Termites Inside My House: What to Do Next

Yes, it's safe to stay in your house with termites. They don't bite or sting people, and they don't spread disease. Termite damage builds slowly over months and years, so there's usually time to schedule an inspection and treatment calmly. The exception is severe, long-term damage to floors or framing, which an inspector will point out.

Not usually. Seeing termites inside means a colony in the soil has found a way into the structure, but the activity is often limited to one area, like a sill plate, doorway or slab crack. A full inspection maps where they are and how far it goes, which decides how much treatment and repair you need.

Subterranean termites, the kind found in New Jersey homes, rarely infest furniture. They need contact with moist soil, so they stay connected to the ground through mud tubes. Wooden furniture stored directly on a damp basement floor can be at risk, but couches and tables in living areas aren't the concern — the house framing is.

Termites swarming indoors in winter usually means the colony is under a heated part of the house, like a basement or slab. The warmth tricks the colony into swarming early. It's a strong sign the colony is close to or under the structure, so it's worth an inspection soon rather than waiting until spring.

Not reliably. Over-the-counter sprays and foams kill termites you can reach, but the colony lives in the soil and keeps feeding elsewhere. Professional treatments put termiticide into the soil along the foundation or use monitored bait systems, which reach the colony. DIY helps most with prevention: fixing leaks and removing wood that touches soil.

Serious termite damage usually takes years to develop, not weeks. A colony feeds every day, but slowly, which is why damage is often found only during renovations or home sales. How fast depends on the colony's size, moisture and how much wood it can reach. Treating early keeps repair costs much smaller.

A proper treatment that reaches the soil around the foundation stops the existing colony and protects the house for a long time, but no house is permanently termite-proof. Keeping wood away from soil, fixing moisture problems and having periodic inspections are the best ways to catch any new activity early.

Many homeowners policies don't cover termite damage, because insurers treat it as preventable maintenance. Policies vary, so check yours or ask your agent. That's one more reason to act early: the sooner termites are treated, the less wood needs to be repaired.

Yes. We repair termite damage ourselves after treatment, including sill plates, joists, beams and framing. One company handles the inspection, treatment and repair, so you're not coordinating with a separate contractor or guessing whether the termites are gone before the new wood goes in.

No las rocíe. Guarde algunas en una bolsa, tome fotos y mándelas al 973-510-2585. Hacemos la inspección, el tratamiento y la reparación de la madera. Hablamos español.