are most active in the soil | Fix drainage, pull mulch back, keep wood off the ground |
| Fall | Still feeding while the soil is warm | Good time for an inspection before finishing a basement |
| Winter | Slower, but colonies under heated homes can stay active | Check basement walls and the sill line with a flashlight |
Call or text 973-510-2585 any time of year to set up a termite inspection.
Tell us what you found — swarmers, wings, mud tubes or soft wood — or your closing date if you're buying or selling.
🔒 Your info stays private · Hablamos español.
Workers are pale, soft and about the size of a grain of rice. Swarmers are dark with four long wings of equal length that fall off easily.
Mostly in spring, on warm days, often after rain. Swarmers indoors usually mean the colony is close by.
No. Leave them and text us a photo — we need to see the activity as it is.
Termite damage is packed with soil and has no sawdust. Carpenter ants leave clean tunnels and piles of shavings. Text us a photo and we'll tell you.
Foundations and common walls are usually the association's responsibility. Tell your board or manager, and check your association documents.
Yes. Tell us the closing date, the lender and who needs the report, and call as early as you can.
Most homes are treated in one visit; larger buildings or finished basements can take longer. We tell you before we start.
We explain where and how we treat and any precautions before the work begins.
Yes. We treat the termites first, then our crew repairs the damaged wood — sill plates, joists, beams and framing — so one company handles both.
Yes. NJ License 90568B, with over 15 years of experience, based in Garfield about 15 minutes from Hackensack.
Sí. Hablamos español. Llame o mande texto al 973-510-2585.
From our base in Garfield we cover Hackensack and the towns around it.
Updated November 2026 by the Silver Bullet Pest Control team, Garfield, NJ • NJ License 90568B
