Visual inspection
The standard check of the accessible structure. The technician looks for mud tubes, frass, damaged wood and moisture, and records the findings. It is the first step for a homeowner who wants a clear picture of the house.
Serving Polk County
Termite Inspection and Treatment in Des Moines, IA
A termite inspection looks for mud tubes, frass and damage in the structure, then sets out the options before any treatment.
- Fall invader control
- Mouse exclusion and sealing
- Ant control
Get a fast quote
Fastest: call (855) 974-4733. Or send this and we call you back.
Termites
Termite Inspection and Treatment: what it covers
Quick answer
Termite inspection and treatment in Des Moines looks for mud tubes, frass, damaged wood and moisture conditions that favour termites, then explains the options before any treatment is applied. This service is offered as an inspection request, and Des Moines Pest Control does not claim termites are present in Des Moines. Calls are answered 24/7.
Termites cause the most damage of any household pest, because they feed on the wood that holds a house up and they do it out of sight. A colony can work inside a wall, a sill plate or a floor joist for a long time before anyone notices. For that reason, a termite inspection is a check that a homeowner often asks for rather than one that follows a visible problem.
A useful inspection looks for the signs termites leave, not just for the insects themselves. Mud tubes on a foundation, the frass of drywood termites, hollowed or blistered wood, and the moisture conditions that make a structure attractive are all things a technician checks. Those signs can be quite subtle, and they are easy to confuse with other damage, so the inspection has to be careful.
This is a service offered on request. Des Moines Pest Control does not state that termites are present in Des Moines, and nothing on this page should be read as a finding for any house. A technician who inspects the house will tell you what they found, what they did not find, and what the options are. Phones are answered 24/7, and the price is approved before any treatment starts.
- Service area
- Des Moines & Polk County
- Availability
- Phones answered 24/7
- Phone
- (855) 974-4733
Warning signs
Signs you need termite inspection and treatment
Do not disturb mud tubes or frass in a way that spreads them, and do not break open wood to check for termites yourself, because the damage may be structural. Do not climb into a crawl space or attic without the right access and light. If you find damaged wood near a load-bearing part of the house, keep people away from it and call a qualified contractor. A technician will inspect the accessible areas safely and will explain what should be checked by a specialist.
- Mud tubes, which are thin earthen tunnels, on a foundation wall, a pier, a crawl space wall or a pipe.
- Small piles of pellet-like droppings, called frass, near wood or in a corner of a window sill or an attic.
- Wood that sounds hollow when tapped, or that has a blistered, sagging or crumbly surface.
- Winged insects that appear in a group near a window or a light, with the wings shed nearby.
- Doors or windows that stick for no clear reason, which can point to movement in the frame.
- Damp wood, standing moisture or soil in contact with wood at the foundation.
Our process
How our termite inspection and treatment visit works
Review the house and its history
The technician asks about the age of the house, any past repairs or treatments, and any signs you have noticed. The construction type and the crawl space or basement matter, because they affect where termites can reach the wood.
Inspect the foundation and the crawl space
Accessible foundations, crawl spaces, basements and the sill plate are inspected for mud tubes, damage and moisture. The technician looks at the soil contact points and the drainage at the foundation. Every area that can be reached safely is checked.
Check the structure and the attic
Joists, beams, the framing around doors and windows, and the attic are checked for hollowed or damaged wood. Frass and wings are looked for in the corners and the window sills. A sounding test is used on wood that looks suspect.
Explain what was and was not found
The technician explains the findings in plain terms. Signs found are shown and described, and areas that could not be reached are listed. The findings are written down, so the homeowner has a clear record of what was checked.
Discuss the options
If termites are found, the technician sets out the options for treatment and for repairs, and explains the timing. If nothing is found, the technician explains what to watch for and what would change the picture. No treatment is applied until you approve the plan.
What do termite signs look like in a house?
Termite signs include mud tubes on the foundation, frass near wood, hollowed or blistered wood, and winged insects shedding their wings near a window. A technician checks each sign and decides whether it points to termites or to something else.
Mud tubes are thin tunnels of soil that termites build to reach wood while staying out of the air. They are often found on foundation walls, piers and pipes, and they are easy to break when disturbed. Frass is the small pellet waste that drywood termites push out of their galleries. Both signs are worth reporting, but neither is a diagnosis by itself.
Wood that sounds hollow or looks blistered may be damaged by termites or by moisture and rot. The technician checks the wood with a probe and a sounding tool, and records what is found.
Why is a termite inspection a check rather than a repair?
A termite inspection looks for signs and conditions, and it gives a homeowner the information they need to decide on any treatment or repair. The inspection does not itself fix damage, and the repairs are carried out by the appropriate trade.
Termites work out of sight, so the inspection relies on the signs the insects leave and the conditions that suit them. A technician can say what is visible and what is not, and where a closer look is needed. A clean inspection does not guarantee that a house is free of termites in the parts that could not be reached.
Any structural repair is a matter for a qualified contractor or builder. The technician can recommend that a specialist look at the damaged parts.
What conditions make a house more attractive to termites?
Wood in contact with soil, moisture around the foundation, poor drainage and damp crawl spaces all make a house more attractive to termites. Reducing those conditions is part of the inspection's advice.
Wood that touches soil, such as a porch post or a stair stringer, gives termites direct access to the structure. Standing water at the foundation and a leaking gutter or downspout keep the wood damp. A damp crawl space or an unvented basement can also raise the moisture in the timber.
