How To Get Rid Of Termites In House

How To Get Rid Of Termites In House: Your Step-by-Step Guide

Finding out you have termites in your home can be terrifying. These tiny pests cause billions of dollars in damage annually, and dealing with them requires swift, effective action. If you're asking yourself, "How to get rid of termites in house?"—you've come to the right place. We understand the stress, and we're here to walk you through both DIY methods and when it's absolutely necessary to call in a professional.

The key to success is early detection and understanding which type of termite you are dealing with. Let's dive into identifying the tell-tale signs of an infestation before we discuss the arsenal of treatments available to you.

Identifying the Enemy: Recognizing Termite Infestation Signs

Before you can figure out the best way to get rid of termites, you need to confirm their presence. Termites are notoriously sneaky, often eating away at the structure of your home for years without visible signs. However, there are a few important clues that indicate you have unwanted guests.

Look out for these common indicators:

• Mud Tubes: Subterranean termites build distinctive mud tubes (about the width of a pencil) to travel between the soil and your home's structure, protecting them from dry air. Check along your foundation, crawl spaces, and exterior walls.
• Discarded Wings: After swarming (which often occurs in the spring or after rain), termites shed their translucent wings. You might find small piles of these wings near windowsills, doors, or light fixtures.
• Frass (Termite Droppings): Drywood termites leave behind small, pellet-like droppings that look like sawdust or fine sand. These usually pile up near the infested wood.
• Hollow-Sounding Wood: Tap on wood that looks questionable. If it sounds papery or hollow, it has likely been severely damaged internally by termites eating the wood from the inside out.

If you confirm any of these signs, don't panic, but do move quickly. Knowing exactly what kind of termite you are facing will dictate your treatment plan for how to get rid of termites in house.

Different Types of Termites You Might Encounter

There are two primary types of termites that most often invade residential properties in North America: Subterranean and Drywood. Treating each type requires a different strategy.

Subterranean Termites: These are the most common and destructive. They live in underground colonies and require contact with soil or a source of moisture. They build those tell-tale mud tubes to maintain humidity and access food (your wood).

Drywood Termites: These termites live entirely within the wood they infest and do not need contact with the soil. They are often found in attic framing, eaves, or furniture. Their presence is usually confirmed by the distinctive frass they push out of tiny holes in the wood.

DIY Solutions: How To Get Rid Of Termites In House Naturally

If your infestation is localized or relatively small, you might be able to handle it yourself using safer, less toxic methods. These options focus on directly killing termites and disrupting their colonies.

Effective Natural Remedies

Many homeowners prefer to start with non-chemical treatments, especially if the infestation is indoors near living areas. These remedies can be surprisingly effective against localized termite activity.

1. Heat or Cold Treatment: Exposing infested wood to extreme temperatures can kill termites. For instance, small pieces of furniture can be left in the sun for several days (if temperatures are high) or frozen if that option is available.
2. Cardboard Traps: Termites love cellulose. Dampen pieces of cardboard and roll them up near the infestation. Once the cardboard is full of feeding termites, carefully carry the trap outside and burn it immediately.
3. Essential Oils: Certain oils, like orange oil (D-limonene) and neem oil, can be toxic to termites upon contact. Orange oil is particularly useful for drywood termites as it dissolves their exoskeletons. Drill small holes into the infested wood and inject the oil directly.

Boric Acid Treatment

Boric acid is perhaps the most famous and effective non-professional solution for pest control. It acts as a stomach poison for termites, disrupting their digestive system. You can purchase borate powder and mix it with water to create a spray solution.

Apply the solution directly to exposed wood or spray it onto any visible mud tubes. The key here is consistency; multiple applications may be necessary. Remember that while boric acid is less toxic than traditional pesticides, it should still be handled with care and kept away from children and pets.

Nematodes: The Biological Solution

If you are dealing with subterranean termites in the soil around your foundation, beneficial nematodes are an excellent biological control option. These are microscopic, naturally occurring roundworms that hunt and kill pests like termite larvae and pupae.

You simply mix the nematodes (available at garden centers) with water and spray them directly onto the infested soil. They pose zero threat to humans, pets, or plants. This method helps eliminate the colony at its source before it can re-enter your house.

