Buzz
Among the countless insects and pests that plague homeowners everywhere, few are as dangerous as termites. These tiny creatures alone can destroy an entire house, from its foundation to its structural elements, in just a few years. To eradicate termites, you need to identify signs of infestation and use methods such as cardboard traps, beneficial nematodes, or extreme temperatures to attack them. Understand that moderate to severe infestations often require professional services. Your home may be your largest and most important investment, so addressing termite issues as soon as they appear is crucial.
Steps
Identify signs of termite infestation
Look for signs of termite activity. You may not see direct evidence of termites, but that doesn’t mean you should be complacent. Sagging floors, hollowed-out wood, and hollow spots in the foundation are serious warning signs of termites. You might also spot the termites themselves.
- Bring a flashlight and a screwdriver to the basement, and inspect crawl spaces and floor joists by tapping on the wood and checking for hollow spots. Use the screwdriver to press into the wood and test its firmness. If the wood easily crumbles, you might be dealing with termites.
- During your inspection, also look for termite droppings. Termite feces are small, round pellets that resemble wood or are darker brown. The presence of these droppings near weakened wood can indicate an infestation.
- You might also find termite nests on your property; subterranean termites build mud tunnels and pathways, while drywood termites create their nests inside the wood itself.
Identifying the type of termites in your home. There are two main types of termites that can infest homes: subterranean termites and drywood termites. Subterranean termites live in the soil around your home and also in the wood within your house, while drywood termites reside solely in wood (not in soil). Subterranean termites are mostly found in warm coastal regions—primarily in California, Texas, Louisiana, Florida, and Georgia. Drywood termites, on the other hand, can be found anywhere across the United States.
Handling termites on your own
Create a cardboard trap. Use flat, long pieces of cardboard, soak them in water, stack them together, and place them in areas where termites are likely to frequent. Since termites feed on cellulose (cardboard), this makes for an excellent trap. Once the termites have infested the cardboard, remove it and take it to a safe location to burn. Repeat the process as necessary.
Try using beneficial nematodes. These are small, unsegmented worms that naturally parasitize garden pests, including termites. These nematodes seek out hosts like termite larvae, bore into their bodies, and typically kill them within 48 hours. The nematodes then use the host's body as a site to lay their eggs.
Expose wood to sunlight. If the termite-infested item is not your house but a movable piece of wooden furniture, place it in direct sunlight. Termites thrive in dark environments, so the heat and light from the sun will kill them. Take the wooden item outside on a sunny day, ideally leaving it exposed for 2-3 days.
Freezing termites. If you live in a rainy area and cannot expose infested items to sunlight, consider freezing wooden items to kill termites. Place the wood pieces (or sections of wood) in a large freezer for 2-3 days. While this method can be challenging for larger wood pieces, it ensures the elimination of termites if freezing is feasible.
Seeking professional assistance
Using boric acid. Boric acid is a common and effective method for termite control. In fact, it is the primary ingredient in many termite-killing products sold in stores. Boric acid disrupts the termites' nervous system and causes dehydration.
Purchase and use termite control products. These products are widely available at hardware stores, making them a practical first step in tackling a termite infestation. You can opt for termite baits or liquid termiticides. Place the baits near termite activity and apply the liquid products to affected areas.
Using microwave termite elimination. Heat can effectively kill termites, so raising the temperature in your home can eliminate them. However, this method requires professional equipment and expertise, as the necessary tools are not readily available for personal use. Contact a pest control company to determine if this is a suitable option for your home.
Hire professional services. If the termite infestation has spread extensively or your home is of significant importance, it might be wise to call in professional termite control services. When contacting these services, keep the following in mind:
- Seek out at least three competing companies.
- Review the service records of the company from the Structural Pest Control Board before making a hiring decision.
- Obtain a contract from the termite company, ensuring they guarantee complete termite eradication for two years. This clause may require the company to return periodically to check for new termite activity and eliminate it at no additional cost to you.
Handle it professionally yourself. You can purchase products typically used by professionals. The most common products are Termidor SC and Taurus SC, which are applied as liquid around the house. These products can be bought online at very reasonable prices. You can treat your home with results similar to hiring a professional service, without much expense, provided you're willing to put in the effort.
Prevent termite infestation
Keep your home dry. Termites naturally prefer moist environments as they need water to survive. Therefore, it's crucial to keep everything dry, or else termites will invade your home.
- Ensure to fix any leaks or standing water inside and outside the house. Sweep or vacuum up excess water if possible.
- Dirty and damp gutters are ideal habitats for termites, so cleaning your gutters regularly can help prevent termite infestation.
Use pest repellent substances. Mix 0.1% permethrin (about one tablespoon per four liters) into paint, wood polish, or wallpaper paste when building or repainting your house to permanently repel termites. You can even add permethrin to floor cement or wood floor adhesive. Permethrin is a pesticide safe for humans, thus it does not pose additional poisoning risks.
Keep wood piles away from your house. Since termites thrive on wood, it's advisable to store large piles of firewood, logs, and branches at a distance from your home. Having excessive wood in your yard is essentially an open invitation for termites to feast. If you must keep wood near your house, ensure it's covered to keep it dry, which will help reduce its appeal to termites. If you need to use wood, treat it with permethrin as described earlier.
Seal all cracks in your home. The first and most crucial step to prevent termites from entering your home is to seal windows, doors, and any cracks around the house. Gaps around electrical wires and pipes that lead into or out of the house are convenient entry points for termites.
- Installing screens on doors, windows, and porches is also essential if you're concerned about termite infestations.
Schedule home isolation. One of the most effective ways to protect your home from termites is to maintain a protective barrier around it. Fortunately, this method is cost-effective if you do it yourself using quality products like Termidor SC or Taurus SC. Both products contain Fipronil insecticide at the same concentration and are applied as a liquid around the exterior of the house. Fipronil has low toxicity but is highly effective against termites and ants.
Advice
- Online resources from retailers often provide instructional videos on professional termite control methods. Watching these videos before purchasing products can help you understand the scope of the task and how to perform it effectively.
- Termite damage can devastate a home, so if you're unsure about your ability to eliminate termites, it's best to call a professional service as soon as possible.
- Spraying insecticide weekly and filling holes near termite activity with boric acid can also be beneficial.
- Permethrin is toxic to cats. Avoid using it if you have cats in your home.
