Termites Are Not Good

One of the scariest things for any homeowner is finding out they have a termite infestation. It is amazing that such small creatures cause millions of dollars in damage every year. Maybe you have never had to deal with termites before, but be prepared because every home is a target. Perhaps you have not even thought about when the last time your home was inspected or treated. If not, now is the time! Dealing with a termite infestation sounds like a headache and an attack at your pocket book. There are ways, however, to make it more affordable. The first thing you need though is to know a little about these creatures eating away at your house.

Termites Are Like Ants

Termites are similar to ants in that they live in a colony. This means that when you find a few, that really means there are a whole bunch more! Also, it means that if you really want to rid yourself of them, you need something that will target the whole colony and not just a portion.

Identifying Termites

The first step in termite control is identifying which kind of termites you are dealing with. There are two main categories of termites:

• Subterranean Termites

Subterranean Termites roam about 2-3 inches underneath the soil, so you will never see them out in the open. They create mud tunnels from the ground to your home or come up underneath your house into the walls. They are attracted to moisture or decaying wood.

• Drywood Termites

Drywood Termites have wings and can fly to reach upper levels of buildings or even attics. As their name suggests; they dwell off of dry wood.

How to Get Rid Of Termites

Now let’s talk about how to get rid of termites. To get rid of your infestation, pick a method that will kill them all off, not just repel them. A repellant will only cause the termites to migrate to a different area of wood. Any product that kills termites on contact will not solve the problem either. Those products only target the worker termites while the soldier and reproductive termites stay back at the colony. That is the reality of “contact killer” products – they only wipe out a fraction of the population while the queen and her thousands of eggs who never leave the colony are still safe and well. The ultimate goal is to target the source: the queen, king, and entire colony. How does one do that?

Once you have identified your termite species, you will better know how to go about treating. Most commonly,

you will be dealing with subterranean termites. There are precautions and steps you can take to protect your home from an infestation. You do have options, too! Many people think that termites need to be handled by professionals, but that is not the case. Professional grade products are available that allow you to completely protect your home and save money in the process.

The best product on the market is called Termidor. In fact, it is what most professionals are using. As a liquid concentrate, it is mixed with water and poured directly into a six inch deep trench around the perimeter of the building structure. Yes, it requires some labor, but it is well worth it. The product binds to the soil and acts as a barrier for ten years. It works so well because it is a non-repellant and termites cannot detect it. They walk through a treated area, pick it up on their bodies, digest it, and carry it back to the colony where it is passed along to the others. Within three months you will be termite free! A cheaper alternative is Dominion, but it only lasts about five years.

Termite bait and termite bait stations are also common and can help you to monitor your termite activity. Bait stations go into the ground around the perimeter of a home and have a wooden base that attracts termites. Check those regularly to see how many critters you have stopping by for a snack. When you see that many termites are eating on it, replace the bait with one that is toxic. After eating on that and carrying it back to the others, it will wipe out your termite colony. These are not, however, the best way to treat or prevent. Termites may still go around the stations and make it into your home.

Termite Bait Installation Video

Here is a video about installing Termite Bait Stations:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAEBLDVPNEY[/youtube]

If you have bare wood that you want to treat and protect, use a product containing borate. Some of the best options are Boracare or Timbor. Borate is applied directly to untreated/bare wood and penetrates into the wood protecting it not only from termites, but other wood boring insects. Borate will remain active for the life of the wood. This is a smart option when dealing with termites or an active infestation in an area. Again, it can only be applied to unpainted/untreated wood. Foaming termiticides are available as well and can be injected into hard to reach areas.

Be Smart and Good Luck

Be smart with your termite treatments and you can save a lot of hassle and money. If you’re not sure, most professional companies will come out and offer a free home inspection. Never feel obligated, but know your options and know that you can get rid of termites on your own.