Termite Extermination Tips

If you’ve ever had termites, you know how destructive they can be. If you’ve just discovered termites in or around your home, you’re about to find out how bad they can be – unless you take steps to exterminate them quickly and effectively.
Termites normally live in the ground, but they can enter your home through a crack that’s less than 1/16” wide. Once they do, they’ll start munching their way through the wood, drywall and insulation in your house at an alarming rate. Professional termite extermination is effective but costly. Here are a few termite extermination tips to try on your own:

1.    Inspect your home to determine the extent of the problem. This can help you decide which specific termite extermination method would be best. Mud tunnels inside your house clearly indicate you have a termite infestation.

2.    Choose your method. The choices boil down to using a liquid pesticide or termite bait. Both methods have their pros and cons. Liquid pesticides are sprayed onto the ground around the perimeter of your home. The barrier they create prevents termites that are already in your home from returning to their underground nests. It also prevents termites in the nests from reaching your home. Liquid pesticides can be extremely effective, but they’re also very toxic to plants, pets and people (especially children). Termite baits may not be quite as effective but using them is much safer.

3.    Be careful if you choose a liquid pesticide. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when you’re applying liquid pesticide. Most require you to dig a trench around the home’s entire perimeter and then spray the pesticide into the trench. Once applied, the pesticide forms a barrier that kills (or at least repels) the termites.

4.    Termite bait is safer and easier to use than liquid pesticides, making it a good choice for do-it-yourselfers. Bait consists of pesticide that has been blended into food that attracts termites. The result is a toxic substance that kills them when consumed. Use termite bait by inserting it into any mud tunnels or termite paths you see. The termites will find and eat the bait eventually, although it might take a couple of weeks to work. You might need to put down new bait if you still see signs of termites after that.

5.    If you follow these termite extermination tips but termites are still in your home, consider contacting a professional exterminator for help.