Olney Termite Control
Family-owned & local since 1968
Termite inspections and Sentricon protection for Olney colonials, split-foyers and townhomes. Free for homeowners. No binding contract.
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Trusted Termite Control in Olney, MD — in Our Customers' Words
Hear what Northern Virginia and Maryland homeowners have to say about our service — in their own words. Real customers from real homes, sharing why they trust Better Termite with what matters most.
- Homes protected
- 100k+
- Google reviews
- 4.9★
- Years local
- 58+
Why Better Termite
Termite Control in Olney you can trust — from $35/mo with no binding contracts.
Lower-Impact Products
Hand-picked, EPA-approved treatments selected by our research team — without 9 of the harshest products still used by most companies.
Local Termite Control Experts
Family-owned since 1968, with 300+ years of combined experience protecting Olney homes. A licensed local tech answers the phone.
The Better Promise
Unlimited free re-services and no binding contracts — we keep coming back until your problem is gone. Cancel anytime with 30 days notice.
About Better Termite
Termite Control in Olney, MD
A Farm Town That Became a Suburb in One Generation
Until the 1960s, Olney was mostly farms around a crossroads. Then the builders came. Williamsburg Village, Tanterra, Olney Mill and Highlands of Olney filled in during the 1960s and 1970s. Hallowell, Norbeck Hills and Olney Oaks followed in the 1980s. Lake Hallowell, James Creek and Norbeck Grove arrived in the 1990s and 2000s. The typical Olney house was built around 1986.
That timing matters for termite control. A house that is 40 or 50 years old has had decades of new decks, new mulch, patios, additions and regrading. Whatever termite treatment went into the ground when the house was built stopped working a long time ago. And the termites never left. They were in this soil when it was pasture and woodlot.
Better Termite & Pest Control has treated termites in the DC area since 1968. We are a family-owned company in our third generation, with a small team that adds up to 300+ years of experience. Our research team removed 9 of the harshest products used in this industry from our programs. For termites, that leaves us with Sentricon bait and borate as our main tools. We have serviced over 100,000 homes and earned 1800+ reviews.
Local Termite Pressure
Why Termites Do Well Around Olney
Stream Valleys on Three Sides
Look at a map of southern Olney and you will see green around it. The county’s Olney Master Plan describes the North Branch of Rock Creek, Hawlings River and Reddy Branch stream valley parks as wrapping around the north and west sides of town, and it counts roughly 2,500 acres of parkland in the planning area. Rachel Carson Conservation Park adds 650 acres of forest along the Hawlings River.
Those valleys are wet and full of dead wood. That is where termite colonies grow large. The University of Maryland Extension notes that a subterranean termite colony can hold up to several million insects and can feed at spots more than 200 feet apart, linked by tunnels in the soil. Two hundred feet is the depth of a lot of Olney back yards.
Big Yards With a Lot of Wood in Them
Olney lots tend to run larger than those closer to the Beltway. More yard means more things made of wood sitting on dirt: split-rail fences, play sets, sheds, raised garden beds, retaining walls built from landscape timbers, and stumps left from trees that came down in storms. Each one is a meal and a rest stop between the tree line and your foundation. Wood mulch piled deep against the siding holds moisture in the same place. Our article on termites in mulch explains how much is too much.
Old Houses at the Edges
Olney also has homes far older than the subdivisions. The Olney House, which gave the town its name, dates to about 1800. Brookeville was laid out around the same time, and the Sandy Spring Friends Meeting House went up in 1817. Farmhouses from that era often have stone foundations, timber sills close to the ground and dirt-floor cellars. They need a slower, more careful inspection than a 1985 colonial. For background on the insect itself, read our page on Maryland termites.
Where We Look
Where Termites Get Into Olney Colonials and Split-Foyers
Two house styles cover most of Olney: the center-hall colonial and the split-foyer. Both have the same weak spot, and it is right at the front door.
The Front Stoop
A poured concrete stoop is usually filled with dirt and butted up against the house. That puts soil within inches of the wood framing around the door, hidden under the slab where nobody can see it. In a split-foyer the entry sits halfway between floors, so the framing at the foyer is even closer to grade. When Olney homeowners tell us they found wings in the front hall, the stoop is the first place we check.
Other Spots We Find Them
- The step from the attached garage up into the house
- The wood sill that rests on the basement wall
- Walkout basement door frames that sit at ground level
- Around the sump pit and where pipes pass through the slab
- Deck posts and stair stringers set in the ground
- Wood siding or trim that runs down into the mulch
Not every soft board is termites. Water does plenty of damage on its own. Our guide to termite damage vs. wood rot shows how to tell them apart. For more on the species, see Eastern subterranean termites in our pest library.
