On the one hand, termite control might seem like an unnecessary expense. The reality is that home termite control is absolutely essential. Termites can quickly cause a devastating amount of damage to your home, resulting in costly repairs. Taking the necessary steps for termite inspection, control, treatment, and prevention can save you thousands of dollars in the long run.
Above all, if you think you might be dealing with termites, be sure to contact a professional home pest control company. Unlike some other forms of home pest control, termite treatment is complex and difficult, and should be left to the professionals. Termites can cause many thousands of dollars in structural damage to your home, all of which will need to be accounted for. Compared to the cost of treatment and repairs, an annual termite inspection is quick, easy, and affordable.
Ongoing termite prevention can also reduce your risk of ending up with termites. Homeowners often wonder how often they should get a termite inspection. Should it be part of a monthly pest control package? Do they need to order an inspection once every six months, or once every few years? Typically, we recommend that homeowners receive an annual termite inspection -- that is, once per year. When a home pest control professional conducts a termite inspection, they typically inspect the visible areas of your home for any evidence of termite damage.
The technician will usually inspect both the interior and exterior of your home, including your crawlspace, basement, and attic. A trained professional has the knowledge and experience necessary to detect the presence of termites, as well as assess the severity of an infestation if one exists.
If you have a brick or block foundation, keep in mind that they crack as they age. Concrete block piers should have a 4-inch solid cap block to resist termites. Some older homes used metal plates, often referred to as termite shields, to cap the piers. Another great way to prevent termites when building your house is by using steel frames, pressure-treated wood , or termite resistant heartwood. If you have an existing home there are a few ways that you can still prevent termites infestation.
One way to do it is to reduce all soil-to-wood contact around your house. That means that you should remove all lumber, wood, plants, mulch, paper, cardboard, and so on from around the foundation and crawl space.
You should also create a 4-inch barrier between mulch and your home. Make sure you keep your plants at least a few feet away from your home.
You should empty your storm drains a few feet from the foundation and make sure that your soil drains effectively minimizes overly moist soil. For concrete slab foundations, rock is preferred in landscape beds over straw and mulch because the wall framing is typically only 4 to 6 inches off the ground. It is also advisable that you fix leaky faucets and eliminate other excess moisture sources because that creates a perfect environment for termite invasions.
While it is swarming season, which is after the winter when temperatures rise, turn off outdoor lights at night. The light attracts the swarmers, so try to move your lights to recessed areas away from doors and windows. Regardless of how new or old your home is, all homeowners should invest in regular inspections. All homeowners should get a termite inspection once a year. If you have an older house , your risk of termite infestation is greater, so you should always be on the lookout for them and get it checked by a professional every year.
Even though a termite inspector will come and inspect your home once a year, you should check your own home in the meantime. There are a few things to look out for in-between inspections to lessen your chance of an infestation. If you notice mud trails in the soil near any kind of wood around your home, it may have a termite colony present.
After they establish a new colony, swarmers will discard their wings. If you find a pile of wings, it means that there are termites nearby. You can also tell that you have a termite infestation by their droppings.
Termite droppings resemble sawdust and can often be found along baseboards. One of the most prominent signs that you have a termite infestation is hearing a hollow sound after knocking on wood you think might be infested. Professionals will inspect all these signs during their annual visit, but they are also trained to find the smaller, less noticeable signs of termites.
They can find the earliest signs of termite infestations thanks to their experience. Move anything that you have stored under your sinks because the inspector will have to check your water sources for termite activity. You will also have to move anything that you have stored against a wall in your garage.
Remove any wood you have stored against the exterior walls. In case your home has been built on a raised foundation, you should keep your crawl space access clear. Liquid termite treatment lasts five years or more. Termite station treatments are generally good for one year and are performed under a service contract. If there are any gaps in the liquid chemical treatment, termites can return and still manage to get into your home.
You will also need to drill holes in patios, driveways, and concrete block piers to apply the treatment. In recent years, several bait systems have been introduced to help reduce the overall use of insecticides and their impact on human health and the environment.
These systems rely on cellulose baits that contain a slow-acting insecticide. The most common active ingredients found in termite baits are:. As the federal agency responsible for regulating all pesticides, including termiticides, sold, applied, or distributed in the United States, EPA must ensure that the pesticide, when used according to label directions, meets current safety standards to protect human health and the environment. To make such determinations, we require more than different scientific studies and tests from applicants.
Most states also review the pesticide label to ensure that it complies with federal labeling requirements and any additional state restrictions of use. Many termiticides are highly toxic, making it critical to follow label directions with added care. Pest management professionals have the knowledge, expertise, and equipment as required by the label, which minimizes risks and maximizes effectiveness. To register a complaint concerning a pesticide misapplication, contact your state pesticide regulatory agency.
NPIC provides experts who can answer a broad range of questions concerning pesticide-related issues, such as product use and health effects. Skip to main content. Related Topics: Pesticides and Consumers.
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