Termites are one of the oldest living insects in existence today. Colonies of termites include a reproductive pair that can live for 70 years or more. Termites survive in airtight nests and high humidity. The first step to protect your home is to keep all moisture and standing water away from your foundation, but what can you do when you discover that termites are moving into your home?
Usually by the time termites have been discovered, the infestation will be large and you’ll need to call in a termite professional. Having a professional team come to your home to gauge the size of your termite problem and help you devise a method of removal, is money well spent.
If your termite problem is small, you may be able to rid your home of termites yourself but always consult a professional to be sure.
Applying insecticides to the diseased wood and sealing any holes usually kills the termites within one to six months. If you decide to apply insecticides yourself please keep in mind that you are dealing with dangerous chemicals and you should always follow all safety precautions. You also need to make sure that every hole is sealed with caulk and treat the areas around the termite colony as well. You want to avoid applying the insecticides in one area and having the termites move to a better location.
If you want to try a more natural approach to termite abatement before you resort to insecticides and fumigation, start with boric acid. Dissolve boric acid in water and paint it on your exposed wood. You can apply the boric acid to areas to curb expansion of an existing colony or to prevent a termite problem in the first place. One treatment of boric acid has been shown to keep termites away for several years, but if you want to increase the power of this natural remedy, you should reapply the boric acid treatment yearly.
Another alternative treatment is to apply heat to the termite infested areas. Heat treatments have been shown to be effective on dry-wood termites. In a heat treatment, nylon taps tent the area and propane heat is blown into the tent. Usually the heated air will reach 120-degrees F and one treatment will last about an hour. If you have a large infestation of termites and do not want to resort to full house tenting and fumigation, heat treatments may be a great alternative treatment process that is effective.
Traditional termite remedies can be dangerous to the earth and deadly to your family. Before resorting to a full house tenting which may require you to move out of your home for days or weeks, why not speak to a trained termite professional and explore the possibility of alternative and earth friendly remedies. Taking the time to try a less drastic method of termite abatement and you may be surprised by the results. Of course, after you have removed the termites from your home, you need to repair the damage and take the necessary steps to prevent termites from moving in again.
home-inspection
