Termite FAQs

What are termites and why should I be worried about them?

Termites are ant-like creatures that feed on wood and other cellulose-rich materials like paper, mulch and cardboard. They cause billions of dollars worth of damages every year, and all efforts to completely exterminate the pests from certain areas of the world have come to nothing. Termites silently invade thousands of houses in the USA every year, and are rarely discovered until they have caused some damage to the building structures. Termite inspection reports are a usual tool to insure that the house you buy or sell is free from infestation.

What can be done to get rid of termites?

Termite control is not difficult but should be preferably done by a specialist experienced in termite control. Procedure will include inspections, chemical treatment using termicides, baiting and advice on modification in plumbing, gutting and general construction, and after treatment inspections.

How can I know if my house has been infested?

The easiest way is to hire an independent termite inspector. Sometimes termite control companies will provide such inspections for free, hoping that if they do find infestation you will choose their services. You may also choose to identify an infestation on your own.

There are a number of sure signs that a house is invaded by a termite colony:

Piles of wings from swarming termites;
Furniture and wood constructions damaged by termites;
Several hollow spaces inside wood constructions of your house;
Bubbles in paint;
Tiny round, drilled-like holes in wood surfaces;
Sawdust in unexpected places close to wood;
Live termites crawling on the wooden surfaces;
Tubes and tunnels the size of a pencil made of mud like substance;
Mud like matter on furniture, walls, floor;
Swarming termites;

However, many of these signs appear later on, but to identify an infestation early you will need to get into the basement, attic and check any leaking pipes. This will involve a lot of crawling and sweating.

Which control methods are most effective?

Chemical termicides are the most effective if you want to exterminate termites fast (2-3 months). However, biological and physical barriers and structural modifications will certainly be preferable and just as effective in the long run.

The best chemical treatment method by far is baiting. Baits or feeding stations are placed in places where foraging termites have been observed. Inside the baits there are slow working termicides that kills an insect in 12-24 hours. Thus, termites cannot directly tie in death of a comrade with the bait. Besides, one lethally affected termite will intoxicate several other termites in the nest as termites feed each other, and worker termites feed soldiers and the queen. This method is good because chemicals are used only in specific parts of the house, and kill termites from within the nest, potentially exterminating the whole colony.

How do I choose the best termite exterminator?

With internet it has become really simple to find the right services. The market is huge and there are hundreds of good and credible providers out there. To find them among many thousands of fake companies, you will need to ask a couple of crucial questions like:

Do they have a full license?
Do they use subcontractors?
Do they have professional indemnity and public liability insurance?
Are they able to give you references or can they otherwise demonstrate proper experience in the field?
For how many years have they been in the business?
What termite control strategies do they employ?
Will you have a part in their extermination strategy?
How long will the treatment take?

Termite treatment is a lengthy process. A lot will depend on when you discovered the infestation and how complex your house is. Sometimes it can be really difficult to get to the crucial places in construction. Still, treatment will take anywhere between 2 and 6 months.

Will chemical treatment be dangerous for kids and animals?

Before a termicide is released to the market it undergoes extensive studies and a chain of experiments. Termicides that do make it to the market are as safe as any other chemicals used in household. With proper application and safety measures they will not adversely affect people or animals living in the house.

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