Spring Swarms
Swarmers in the House: What They Mean
Most Olney calls about termites start the same way. It is a warm spring day after a rain, and there are suddenly dozens of small, dark, winged bugs on a windowsill or crawling out from a baseboard. An hour later they are gone and only the wings are left.
Those are swarmers, the young kings and queens a mature colony sends out to start new ones. The University of Maryland Extension puts it plainly: a flight of swarmers means a healthy colony is nearby. The swarmers themselves do not eat your house, and most that end up indoors dry out and die. The workers that stayed behind in the soil are the problem.
Two Other Signs to Watch For
The first is a shelter tube. It looks like a line of dried mud about a quarter inch wide running up a foundation wall, a pier or a pipe. Termites build these to travel from the ground to the wood without drying out. The second is paint that bubbles or peels on a wall or trim board for no clear reason. Moisture from termites working behind it can cause that.
Our termite swarmer guide has photos and a side-by-side with flying ants. If you are still not sure, bag a few and call us. Looking is free.
Treatment
Our Termite Treatment Options for Olney Homes
Sentricon Baiting
Sentricon is where most homes start. Stations are set into the ground in a ring around the house. Each one holds a bait that termites eat and pass around the colony. The active ingredient keeps them from molting, so the colony shrinks and then dies, queen included. Nothing is sprayed and nothing is trenched. Your technician services the stations and does one full termite inspection per year as part of the plan.
Liquid Treatment When Termites Are Active
If we find live termites in the structure, we may recommend a liquid treatment in the soil next to the foundation. Under a stoop, a garage floor or a patio, that means drilling through the concrete to reach the dirt below. Every house is different, so this is quoted after the inspection.
Borate During a Remodel
Finishing the basement or rebuilding a porch? While the framing is open, we can treat the bare wood with a borate product so it is protected before the drywall goes up. Wondering how long each method holds up? See how long termite treatment lasts.
Prevention
Six Things Olney Homeowners Can Do This Weekend
Treatment is our job. Making your house a harder target is something you can start on your own. None of this replaces an inspection, but all of it helps.
- Pull mulch back so you can see a few inches of bare foundation below the siding.
- Move the firewood off the ground and away from the house. Next to the garage wall is the worst spot for it.
- Extend the downspouts so roof water lands several feet out, not at the base of the wall.
- Grind out old stumps, especially ones within sight of the house.
- Check where wood touches dirt: deck posts, fence ends tied into the house, lattice, stair stringers.
- Fix the drip. A leaking hose bib or AC line keeps the soil at the foundation wet all summer.
We go deeper on each of these in our termite prevention tips. Dealing with ants, mice or stink bugs too? Our Olney pest control plans can be bundled with termite protection on one bill.
A Sentricon station going into the soil. The lid sits flush with the lawn or mulch
Swarmer on the right, worker on the left. Same colony, different jobs
Workers are pale, soft-bodied and about the size of a grain of rice. They are the ones that eat the wood
Family-owned since 1968 and now in the third generation
Termite inspections are free for Olney homeowners
Every Sentricon plan includes one full termite inspection per year
Everything We Do
Every service we offer in Olney — one local team, one phone call.
Core Programs
- Home Pest Control in Olney
- Termite Control in Olney
- Rodent Control in Olney
- Mosquito & Tick Control in Olney
- Extermination Services in Olney
- Eco-Friendly Pest Control in Olney
- Sentricon® Termite Baiting in Olney
- IN2CARE® Mosquito System in Olney
- Commercial Pest Control in Olney
- Pre-Construction Termite Control in Olney
Insects & Spiders
- Ant Control in Olney
- Carpenter Ant Control in Olney
- Sugar Ant Control in Olney
- Spider Control in Olney
- Roach Control in Olney
- German Cockroach Control in Olney
- Oriental Cockroach Control in Olney
- American Cockroach Control in Olney
- Flea Control in Olney
- Silverfish Control in Olney
- Carpet Beetle Control in Olney
- Pantry Pest Control in Olney
- Stink Bug Control in Olney
- Lady Bug Control in Olney
- Boxelder Bug Control in Olney
- Cricket Control in Olney
- Tick Control in Olney
- Earwig Control in Olney
- Millipede Control in Olney
- Centipede Control in Olney
- Pill Bug Control in Olney
- Springtail Control in Olney
- Clover Mite Control in Olney
Stinging & Flying
Rodents & Wildlife
What Our Customers Say
1800+ Reviews on Google "We had a bad cockroach problem - we knew it was bad because of all the baby cockroaches we spotted. It took a while but Better Termite ultimately solved it and our house is cockroach free. Cindy in particular, was quick to help out and made it pain free."
