Termite damage is a major concern for homeowners nationwide. Termites can attack the wooden components of your house and cause serious and costly damage to it. Keeping these wood-munching pests out of your home should a top priority for you.
The good news is that you don't have to deal with termites alone when there are plenty of specialists out there that can help you. Termite control specialists offer a variety of termite treatments for homes.
Here are the main treatments available for treating termites in existing homes:
Liquid Termiticides
These treatments have been around for many decades and are the old standby when it comes to termite prevention and control. They are usually injected into the soil around buildings to create a long-lasting barrier that prevents termites from infesting the buildings. Often, termites already within the building get killed because they cannot return to the soil to replenish their body moisture.
Previously, liquid termiticides were repellent rather than deadly to scavenging termites. They were geared towards blocking the possible entry of termites into buildings. Current products are non-repellent and lethal to termites. Termites foraging in the soil and above the treated areas are killed. Such products have proved to be more effective at controlling termite activity and damage on the first attempt.
Termite Bait Systems
Taking a leaf from how non-repellant termiticides work, bait systems lure rather than repel termites. Termite baits are placed at all the potential entry points of your home to trap and kill termites. Each bait station contains bait (cellulose combined with a slow-acting chemical) that scavenging termites eat and carry back to their nests. Within days or weeks of eating the bait, termites die.
Termite bait stations are monitored periodically. When there are signs of termite feeding in a station, the old bait is replaced with a new bait so that the termites can continue feeding. These stations can be used alone or in combination with liquid termiticides, depending on the situation.
Even if there is no clear indication of termite activity in your home, preventative treatments may be required to avoid future termite infestations. It is important to keep in mind that all termite treatments fall into two major categories based on when they are applied: pre-construction and post-construction. The above treatments are available for older, established homes. If you are planning a new residential build, a termite control technician can explain the pre-construction treatments available to you.
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