Temple Hills Termite Control
Family-owned & local since 1968
Termite inspections and Sentricon protection for Temple Hills ramblers, duplexes and split-levels. Free for homeowners. No binding contract.
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Trusted Termite Control in Temple Hills, 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 Temple Hills 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 Temple Hills 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 Temple Hills, MD
Postwar Brick Houses With Sixty-Year-Old Termite Protection
Temple Hills takes its name from Edward Temple, who lived beside Henson Creek in the 1860s in a house called Moor Park. The town you see today came much later. After World War II, builders filled the hills above the creek with brick ramblers, duplexes and garden apartments, and most of the housing went up between the 1950s and the 1970s.
That matters for termite control. When those houses were new, the soil around them was usually treated with chlordane, a product sold for home termite work from 1948 until it was pulled from the market in 1988. Any treatment from that era stopped protecting the house decades ago. A red-brick exterior does not change that. Termites do not eat brick, but they will travel up through hollow block, behind the veneer and into the wood framing that holds it all up.
Better Termite & Pest Control started in 1968, while much of Temple Hills was still being built. Three generations of one family have run it since, and the people on our small team bring 300+ combined years of field work. After reviewing the products common in pest control, our research team dropped 9 of the harshest. For termites, that leaves Sentricon bait and borate doing most of the work. More than 100,000 homes later, customers have left us 1800+ reviews.
Local Termite Pressure
What Makes Temple Hills Good Ground for Termites
Henson Creek and Its Wooded Valley
From Temple Hills, Henson Creek winds south past Brinkley Road, Rosecroft Raceway, the Tucker Road Athletic Complex and Henson Creek Golf Course before reaching the Potomac. The county's Henson Creek Trail follows it for close to six miles, and one of its main trailheads is Henson Creek Park on Temple Hill Road. The stream valley is a long strip of shade, fallen logs and wet soil. That is ideal country for Eastern subterranean termites, and many Temple Hills back yards sit on its edge.
Clay Soil That Stays Wet
Southern Prince George's County sits on Coastal Plain sediments with layers of dense, sticky clay. The best known is the Marlboro Clay, which the Maryland Geological Survey flags as prone to slope failure. Clay sheds water slowly. After a summer storm, the dirt against a foundation can stay damp for days, and termites need that moisture to move through the soil. A downspout that empties at the base of the wall makes it worse.
Duplexes, Garden Apartments and Shared Walls
Temple Hills has more duplexes and garden apartments than most suburbs. In a duplex, two families share one long foundation, so a colony working under one half can reach the other. Termite colonies are big, too. One colony can number in the millions, according to the University of Maryland Extension. For how that plays out across a block, see our article asking can termites move from house to house.
Where We Look
How Termites Get Into a Brick Rambler
Homeowners in Temple Hills often tell us their house is brick, so termites cannot be a problem. The brick is only the outside layer. Behind it is a wood frame, and under it is usually a wall of hollow concrete block.
Hollow Block and the Gap Behind the Veneer
Each concrete block has open cores. Termites can come up through those voids out of sight and reach the wooden sill that sits on top of the wall. Virginia Tech's extension specialists also point to the space below grade between a foundation and brick veneer, where there is no outside evidence until the damage is obvious. That is why we look at the inside face of the block and the top of the wall, not just the outside.
The Spots We Check First
Ask Daren, who has spent roughly a decade on termite jobs for us, and he will name three hot spots: mulch beds, the basement sill and band board, and the garage. Outside, he says the stoop and the chimney are the two places they turn up most. On a rambler, we add a few of our own:
- The concrete front stoop, which is filled with dirt and poured against the house
- Carport and back porch slabs that butt up to the wall
- Basement window wells and the frames set into the block
- Where water, gas and sewer lines pass through the foundation
- Wood paneling, shelves or a workbench built against a basement wall
What gives them away on block is usually a pencil-wide strip of dried dirt climbing the wall. See our photos of termite mud tubes to know one when you spot it.
Swarm Season
Flying Termites or Flying Ants?
Termites in Temple Hills usually announce themselves in spring. On a warm day after rain, a mature colony sends out swarmers, the winged kings and queens that leave to start new colonies. If they come out inside, you may find a cluster of dark winged bugs by a basement window or a pile of shed wings on the sill a few hours later.
Many people call us for flying ants and it turns out to be termites. Daren once arrived at a job booked for flying ants in a house fresh from a top-to-bottom remodel. The bugs were termite swarmers. Breaking that news is tough: in a finished basement the sill and band board sit behind drywall, and treating can mean drilling through brand-new flooring.
How to Tell Them Apart
- Waist: termites are thick through the middle. Ants are pinched.
- Wings: termites have four wings of equal length. An ant's front wings are longer.
- Antennae: termite antennae are straight. Ant antennae bend like an elbow.
For pictures, open our comparison of flying ants and termites. Or seal a few in a bag and call. We will look at no charge.
Treatment
Termite Treatment Built Around Temple Hills Foundations
Sentricon Bait Stations
For most houses we start with Sentricon. We sink stations into the yard in a ring around the foundation. Termites eat the bait and pass it around the colony. The bait keeps them from molting, so the workers die off and the whole colony collapses, queen and all. Nothing is sprayed or trenched, and on a compact rambler lot the stations barely take up space. Your plan includes station service and one full termite inspection per year.
When Termites Are Already Inside
Live termites in the framing usually call for a liquid termiticide placed in the dirt next to the foundation walls. On a block foundation, that can also mean treating inside the hollow cores, the same approach North Carolina's state pest control program describes for block and multiple-brick walls. Stoops, carport slabs and porch floors may need small drilled holes so the product gets to the dirt below. We quote this after the inspection, because every house is different.
