Extended drought and back-to-back heat waves across Southern California are changing termite behavior in ways that put homes at higher risk, according to My Termite Company, a licensed termite control provider serving Los Angeles County since 2008. As soil dries out and moisture disappears from the ground, termite colonies move toward the closest reliable water source. In most neighborhoods, that source is a home.

Termites depend on moisture to survive. Subterranean termites build colonies in soil and travel through mud tubes to reach wood, but when the ground dries out during a drought, those colonies push closer to structures with irrigation, plumbing leaks, or condensation. Drywood termites do not need soil contact at all. They live directly inside wood, and heat speeds up their metabolism and swarming activity, which is why Los Angeles typically sees a rise in drywood swarmers from late summer through early fall.

This year's combination of low rainfall and sustained heat has extended the window of activity for both species. Wood that would normally hold some natural moisture during a wetter summer is now drier and more attractive to termites searching for shelter with stable humidity, such as inside wall cavities, attics, and crawl spaces.

My Termite Company recommends homeowners check for a short list of signs before damage spreads past what a simple treatment can fix.

Small piles of frass, which look like coarse sand or sawdust, collecting near baseboards, window sills, or door frames point to drywood termites feeding inside nearby wood.

Pencil-width mud tubes running along a foundation wall, pier, or crawl space beam indicate subterranean termites traveling between soil and wood.

Discarded, translucent wings near windowsills or light fixtures usually mean a swarm already happened and a colony is established somewhere close by.

Wood that sounds hollow when tapped, or that gives slightly under light pressure, often signals internal damage that is not yet visible from the surface.

Any one of these signs justifies a professional inspection rather than a wait-and-see approach, since termite colonies can cause significant structural damage before visible symptoms appear on painted or finished surfaces.

Most California homeowner insurance policies exclude termite damage entirely, treating it as a maintenance issue rather than a covered peril. That leaves the full cost of repair on the property owner. For homeowners planning to sell, a Wood Destroying Organism (WDO) report is also typically required by lenders during escrow, documenting active infestations under Section 1 and conditions that could lead to future problems under Section 2. An undetected termite issue discovered during a home sale can delay closing or reduce a property's value at the negotiating table.

My Termite Company, founded in 2008 by Wendy Manzanilla, holds a license from the California Structural Pest Control Board (license number 7487), carries an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, and operates from an Eagle Rock office covering a 30-mile radius that includes Pasadena, Glendale, Burbank, Hollywood, Silver Lake, Echo Park, and Highland Park. The company is offering free termite inspections through the current swarm season to help homeowners identify problems while treatment options remain simple and less costly.

Depending on the type and severity of an infestation, licensed technicians select from several treatment methods, including targeted termiticide applications using products such as Termidor and Altriset, whole-structure fumigation for severe drywood infestations, and Bora-Care pretreatments for new construction and remodeling projects that carry a 30-year limited warranty. Standard termite treatments carry a minimum two-year warranty. Technicians who find structural damage during an inspection can also coordinate wood repair carried out by the company's in-house carpentry team.

"Drought years change where termites go looking for water, and this year has pushed that timeline earlier than usual," said Wendy Manzanilla, founder of My Termite Company. "Homeowners who catch the signs early are looking at a straightforward treatment. Homeowners who wait are usually looking at repair work on top of it."

My Termite Company is a locally owned termite control and pest control provider based in Eagle Rock, serving Los Angeles County since 2008. Licensed by the California Structural Pest Control Board (license number 7487), bonded, and insured, the company provides termite inspections, treatments, fumigation, wood repair, prevention plans, and general pest control for residential and commercial properties across Los Angeles County. More information, including service area details and same-day scheduling, is available at https://mytermitecompany.com