Subterranean Termites
Termites are devious creatures that will gnaw away at the wood structure of your home. Unless you can clearly identify the problem in a timely manner and learn how to properly treat the problem, it could end up costing you thousands in damages.
Not only could a termite problem be extremely expensive, it could also be inconvenient. If the termites do enough damage or the problem gets out of control, it could result in your home being uninhabitable — you’ll then have to wait weeks or sometimes even months for repairs. What can you do to reduce the risk of termites? Here are 8 effective suggestions to try.
1. Remove Wood Mulch/Bark
Wood mulch/bark is very attractive to termites and it’s often the number one place of infestation. Many people use wood mulch/bark in their yard, so if you do this it might be wise to remove it at least until you have the problem solved. Termites can easily make the transition from your yard to your home. One way for you to keep your wood mulch/bark is by staying away from the common varieties. Even though the vast majority is attractive to termites, cedar mulch/bark is not. It’s actually a termite repellent because cedar resins are toxic to the termites.
2. Remove Stumps and Other Pieces of Wood
Wood mulch/bark is by far the most attractive thing for termites, but stumps and other pieces of wood are also very attractive. If you have stumps in your yard, it might be worthwhile to remove them. If you have other pieces of wood around your home, it might also be worthwhile to remove these until you have removed the termites.
3. Flooding the Home of the Termites
If termites are mainly residing in your yard or in plant pots, a very effective way to get rid of them is by flooding their new home. Simply pour a large amount of water onto the affected area. This is a great option because it’s effective
Termite tracks – damage to tree
and convenient: it will drown the termites and it’s an easy solution that doesn’t require any specialist tools or knowledge. Would you love to know if you have a termite infestation onhand? Check out these common termite symptoms.
4. Using Boric Acid
Boric acid is an effective solution to a termite problem, but it’s generally recommended that the product is implemented by a professional exterminator. Before using boric acid, you’ll want to set up some “bait” — this could be a piece of cardboard, some wood mulch/bark, or a piece of wooden furniture. You then coat the bait evenly in boric acid, which dries the termites and acts as a poison. If you decide to use boric acid, it’s recommended that you also use honey or something similar mixed in with the bait. This will prevent the boric acid from acting as a repellent.
5. Products Such as Insecticides and Foams
You can also use professional products such as insecticides and foams to overcome your termite problem. However, as you would imagine, it’s generally best that these products are used only by professional exterminators. These products are extremely effective and come in many forms, from liquids to gases. The only downside is that the application of some of these products will make your home uninhabitable for a few nights.
6. Use Predatory Insects
If you have tried some of the home remedies outlined above, but simply can’t seem to get those last few termites eradicated, it might be worthwhile using predatory insects such as nematodes. Nematodes are small worms that feast on termites and won’t cause any damage to your home. You can purchase nematodes from your local hardware store or lumber yard.
7. Adjust the Temperature
Just like many other insects and animals (ourselves included), termites can only live between a certain temperature. A good way to eliminate your termite problem is by using hot/cold treatments. Termites need to be at a temperature between -20°F/-29°C and 120°F/49°C. If you live in a warm area, something as simple as exposing the termites to the sun might work wonders. On the other hand, collect the infested wooden items in your home and place them into a freezer.
8. Hire a Professional
The home remedies outlined above might be a more cost-effective way to remove termites from your home, but they might not be as efficient as hiring a professional. If you intend to hire a professional, make sure that you get quotes from at least three companies so that you know you are getting a competitive rate. It’s also important to have an agreement drafted which outlines the duration of termite extinction in your home. Even though there are many home remedies for correcting a termite problem, the best solution might be hiring a professional in the pest control industry. This is going to be more expensive than carrying out a home remedy, so it might be worthwhile trying some lower-cost solutions beforehand. By following the advice and guidance given above, you should be able to make your home a much safer place and will eventually be able to overcome your termite problem completely.
Thanks for this article, Termite causes a major problem, it can destroy the wood structure of our furniture. Termite inspections done annually by a professional team to ensure that termites are present or not. They come in a gang not alone, so it’s very difficult to overcome this problem by ourselves.