How to Get Rid of Termites

Learn to spot and eliminate termite infestations from your home.

One common problem homeowners face across the country is pest infestations. Termites are particularly problematic because the longer they live in a home, the more extensive the damage. Termites are typically brown or black and have four wings that are roughly the same size. They measure about ¼ to ½ inch in length and tend to have short, slightly curved antennae. Use this guide to learn more about termites and how to get rid of these pests.

Signs of a Termite Infestation

A surefire way to recognize a termite problem is to see live termites in or around the home. However, this isn’t the only way to tell if a termite infestation might exist. Watch for these indicators:

• Hollow wood indicates that termites have been burrowing into the home’s structure. If the wood makes a soft thud or hollow sound when you tap on it, there is a good chance you have termites.

• Mud tubes are used by subterranean termites to travel. They connect the mud tubes from the soil to the wood they are targeting, creating a type of highway.
  

• Clicking or banging sounds inside the walls can point to a termite infestation. Solider termites send signals by banging their heads against the wood, creating these noises.

• Shed wings are a common sign that termites are nesting in the home. Subterranean termites often shed their wings in piles when they find a new location for a colony.

• Peeling paint isn’t the most definitive sign of termites since a variety of factors can cause paint to peel, but when termites damage the drywall, moisture can enter the space between the drywall surface and paint, causing bubbling or peeling.

• Termite droppings or frass resemble small, granular pellets that have an oval shape. Termites often leave droppings on door frames, baseboards, and windowsills.

Tips

Some species of ants look similar to termites, so take a picture or video of the invading pest for identification before you assume you have termites.

Types of Termites

Before breaking out the baits or pesticides, it’s necessary to identify the type of termite. The most common types in residential and commercial properties are subterranean, drywood, and dampwood termites.

• Subterranean termites are pervasive and cause more damage than drywood or dampwood termites due to their saw-toothed jaws. They have a light yellow or brown appearance with colorless wings. This type of termite lives in soil, compost piles, and the foundational wood of the home, which they access by creating mud tubes to connect the target wood to the soil.

• Drywood termites don’t rely on mud tubes to travel. They often have large wings and range from deep yellow to light brown in color. Drywood termites feed on and nest in wooden structures and are commonly found in warm, coastal areas of California, Florida, and Hawaii.

• Dampwood termites often cause more damage to outdoor wooden structures than indoor due to their preference for damp wood. They are usually brown but can range from light to dark brown or even reddish brown. Look for dampwood termites in firewood piles, fence posts, utility poles, and water-damaged wood.

How to Prevent Termite Infestations

Preventing a termite infestation is preferable to treating one. Setting up preventative measures reduces the appeal of the home and protects the property.

• Eliminate damp areas around the home by fixing plumbing leaks, leveling the yard, and making repairs to dripping air conditioners. Termites are drawn to moisture, so removing these problem spots makes the home less attractive to termite populations.

• Replace soil with sand around the home to prevent as much wood-to-soil contact as possible. While subterranean termites can build mud tubes between the soil and the foundational wood, they cannot build tunnels through the sand.

• Clear gutter systems to ensure proper drainage. If the gutter is clogged, the excess water flows over the edge and accumulates at the base of the home, making the soil soft and wood appealing to termites.

• Install termite-resistant wood if the home has had termite infestation problems in the past. Also, leave at least 6 inches between the soil and any outdoor wooden structures, like a deck, porch, or patio.

• Seal openings with termite-resistant steel mesh to prevent these pests from accessing the home.

• Stack firewood away from the home to reduce the risk of termite infestations. If the firewood pile is directly against the home, there is a higher chance that the termites will find their way into the house.

• Regular inspections can identify any possible issues. Professionals also provide suggestions for improved termite prevention and treatment.

How to Get Rid of Termites

There are several ways to treat termite infestations, depending on the severity of the problem. During the initial stages of a termite infestation, DIYers might be able to resolve the problem themselves, but if the infestation is widespread or severe, it’s best to contact a professional.

DIY Termite Treatments

Homeowners can attempt to resolve minor termite issues on their own using one of these DIY methods:

• Boric acid can be sprayed onto infested areas to kill termites, but this substance can be harmful to kids and pets if ingested, so use it with caution.

• Diatomaceous earth is a better option for homes with kids or pets. It can be sprinkled on the ground or around areas where termites have been spotted to kill termites and create barriers around the home.

• Orange oil and neem oil are organic insecticides that can treat small-scale infestations, although these substances don’t work fast enough to be effective against widespread termite populations. In a spray bottle, mix 2 cups of water, a few drops of dish soap, and about nine to 12 drops of orange oil or neem oil to create this DIY treatment.

• Beneficial nematodes are parasitic roundworms that burrow into termites and poison the host within a few days. Nematodes also prey on other garden pests, making them a great way to combat outdoor infestations.

• Insecticides can be used to treat termite populations and are widely available in home improvement stores as foams, sprays, powders, and baits.

When using insecticide, the user must be careful to read and follow the directions to avoid putting kids, pets, and other adults at risk.

Professional Termite Treatments

When the termite infestation is too much for a DIYer to handle, it’s time to call the professionals. Termite exterminators can identify the termite species, note the problem areas around the home, and suggest treatment options. Professional termite treatments typically include bait stations, fumigation, and termiticide applications.

• Bait stations are set up at key points around the property. The purpose is initially to determine the severity of the termite infestation, but once the pros have confirmed the extent of the termite activity, they apply chemical baits to attract the termites. The poisoned baits are consumed and carried back to the colony, gradually wiping out the entire population.

• Fumigation is an extreme method of dealing with termites, but when these pests are eating through your property investment, it may be the fastest way to eliminate the colony. The exterminators release a potent gas that seeps into all the cracks and crevices in the home to treat the infestation at the source.

• Termiticide applications can be used to set up a barrier around the home, treat compromised wood or soil, or be injected directly into the wood to target termite populations.

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