The technician will point out the conditions that are present in the house. Some of them can be changed by the homeowner, and others need a contractor. The advice is written down, so you can plan the work.
Does a termite inspection need to be repeated?
A periodic inspection is sensible for a house, and it is especially useful when the structure has changed, when there is new moisture or when an inspection has not been done for some time. The technician will suggest a timing based on the findings.
Termite activity can develop between inspections, so a clean result is a snapshot of one moment. A homeowner who notices new mud tubes, frass or damaged wood should call for an inspection rather than wait for the next scheduled visit.
Any repeat inspection is planned with the homeowner, and the findings are compared with the earlier record. That comparison shows whether conditions are changing.
What affects the price of an inspection or treatment here?
The price depends on the size of the structure, the type of foundation, the access to the crawl space or basement, and whether a treatment is needed. The technician explains the price before any work begins.
A small house with easy access is a shorter inspection. A larger house with a crawl space, a finished basement, an attached garage and an attic takes more time. A treatment plan adds its own cost, and it is approved separately.
No figure is printed on this page. The price is set on the visit, and it is confirmed with you before any work begins.
Options
Types and options for termite inspection and treatment
Pre-purchase inspection
Used before a house is bought, so the buyer knows what the structure shows. The inspection covers the same signs as a standard visit, and the findings are written up for the buyer. It does not replace a structural survey.
Treatment of an active infestation
Used only when signs of termites are found and the species and extent are understood. The treatment is planned for the building and the colony, and the technician explains the method, the timing and the repairs that may be needed.
Moisture and wood contact correction
Used when the conditions that attract termites are present, such as wood in contact with soil or damp crawl spaces. The technician points out the changes that reduce the attraction, and recommends whether a builder or a contractor should carry them out.
Polk County
Why termite inspection and treatment is different in central Iowa
In Des Moines, a termite inspection is requested mainly as a check on a house, rather than in response to a known infestation. This page does not state that termites are present in the city or in any neighbourhood. A technician looks at each house on its own signs and conditions, and reports only what is found there.
The foundations in Des Moines include slab, basement and crawl space types, and the access differs between them. A crawl space with low headroom or a basement with stored items limits the inspection, and the technician will say which parts could not be reached. Those limits are written into the findings.
Many older houses in the city have wood that has been exposed to moisture over decades, and newer houses may have wood in contact with new grade or landscaping. The inspection looks at both kinds of condition, and it reports the conditions present in the house in front of the technician.
Skip the guesswork. Call for a straight answer.
Tell us what's happening and we'll tell you honestly whether it's a quick fix, and what termite inspection and treatment should cost.
Where we work
Termite Inspection and Treatment across Polk County
- Termites in Downtown Des Moines and East Village
- Termites in West Side Des Moines
- Termites in Drake University Area
- Termites in Northwest Des Moines
- Termites in North Des Moines
- Termites in Northeast Des Moines
- Termites in East Des Moines
- Termites in Southeast Des Moines
- Termites in South Des Moines
- Termites in Southwest Des Moines
- Termites in Des Moines Airport Area
- Termites in Pleasant Hill
- Termites in Berwick
- Termites in Altoona
- Termites in Windsor Heights
- Termites in Urbandale
- Termites in Clive
- Termites in West Des Moines
- Termites in Johnston
- Termites in Ankeny
- Termites in Norwalk
- Termites in Carlisle
- Termites in Runnells
- Termites in Bondurant
- Termites in Polk City
- Termites in Grimes
- Termites in Waukee
- Termites in Mitchellville
- Termites in Elkhart
Not sure if you're covered? Check your ZIP code.
Related
Related services
Pre-Purchase Pest Inspection
A buyer's pest check covers the structure and the signs of activity, with a written record of what was and was not reached.
General Pest Control
One visit covers the indoor pests that find their way into a Des Moines house, starting with an inspection.
New Construction Pest Prevention
A new house is checked for entry gaps and wood contact before the first season, and sealed where the builder left openings.
Lawn and Ornamental Pest Control
Yard and shrub treatment is planned around the plants, the pests found on them and the people and pets who use the lawn.
Guides
Read before you book
Pest Damage and Homeowners Insurance Claims in Iowa
A homeowner's insurance policy decides whether pest damage is covered, and insurers generally exclude damage from insects and vermin.
FAQ
Termite Inspection and Treatment FAQs
Is there termite activity in Des Moines?
This page does not state that. Des Moines Pest Control offers termite inspection as a service on request, and a technician reports what is found in a particular house. No figure or local claim about termites in the city is made here.
What is the difference between an inspection and a treatment?
An inspection looks for signs and conditions and reports what is found. A treatment is a separate step, applied only when termites are found and the plan is approved. The technician explains both before any work starts.
Can a termite inspection find termites inside the walls?
A visual inspection can see signs at the surface and in accessible spaces, but it cannot see inside every wall. The technician will say which parts could not be checked, and will explain what signs would suggest further investigation.
What should I do if I see mud tubes?
Do not break them open or try to treat them yourself. Note where they are and take a photograph. Call for an inspection, and the technician will check the area and explain what the tubes indicate.
Will a termite inspection damage my house?
A visual inspection is designed to leave the structure undisturbed. The technician does not open walls or break wood as part of a standard check, and any further investigation is discussed with you first.
Can I get an inspection before buying a house?
Yes. A pre-purchase inspection covers the same signs as a standard visit, and the findings are written up for the buyer. It is not a full structural survey, and the buyer may want one as well.