Termites in El Paso: the local picture
Termites are not El Paso's biggest pest problem, but they are a real one — and the most underestimated. Subterranean termites live in the irrigated soil around homes: desert landscaping with drip lines, planters against the foundation, and leaky hose bibs create the moisture islands colonies need. Older homes in central El Paso and the valley towns, plus wood-framed additions and stored lumber, take most of the damage. Drywood termites show up in furniture and structural wood as well. Because pressure is lower than the Gulf, inspections here are about targeted risk — where water meets wood — rather than blanket assumptions.
Signs you may have termites
- Mud tubes — pencil-width earthen tunnels on foundation walls, piers, or in crawl spaces.
- Swarmers — winged insects around windows, doors, and lights, usually after warm rains.
- Discarded wings — piles of identical wings on sills and floors after a swarm.
- Hollow or soft wood — baseboards, door frames, and flooring that sound papery when tapped.
- Blistered or bubbling paint — often mistaken for water damage; termites tunneling beneath the surface cause it.
- Frass — tiny pellet droppings below small holes in wood (a drywood termite sign).
How professional termite treatment works
Call and describe the problem
Tell us what you're seeing — swarmers by the window, droppings in the attic, roaches in the kitchen. Your ZIP code routes the call.
Get connected to a local company
We connect you with an independent pest control company serving your part of the El Paso metro. We don't do the treatment — they do.
Inspection and a written plan
The company inspects, identifies the pest and the extent of the problem, and puts the treatment plan and price in writing before any work begins.
You decide
Treatment proceeds only on your say-so. Ask about follow-up visits, recurring service options, and any written service terms before you agree.
A real inspection comes first: the company identifies whether you're dealing with subterranean termites, Formosan termites where they occur, or drywood termites, because the treatment differs. Subterranean work typically means a liquid treated zone in the soil around the foundation, bait stations, or both. Drywood colonies inside wood are handled differently — localized treatments or, for widespread cases, whole-structure options the inspector will explain. What you should always get: the species, the evidence found, the method proposed, the areas covered, and the total price — in writing, before work starts.
What to expect from the company we connect you with
Every company we route calls to is expected to:
- Be licensed for structural pest control by the Texas Department of Agriculture — and able to show you the license.
- Identify the pest and the likely entry points or conditions behind the problem, not just spray and leave.
- Give you the treatment plan and full price in writing before work begins.
- Explain what products will be used and any precautions for children, pets, and food areas.
- Put any follow-up schedule or service terms in writing.
The company sets its own prices and schedule. PestFix El Paso is the connection, not the contractor — verify the license and insurance yourself before hiring, and keep the written plan.
Termite FAQ — El Paso
How do I know if I have termites in my El Paso home?
The classic signs: mud tubes on the foundation or in the crawl space, winged swarmers around windows and lights in spring, discarded wings on sills, wood that sounds hollow when tapped, and paint that blisters for no obvious reason. An inspection confirms it — several of these signs are also produced by moisture and carpenter ants.
What happens during a termite inspection?
The inspector checks the foundation, crawl space or slab edges, attic, and any wood-to-ground contact, looking for tubes, damage, and conditions termites favor. You get findings and — if treatment is warranted — a written plan and price before anything is done.
What treatment options are there?
The two main approaches are a liquid soil treatment that creates a treated zone around the foundation, and bait stations that are monitored over time and eliminate colonies feeding on them. Which fits depends on your construction, soil, and infestation. The company explains both and puts the recommendation in writing.
I'm buying or selling a home — do I need a termite letter?
Many real-estate transactions involve a wood-destroying insect report. If your lender or contract requires one, say so when you call so the inspection is scheduled and documented the right way.
Can I just treat termites myself?
Retail products rarely reach a colony living in soil or inside walls, and a partial treatment can scatter a colony rather than eliminate it. Termite work is also the highest-stakes pest job in the house — the damage it prevents is structural. This is the one to hand to a licensed company.