Termites are wood-eating pests that can infest homes and cause a lot of structural damage. They feed on cellulose, so every house is prone to termite damage. These pests infest not only plants and wood materials but also books and other items. Many times, residents might not be aware of the infestation until they see a swarm or notice any damage during repair works.
Different types of termite treatment and control services
Termites thrive inside a house and its foundation and eat away the core slowly. In case of an infestation, timely treatment and preventive measures are important to protect the structure of a property. Most termite treatments not only eradicate an existing infestation but also prevent it from recurring.
Some common types of termite treatments are as follows:
- Soil treatments
Termites live in the soil, so this termite control treatment is applied to the soil, surrounding a house or any other structure. The professionals dig a trench around the foundation, and a termiticide is added to the soil. The soil is then filled back in the trench. This treatment kills the termites that are already in the house and also checks future infestations. - Wood treatments
Pest control professionals use different types of wood treatments to eliminate the existing termite colonies and prevent outbreaks in the future. Some common types of wood treatments are injected sprays and foams, surface sprays, and borate-treated woods. Surface sprays are used when a house is being constructed, while injected sprays and foams are used after the construction. Borate wood treatments help prevent termite infestations and also eliminate the existing termites.
Types of termites and their treatment options
Dampwood, drywood, and subterranean are the common types of termites that can infest your house or commercial setting. Here’s how the professionals deal with different termite infestations.
- Subterranean termite treatment
These termites build their nests under a house or building and can easily enter a property through the wood in contact with the ground. They either squeeze through the thin cracks or use mud tubes to travel from their colonies and infest the forest in a house.
Subterranean treatment types include the following:
- Monitoring and bait stations
This treatment helps eliminate all the termite colonies present in and around the house. The professionals install monitoring stations along the perimeter of a house to determine the extent of termite infestation. After monitoring the situation, bait stations with chemicals materials are set up to attract the pests. The termites ingest the chemical materials and carry them back to their colony. This spreads the chemicals in the entire colony and kills the termites. - Termiticide application
This is done to remove a current infestation and prevent similar problems in the future. The termiticide is applied to the soil around your house or on the infested wood . Professionals may also inject the pesticide into the wood directly to target the entire termite colony. - Drywood termite treatment
These termites can thrive and infest a property even if there is no wood touching the soil. They travel long distances and create a colony when they find a preferred wood type. These termites need less moisture to survive and are commonly found in attics. Apart from wood, they can also infect drying trees and shrubs, furniture, fences, and utility poles.
Drywood termite treatment options are the following:
- Gas fumigation
This method is effective in treating and removing termites from deep within a house. Fumigants penetrate the cracks in woods and permeate throughout the house to kill termites. - Targeted termiticide application
The termiticide is applied on or injected directly into the infested wood to target the termite population.
- Dampwood termite treatment
These termites are larger and have big pincers on the head. They build their colonies in damp or decaying wood, such as logs and stumps. They do not construct nests or mud tubes and can eat the wood with the grain. Dampwood termites are not as destructive as drywood and subterranean termites.
The treatment options for dampwood termites are as follows:
- Moisture removal
As these termites thrive in damp spaces, the professionals will look for plumbing or drainage problems in and around your house and fix them. They will also remove the woods that touch the ground directly and replace them with pre-treated ones to prevent wood decay. - Termiticide application
Termiticides are used on the infested woods and in the soil around your house to get rid of the pests.
Tips for choosing termite control services
When you are looking for a company offering termite control services, you will encounter plenty of options. Instead of making a random selection, follow these tips to choose the right one.
