McAllen Termite Control & Inspections

Protecting McAllen Homes from Subterranean Termites

Here’s something most McAllen homeowners don’t realize until it’s too late: termites are actively working 24/7/365 in our area. They don’t hibernate in winter like up north—because we don’t really have winter. By the time you see signs of termite damage, they’ve typically been eating your house for months or even years.

Colco Pest and Weed Control specializes in termite detection, treatment, and prevention for McAllen and the Rio Grande Valley. We’re talking about real protection backed by a warranty, not just a one-time spray and hope for the best.

Free Termite Inspection: Call 956-777-6328 to schedule. We’ll check your property top to bottom and give you straight answers about what we find.

Why Termites Love the McAllen

Let’s be real—South Texas is termite heaven:

Year-Round Activity: Subterranean termites need consistent warmth and moisture. McAllen gives them both, all year long. They never stop foraging, never stop eating, never slow down.

Sandy Loam Soil: The soil composition in McAllen and the Valley is perfect for termites to build mud tubes and tunnel through. It’s easy to work with and holds moisture without getting waterlogged.

High Humidity: We’re sitting at 60-80% humidity most of the year. Termites need moisture to survive, and our climate provides it naturally. They don’t have to work hard to find water sources.

Older Wooden Structures: Many homes in established McAllen neighborhoods were built in the ’60s through ’80s. Wood siding, wooden fence posts, landscape timbers—all of it is potential termite food that’s been aging for decades.

Irrigation and Landscaping: Sprinkler systems, mulch beds, wooden railroad tie borders—these create moisture zones right against your foundation. That’s basically rolling out the welcome mat for termites.

Proximity to Undeveloped Land: Areas near resacas, agricultural fields, or brush land have established termite colonies in the soil. When development happens, those colonies don’t disappear—they just shift their focus to the new wooden structures (your house).

Foundation Design: Many McAllen homes have slab foundations with exterior brick veneer. The weep holes in brick provide direct access for termites to travel from soil to wood framing without ever being visible.

Signs You Might Have Termites

Don’t wait until you see obvious damage. Look for these warning signs:

Mud Tubes: Pencil-width tubes running up your foundation, along pipes, or across concrete. Termites build these to travel between soil and wood while staying protected and moist.

Swarmers (Flying Termites): Usually happens March through May in McAllen. If you see winged termites inside your home, you’ve got an active colony nearby. Swarmers are the reproductive termites leaving to start new colonies.

Discarded Wings: After swarming, termites shed their wings. Finding piles of wings near windows or doors means they swarmed inside or very close to your house.

Hollow-Sounding Wood: Tap on baseboards, door frames, or window sills. If it sounds hollow or papery, termites may have eaten the interior wood while leaving a thin shell.

Bubbling or Peeling Paint: Looks like water damage, but it’s actually termite damage. They eat the wood behind the paint, and moisture from their activity causes the surface to bubble.

Sagging Floors or Ceilings: This is advanced damage. If floors feel soft or ceilings sag, termites have compromised structural wood.

Frass (Termite Droppings): Drywood termites leave tiny pellet-like droppings. These are less common in McAllen than subterranean termites, but still worth knowing about.

Our Termite Treatment Process

Step 1: Comprehensive Inspection (30-45 minutes) We inspect your entire property—foundation, crawl spaces (if you have them), attic, garage, fences, and landscape features. We’re looking for active termites, mud tubes, damage, and conditions that attract them.

Step 2: Honest Assessment If you don’t have termites, we’ll tell you. If you do, we’ll explain exactly what we found, where they are, and how extensive the activity is. No scare tactics, no exaggeration.

Step 3: Perimeter Treatment Application We apply a liquid termiticide around your home’s perimeter. This creates a treated zone in the soil that termites can’t detect. When they tunnel through it, they pick up the product and spread it throughout the colony. This doesn’t just kill individual termites—it eliminates the entire colony over time.

Step 4: Targeted Interior Treatment (If Needed) For active infestations inside walls or structural wood, we may need to drill and treat specific areas. We’ll explain exactly what needs to be done and why.

Step 5: Borate Wood Treatment For exposed wood in attics, garages, or crawl spaces, we can apply borate treatments. This makes the wood itself toxic to termites, providing an additional layer of protection.

Step 6: Follow-Up Inspections We come back to check that the treatment worked and monitor for any new activity. Termite control requires follow-through.

Our Termite Warranty

Ask us about our termite warranty coverage. Here’s what it typically includes:

• Annual inspections to monitor for new termite activity
• Retreatment if termites return during warranty period
• Protection against future infestations

Call us at 956-777-6328 for specific warranty details and pricing.

How Long Does Treatment Take?

Application: 2-4 hours depending on property size and soil conditions Product Activation: The termiticide bonds with soil immediately and creates a continuous barrier Colony Elimination: 60-90 days for complete colony collapse as termites spread the product throughout their population Long-Term Protection: 5-10 years with proper application and soil conditions

Prevention Tips (That Actually Work)

Fix Moisture Issues: Leaking pipes, poor drainage, clogged gutters—these create the moisture termites need. Fix the water problems and you reduce termite attraction.

Keep Wood Away from Soil: Mulch, firewood, landscape timbers—don’t let wood touch dirt. Leave a 6-inch gap between soil and any wooden parts of your house.

Remove Dead Wood: Tree stumps, old fence posts, construction debris buried in the yard—get rid of it. It’s termite food that attracts colonies to your property.

Trim Plants Away from House: Bushes and shrubs touching your foundation create moisture and cover for termite activity. Keep plants trimmed back at least 12 inches.

Check for Cracks: Foundation cracks, gaps around pipes, spaces under siding—seal them. Every opening is a potential entry point.

Why Termites Are Different Than Other Pests

You can see roaches and ants. You know when you’ve got a mosquito problem. Termites? They’re silent. They work inside walls, under floors, in places you can’t see. By the time damage is visible, they’ve been eating your house for months.

That’s why regular inspections matter. A professional can spot signs you’d never notice—early mud tubes, subtle wood damage, conditions that are attracting termites before they become a major problem.

Lower Rio Grande Valley Areas We Serve

• Central McAllen
• North McAllen
• South McAllen
• West McAllen
• East McAllen
• Sharyland
• Palmview
• Mission
• Edinburg
• Pharr
• And surrounding Rio Grande Valley communities

Schedule Your Free Termite Inspection

Call Colco at 956-777-6328. We’ll come out, inspect your property thoroughly, and give you honest answers about what we find.

Don’t wait until you see damage. Termite prevention costs a fraction of what repairs cost.