Borate on Open Framing
Redoing a basement or opening up a wall in an older Temple Hills home? While the wood is exposed, we can treat it with borate before it gets covered again. To compare the options, read how long termite treatment lasts.
Buying or Selling
Buying or Selling a Postwar Home in Temple Hills
A house built in Temple Hills in the late 1950s has usually had several owners by now. If you are buying, you have no way of knowing whether the last owner kept up termite protection. If you are selling, you do not want a surprise in the middle of a contract.
The Maryland MD-1 Form
In Maryland, the paperwork for a sale is the MD-1, the state's wood destroying insect report. Plenty of lenders want one, and a VA loan cannot close without it. We charge for it separately; it is not part of the free homeowner visit. Read what a Maryland termite inspection covers before your settlement date.
Wood Rot Is Not Always Termites
Sixty years of gutters, leaks and settled grading leave a lot of soft wood behind. Not all of it is termite damage. Daren says a lot of the calls we get about termite damage turn out to be wood rot, which needs a contractor to find the leak. Rot still matters to us, because damp, decaying wood draws termites. Our guide to termite damage vs. wood rot shows the difference. Need help with ants, mice or roaches too? Our Temple Hills pest control plans bundle with termite protection on one bill.
Sentricon stations sit flush with the ground beside the foundation
One swarmer on painted trim. Long, equal-length wings are the giveaway
We started in 1968, while Temple Hills was still being built
Workers are pale, soft and about 1/4 inch long. They do the eating
Family-owned, now in the third generation
Homeowner termite inspections are free in Temple Hills
Everything We Do
Every service we offer in Temple Hills — one local team, one phone call.
Core Programs
- Home Pest Control in Temple Hills
- Termite Control in Temple Hills
- Rodent Control in Temple Hills
- Mosquito & Tick Control in Temple Hills
- Extermination Services in Temple Hills
- Eco-Friendly Pest Control in Temple Hills
- Sentricon® Termite Baiting in Temple Hills
- IN2CARE® Mosquito System in Temple Hills
- Commercial Pest Control in Temple Hills
- Pre-Construction Termite Control in Temple Hills
Insects & Spiders
- Ant Control in Temple Hills
- Carpenter Ant Control in Temple Hills
- Sugar Ant Control in Temple Hills
- Spider Control in Temple Hills
- Roach Control in Temple Hills
- German Cockroach Control in Temple Hills
- Oriental Cockroach Control in Temple Hills
- American Cockroach Control in Temple Hills
- Flea Control in Temple Hills
- Silverfish Control in Temple Hills
- Carpet Beetle Control in Temple Hills
- Pantry Pest Control in Temple Hills
- Stink Bug Control in Temple Hills
- Lady Bug Control in Temple Hills
- Boxelder Bug Control in Temple Hills
- Cricket Control in Temple Hills
- Tick Control in Temple Hills
- Earwig Control in Temple Hills
- Millipede Control in Temple Hills
- Centipede Control in Temple Hills
- Pill Bug Control in Temple Hills
- Springtail Control in Temple Hills
- Clover Mite Control in Temple Hills
Stinging & Flying
Rodents & Wildlife
What Our Customers Say
1800+ Reviews on Google "I want to take a moment to recognize the exceptional service I received from Mr. Hussam. From the start, he was highly professional, personable, and attentive to my needs. His dedication and loyalty to both his job and the business were evident in the way he handled every interaction with care and expertise."
"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."
"I love Darren over at Better Termite. He is always so attentive and kind, and really goes, IMO, out of his way to do a fantastic job. And I am so happy that I had NO MOSQUITOES this summer in my backyard in spite of the fact that there is a drainage area right behind my house, and that is 100% because of Better Termites services."
"I want to take a moment to recognize the exceptional service I received from Mr. Hussam. From the start, he was highly professional, personable, and attentive to my needs. His dedication and loyalty to both his job and the business were evident in the way he handled every interaction with care and expertise."
"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."
"I love Darren over at Better Termite. He is always so attentive and kind, and really goes, IMO, out of his way to do a fantastic job. And I am so happy that I had NO MOSQUITOES this summer in my backyard in spite of the fact that there is a drainage area right behind my house, and that is 100% because of Better Termites services."
How It Works
How Our Temple Hills Termite Service Works
Talk It Through on the Phone
Call (703) 683-2000 and the person who answers holds a pest control license. Describe the wings on the sill, the mud line on the block wall or the soft spot in the carport ceiling, and let us know if your Temple Hills house is a rambler, a duplex or a split-level.
A 78-Point Inspection, Brick and Block Included
We start outside at the front stoop and work all the way around. Then we go in: the basement or crawl space, the top course of the block wall, the sill and band board, the utility room, and any carport or porch slab tied into the house.
The Right Tool for What We Find
No live termites usually means Sentricon stations in the ground around the house. Termites already in the structure can mean a liquid treatment in the soil, and in a hollow-block foundation, inside the block voids. Bare framing in a remodel can get borate.
A Full Termite Inspection Every Year
Your Sentricon plan includes one complete termite inspection a year, plus station service. Sixty-year-old houses keep changing. A new patio, a fresh layer of mulch, a gutter that pulled loose: we check all of it again.
Free Callbacks, No Lock-In
If you see something between visits, call and we come back at no extra charge. There is no binding contract. Give us 30 days notice and you can stop the plan.
Your Local Office
Termite Control Across Temple Hills, MD 20748
From Hillcrest Heights and Marlow Heights near Iverson Mall and the Naylor Road Metro, down the Henson Creek valley to Deer Park Heights, Camp Springs and Oxon Hill.
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
Temple Hills 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.
Other Services in Temple Hills
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Your Local Office
Temple Hills is served by our Alexandria, VA team.
Alexandria (Headquarters) Office →