- Do some research
This is important for hiring a competent and experienced service provider. Look for termite or pest control companies online and also ask your acquaintances and neighbors for references. These will give you a rough idea about the renowned and reliable companies in your region. - Contact the shortlisted service providers
When you have shortlisted a few companies, you can contact them and ask about the services they offer, the products they use, cost estimates, and more. Make sure the companies provide the kind of services you want. - Check their license
This is one of the most important things to keep in mind to prevent problems in the future. Check if the shortlisted companies are licensed by the agency in charge of regulating termite control services in your state. Remember to ask for proof of their license. You can trust the ones listed with the state or national pest management association as they will have the right training to do the job safely and correctly. - Ask about their insurance
Check if the shortlisted companies have liability insurance, covering the damages to floor and furnishings during the termite treatment. - Find out about their experience
You can either talk to the shortlisted companies or visit their websites to know more about their experience and other details. When you hire an experienced company, you can rest assured that they will offer the desired services. - Check their reputation
You can check the reputation of the shortlisted companies by going through the customer reviews on their respective websites. The reviews will give you an idea about their competence and success rate. You will also know how quickly and willingly they address the issues raised by their customers. - Find out if they give a guarantee
Professionals use different types of treatments to control termites. Irrespective of the treatment types and methods used, a termite control company must guarantee their services. In case the pest comes back within the guarantee period, the company should exterminate them without any extra charges. - Ask about the products they use
Talk to the companies about the effectiveness of the products they use and the precautions they will take to ensure the residents’ safety. - Compare the service providers
When you have the final list of shortlisted companies, compare their services, credentials, and service charges, and pick one that matches your criteria. Keep in mind to choose a reputed, reliable, and experienced company for hassle-free services.
Benefits of hiring termite control services
When you have a termite infestation, availing professional termite control services is the easiest way to deal with the problem. The benefits of hiring professional services are as follows:
- Specific plan
When you hire a company’s services, they will examine your house or commercial establishment thoroughly and create a termite or pest control plan accordingly. They will use the right methods to deal with the problem while keeping the residents’ safety in mind. - Expertise and experience
A professional service provider will have the expertise to deal with different types of termites the proper way to prevent them from coming back. They will also have the necessary tools and termiticides to remove the pests from narrow spaces. - Safety
Professionals have the skills and knowledge to use different types of termiticides or pesticides safely. Considering the safety of the residents and pets, many companies use green and environment-friendly products. The professionals are also trained to use the pesticides the right way to minimize chemical exposure. - Economical
If you think of getting rid of the termites on your own to save a few dollars, you may spend more in the future. In case you do not use the right products and methods, the pests will come back soon and cause widespread damage to your property without your knowledge. On the other hand, an experienced service provider will locate every infestation area and use the right tools and products to remove the termites. - Time-saving
Termite treatment can be a time-consuming task, especially if you do not have the skills or knowledge to deal with the pests. Therefore, hiring the services of a termite control company is the best option. The professionals from the company will do the job while you can focus on your daily chores. The professionals will come with the necessary tools and clean the space once the termite treatment is done. - Allergic reactions
Termites can also cause allergic reactions if you are not using the right safety equipment while handling them. If you experience watery eyes, itchy skin, and constant sneezing, termites may be the reason. Therefore, it is best to leave the termite treatment work to professionals.
Cost of termite treatment services
Termites can damage your house, and the repairs may cost you thousands of dollars. While termite control costs can be on the higher side, it is wise to get the treatment done by a professional to prevent any structural damage. Here’s a look at the average cost of termite inspection and treatment.
- Termite inspection cost
Before starting with any termite treatment, the professionals will come to your home or commercial setting for inspection. This involves checking the foundation of a structure to determine if any wood is in contact with the soil. They will also look for signs of termites, such as wood shavings, mud tubes, and droppings. While the inspection may be free, the inspection report indicating the problem areas may cost up to USD 150. - Termite treatment cost
The cost will depend on the size of your house, the area to be treated, and the type of treatment required. - Chemical treatments
The average charges will be somewhere between USD 1300 and USD 1500 per treatment. Professionals usually charge by the linear foot for chemical treatments, and the average cost per foot is somewhere around USD 4 to USD 16. The service provider sprays chemicals in the infested areas and other necessary spaces to prevent future infestations. - Fumigation
This treatment for drywood termites is a little on the expensive side. Depending on the size of your house and the infested area, fumigation treatment may cost you somewhere between USD 1300 and USD 2500. - Treatment plan
If you purchase a termite treatment plan after the inspection, a professional company may charge you between $150 and $300. When you purchase this plan, the service provider will visit your home or commercial setting once a year to check or replace the monitoring bait stations and carry out preventive treatments. - Company size
A big or reputed company may be more expensive as they use better chemicals, equipment, and resources and offer guaranteed services.
Termite infestation can be extremely destructive if not taken care of in time. So, if you notice any signs of termites in your home or office, call an experienced termite control service provider at the earliest.