"I've had nothing but great experiences for 3 years now. Their consistent, reliable service really stands out for me, and everyone is always kind and easy to talk to. I also like that they're a local, family-run business. Kamaal, who I'm gonna call my customer consultant, is fantastic—he really listens to my concerns."
"I highly recommend this company for your home pest control. Their technicians are thorough and have prevented any unwanted problems from happening on our property. During our last treatment, Jasmine took care of our outdoor spider webs without us even asking. Last summer they removed a mud dauber's nest under our deck and above our patio door. That attention to detail speaks volumes. Thank you for taking care of us!"
"The team at Better Termite & Pest control are phenomenal! I feel like my family and my home are in good hands. Everyone I have come into contact with has been responsive, pleasant and professional. The price is right and the service is superb!"
"Joann is amazing! She always takes time to talk with me and check inside boxes. I so appreciate her!! I have been using Better Termite and Pest Management for over 20 years."
"We had a bad cockroach problem - we knew it was bad because of all the baby cockroaches we spotted. It took a while but Better Termite ultimately solved it and our house is cockroach free. Cindy in particular, was quick to help out and made it pain free."
"I've had nothing but great experiences for 3 years now. Their consistent, reliable service really stands out for me, and everyone is always kind and easy to talk to. I also like that they're a local, family-run business. Kamaal, who I'm gonna call my customer consultant, is fantastic—he really listens to my concerns."
"I highly recommend this company for your home pest control. Their technicians are thorough and have prevented any unwanted problems from happening on our property. During our last treatment, Jasmine took care of our outdoor spider webs without us even asking. Last summer they removed a mud dauber's nest under our deck and above our patio door. That attention to detail speaks volumes. Thank you for taking care of us!"
"The team at Better Termite & Pest control are phenomenal! I feel like my family and my home are in good hands. Everyone I have come into contact with has been responsive, pleasant and professional. The price is right and the service is superb!"
"Joann is amazing! She always takes time to talk with me and check inside boxes. I so appreciate her!! I have been using Better Termite and Pest Management for over 20 years."
How It Works
How Termite Control Works in Olney
Call and Describe What You Found
Dial (703) 683-2000 and a licensed technician picks up. Wings in the foyer, a dirt line on the basement wall, a porch post that crumbles under a screwdriver: tell us what you saw and roughly when your Olney house was built.
78-Point Inspection of the House
A licensed professional walks the outside first, then the basement, garage and utility room. We look hardest where concrete meets framing: the front stoop, the garage step, the walkout door and the sill above the foundation wall.
A Plan That Fits the Findings
Nothing active means Sentricon stations to watch the soil and wipe out any colony that shows up. Termites already in the wood means a liquid treatment in the soil at the foundation. Open studs during a remodel can get borate.
A Full Termite Inspection Each Year
Once a year your technician services the stations and goes back through the house. A lot changes in twelve months: a new deck, a regraded bed, a downspout that came loose. We look at all of it again.
Callbacks at No Charge
See something between visits? Call. We come back out and it costs you nothing extra. You are not locked in either. Give us 30 days notice and you can end the plan.
Your Local Office
Termite Control Across Olney, MD 20832
Williamsburg Village, Tanterra, Olney Mill, Highlands of Olney, Hallowell, Norbeck Hills, Olney Oaks, Lake Hallowell, James Creek and Norbeck Grove, plus Brookeville, Sandy Spring and Ashton.
Get in Touch
Call Us
703-683-2000Email Us
info@bettertermite.comVisit Our Alexandria (Headquarters) Office
2647 Duke StreetAlexandria, VA 22314
Office Hours
- Mon, Tue, Thu7:30 AM – 7 PM
- Wed, Fri7:30 AM – 8 PM
- Sat, Sun9 AM – 6 PM
Good to Know
Olney Termite Control Questions
Still have questions? A licensed local tech picks up at (703) 683-2000.
Our Free Callback Promise
See pests between scheduled visits? We come back and retreat at no extra cost — as many times as it takes. No binding contracts, cancel anytime with 30 days notice.