How To Win Your War Against Termites

Treating For Termites
While you can try treating your house for termites yourself, you will probably want to leave it up
to a professional so that you know it’s done right. There are many pest control companies who
specialize in termite eradication and control. Much like choosing a termite inspector, you want a
company you can trust.
Again, ask for credentials and certifications. See if the company is a member of any pest
control societies and organizations. Do they have recommendation letters from previous
customers? If so, ask to see them. They’ll probably be more than willing to whip them out for
you. You can even take it a step further and call the Better Business Bureau to see if any
complaints have been filed against the company.
You’ll probably want to know what the company will do to get rid of your termite problem. The
easy thing to do is just ask them for a complete explanation of their treatment methods. But
we’ll cover some of them in this section if, for nothing else, just general information so you know
what they are talking about.
If you have a particularly bad termite problem, the exterminator may suggest that you have a
tent fumigation done. This is for bad infestations that extend throughout the structure, and it is
probably the most radical of all termite treatments.
With tent fumigation, you will be required to leave your home for a minimum of three days. The
chemicals that the company uses are strong although they won’t cause damage to anything in
your home except for exposed food.
Termite baiting is becoming increasingly popular as a way to treat for and prevent termites.
Instead of attempting to protect a structure by creating a barrier between it and the termites,
baiting targets the termites themselves. Termite baits are designed to suppress or eliminate the
termite colony living in the soil.
Commercial termite bait systems are a relatively new technology. The most widely used bait
products are applied very similarly. The initial installation of any baiting system involves plastic
How To Win Your War Against Termites

stations being inserted into the ground around the periphery of the structure approximately
every 10 feet.
Inside these stations are untreated wood monitors. The stations are usually inspected every
month for termite activity. If live termites are found in the station, toxic bait will be placed inside
and the infested monitor may or may not be removed.
The idea is to get the termites that have been recruited to the wood monitor to now pick up the
bait instead. Certain bait products are intended to be used by themselves, while others can be
used in combination with spot applications of liquid termiticide (applied only to areas where
termites are active) or a complete liquid treatment.
How To Win Your War Against Termites

Do-It-Yourself Termite Treatment
We are increasingly becoming a world of people who like to do things ourselves. Whether it’s
because we want to save money or just like the satisfaction of taking care of our own things,
sometimes we like “getting our hands dirty” and learning how to do new things.
Even termite treatment is possible for the avid do-it-yourselfer. There are a variety of
commercial products on the market with professional strength that you can use. They are
available in many places, but we suggest you look in a home improvement store to find the best
selection.
There are two ways you can approach do-it-yourself termite treatment: termite baiting and
chemical application.
Let’s first take a look at termite baiting. Since this is probably the easiest way to approach do-ityourself
termite control, it seems like a logical place to start. You won’t be working directly with
chemicals, so it is probably the safest way to start as well.
Take a quick survey of your property. Draw a rough graph of the home. On this graph...you can
show locations of doors, windows, gutter down spouts, air conditioning drains, stumps, firewood,
bushes, etc.
As you walk around the perimeter of your home, take note of damp conditions which are
conducive to termites caused by shade, poor drainage, air conditioner condensation, etc. Mark
these on your graph.
As a rule, you should position bait stations at 8-10 feet intervals. However areas that are
conducive to termites such as the following conditions, it would be advisable to have bait
positions placed at closer intervals.
How To Win Your War Against Termites