Chemical Treatments and Professional Intervention

If your DIY efforts haven't worked or if the infestation is widespread, it's time to move to professional-grade solutions. These treatments are specifically designed to address severe infestations and prevent future issues. Knowing *how to get rid of termites in house* permanently often involves these heavier methods.

Understanding Termite Baiting Systems

Baiting systems are strategically placed stations containing slow-acting poison disguised as termite food. Termites carry the poison back to the colony, eventually killing the queen and collapsing the entire colony structure.

The beauty of bait systems is that they target the entire colony, not just the foraging termites you see. While they take longer to work (weeks or months), they are highly effective for long-term subterranean termite control. You can install DIY bait stations, but professional monitoring often yields the best results.

When to Call the Pros: Fumigation and Barrier Treatments

If you suspect a massive infestation, or if you have drywood termites scattered throughout the structural lumber, professional treatment is non-negotiable. This often involves the following high-level treatments:

• Liquid Barrier Treatment (Termiticide): This is the standard defense against subterranean termites. Professionals inject termiticide into the soil around the perimeter of your house, creating an unbroken chemical barrier that termites cannot cross without dying.
• Fumigation (Tenting): Specifically for severe drywood termite infestations, fumigation involves covering the entire house with a tent and pumping a lethal gas inside. This treatment ensures that termites hidden deep within the structure are eliminated. Be aware that this is costly and requires temporarily vacating the home.

Prevention is Key: Keeping Termites Away for Good

Once you've successfully gotten rid of termites, your focus must shift to prevention. Termites are attracted to moisture and food (wood), so eliminate these attractants!

Here are crucial steps for long-term defense:

1. Manage Moisture: Repair leaky pipes, ensure that your gutters drain water away from the foundation, and maintain good ventilation in crawl spaces and basements. Termites thrive in damp environments.
2. Eliminate Wood-Soil Contact: Do not let wood siding, window frames, or deck posts touch the ground. Ideally, you should maintain at least an 18-inch gap between soil and any wood element of your structure.
3. Keep Debris Away: Clear away woodpiles, old stumps, and construction debris from around the foundation. If you must store firewood, elevate it and keep it far away from the house.
4. Seal Cracks: Inspect your foundation regularly and seal any cracks or entry points where termites could squeeze through.

Regular inspection and proactive maintenance are your best allies in ensuring you never have to ask "How to get rid of termites in house?" again.

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Conclusion

Dealing with termites is never fun, but remember that many treatments are highly effective when applied correctly. If you have a small, localized issue, natural remedies like boric acid or orange oil might successfully solve your problem. For larger, established infestations, or if you are dealing with subterranean termites, professional help utilizing barrier treatments or bait systems is usually necessary to fully answer the question of how to get rid of termites in house permanently.

Always prioritize moisture control and eliminate wood debris to make your home a less appealing target for future invaders. By staying vigilant and acting quickly, you can protect your home's structural integrity and enjoy peace of mind.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Termite Removal

Can termites come back after treatment?

Yes, termites can definitely come back, especially if the source of their attraction (moisture, wood debris) is not removed, or if the initial treatment did not eliminate the entire colony. This is why regular inspections and preventative barriers are crucial.

How long does it take to get rid of termites?

The timeline varies significantly. Spot treatments might yield quick results in a few days. However, professional treatments like baiting systems can take several months (3 to 6 months) to completely eliminate a large subterranean colony. Fumigation is quick, but the preparation and cleanup take a few days.

Does pouring bleach on termites kill them?

Bleach can kill termites on direct contact, but it is highly corrosive and damaging to wood and surfaces. It also doesn't penetrate deep enough to kill an entire colony or provide residual protection. Using approved termiticides or boric acid is a much safer and more effective solution.

Is termite damage covered by homeowner's insurance?

Typically, no. Homeowner's insurance policies view termite damage as a preventable maintenance issue, not a sudden accident. This means the cost to repair damage and the cost of professional treatment usually fall to the homeowner.

How much does it cost to get rid of termites in house professionally?

Costs vary widely based on the location and severity of the infestation, and the type of treatment chosen. Expect to pay anywhere from $300 for localized treatments to several thousand dollars ($2,000 to $8,000+) for full fumigation or extensive liquid barrier treatments.

How To Get Rid Of Termites In House

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