Common Termite Treatment Options in Murfreesboro

Common Termite Treatment Options in Murfreesboro

Tennessee Termite Control: Methods of Elimination

Being ready for termites is your first step in preventing them. Termites can go undetected for long periods, creating extreme damage to the structural integrity of your home. In Tennessee, the most common termite species you’ll find include subterranean termites and drywood termites. The type of termite treatment option you need for a termite infestation will depend on your situation, its location, and the type of termite you have. Check out the most common termite treatments in your area below!

Pretreatments

Performed in new construction homes, this treatment is utilized during the building phase of a home. Pretreatments are a combination of liquid termiticide, termite bait, lumber treatment, and in-soil barriers. These treatments are known to be effective and affordable when performed before the physical infrastructure or addition is laid.

Bait Stations

Bait stations are placed in the ground and around your home to protect against termites. These stations contain wood, paper, or cellulose that has termiticide. Once termites reach the bait station, they eat the slow-acting termiticide, which allows termites to bring it to their colony and spread it, killing off the entire colony. This treatment is best used in locations where surface treatments will not work, including near foundation drains and areas covered by slabs or flooring.

Barrier & Liquid Treatments

This long-term treatment gets its name from the literal barrier in the ground between the termites and your home. A barrier treatment is performed by digging a trench around the perimeter of your home and then treated with termiticide. The trench is then refilled with the treated soil to help deter termites away from your home. Sometimes, a physical wall can be built inside the outer wall of the trench, made up of rock, sand, mesh, and plastic. The wall can add another layer of protection between your home and termites.

One of the most common termite treatments is liquid treatment. This option is effective when termites are in the interior of your home. The first step in the treatment is performed by drilling holes in the foundation and wood. Then, the termiticide is injected into the holes that will force termites to emerge. After emerging, the termites will be eliminated by spot treatments with termiticides.

The last thing you want to deal with is a termite infestation, as they can be difficult to get rid of once they’re inside. Consider reaching out to your local termite and pest control company for a termite inspection. These professionals will recommend the best prevention plan to avoid termites in the future. Likewise, if you suspect you have a termite infestation, they will identify the type of termite you have and provide the best termite control option for your situation.

How Fast Do Termite Treatments Work?

How Fast Do Termite Treatments Work?

Termites cost homeowners billions of dollars each year. Known as silent destroyers, these pests eat wood from the inside out, going long periods of time undetected in your home. Treating termites depends on the type of termite you have. The most common are drywood termites, dampwood termites, and subterranean termites.

You can protect your home from termites by having an annual termite inspection performed on your home. A termite technician will come out once a year and inspect the inside and outside of your home for signs of termites. You can also help prevent termites by keeping soil around your home dry, making sure landscaping doesn’t touch foundations, fixing leaks, and using concrete for foundations.

Sometimes despite our best efforts, termites invade our home. Once they get in, professional termite treatments are necessary to completely eliminate the infestation. The type of treatment you use depends on the type of termite you have. The three most common types of treatments include liquid-soil treatments, bait stations, and sprays/foams.

One of the most important questions any homeowner wants to know when treating termites is how long the treatment takes to work.

  • Liquid-Soil Treatments: These treatments work as a barrier around the exterior of your home. A trench is dug around the perimeter and filled with liquid termiticide. The trench is then filled back in. As termites travel from your home to their colony, they pass through the termiticide. These treatments can last up to 5 years. Liquid-soil treatments work faster than bait stations, with colonies usually completely eliminated within 3 months.
  • Bait Stations: Bait stations are used outside your home to provide a food source the termites take back to their colonies. These treatments take longer to work than liquid-soil because the termites first have to find the bait, then take it back to their colonies and wait for it to be eaten by all members. Eventually the entire colony, including the queen, will be killed off. Bait stations also have to be monitored on a regular basis and refilled when necessary. Bait stations can take up to 6 months to completely eradicate a termite colony.
  • Spays/Foams: Sprays and foams are used to treat existing wood structures or new construction. The product is sprayed directly onto the wood, killing existing termites and soaking into the wood to provide preventative treatment for future infestations. When applied, termites usually start dying off within 1 to 2 days. However, it can take longer for the treatment to reach the queen, if it ever does.

Termites can be a big headache for homeowners. If you have a problem with termites or just want to get ahead with prevention, contact a pest control company who can provide you with a thorough inspection and termite control plan that works best for your situation.

 

You May Also Be Interested In:

What Types of Grasses Work for My Georgia Lawn?

5 Signs You May Need an Exterminator

The Return of Mosquitoes

Avoiding Cockroaches This Spring

A Step-by-Step Guide to Spring Lawn Care

Swarmers Have Arrived… What Now?

Swarmers Have Arrived… What Now?

If you’ve been outside lately you’ve probably seen signs of spring – blooming flowers, pollen that aggravates our allergies, and lots of new insects buzzing around. Another thing that spring brings is swarms – of termites! Termites are present year round but their swarming season is during spring and early summer.

Termites cause billions of dollars in damage to homeowners each year. Here in the Southeast, subterranean termites are the most common types and are particularly destructive. These insatiable eaters can damage not only wooden structures, but have even been known to cause damage to brick and concrete homes as well. Termites can invade your home through cracks and holes as small as 1/32 of an inch!

Swarms are most common in spring and summer because they are triggered by warm, humid weather. Swarming marks the start of a new termite colony. Winged termites leave their nests when they become overcrowded and their isn’t enough food to sustain them. They then take flight and actually reproduce in mid-air. The females will then shed their wings and fall back to the ground. They then go in search of a new location to start their colonies.

Swarmers don’t usually cause any damage but once they establish their new colonies their offspring can cause significant damage – usually within 2 years. If you see flying termites it can signal one of two problems:

  1. There could be an existing termite problem nearby.
  2. Your home could potentially be at risk of a termite infestation when the swarm lands looking for a new place to colonize.

If you see winged termites inside your home this is a good indication that you already have an established termite colony inside or that there is existing damage already.

What can you do to prevent termites from coming into your home? Check out these tips to keep the termites out!

  • Have regular inspections done by a termite control company.
  • Do regular inspections of the outside of your home and the subfloor of your home checking for wood damage and the presence of mud tubes. (Mud tubes are pencil-sized tunnels located around termite nests, wood structures, and concrete or stone foundations.)
  • Repair any damaged roof tiles, soffits, and fascia on your home.
  • Keep mulch away from your foundation as this retains water and the moisture can attract termites.
  • Keep your basements, attics, and crawlspaces well ventilated and dry. Consider enclosing your crawlspace completely.
  • Make sure gutters are clear of debris and downspouts are working to make sure water is diverted away from your home. Consider installing gutter guards to help prevent clogs.

As always, if you suspect you have termites or find signs of damage, contact a termite control company who can come in and do a thorough inspection and set you up with a comprehensive treatment plan.

Swarm Season

When the season starts getting warm, the termites start to swarm! So what does that mean for homeowners?  If homeowners spot fully grown winged adults (swarmers), then the damage may already be done. If the swarmers are found within the home, there may be an infestation in or around the house. Once termites swarm, they may cause structural damage to your home which can lead to serious issues. Damaged door termites

Why is it that termites may arise unexpectedly and cause damage? Well, that may be because that they usually have nests underground where they thrive, usually in the wood of your home. Southern states are very likely to get termites. In Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama and South Carolina, where we service, the chances are extremely high.

termite map

It’s not just important to get rid of termites, it’s also important to prevent them. Getting rid of the termites you already have may eliminate the initial problem, but will not prevent termite activity in the future. Northwest Exterminating offers liquid pretreatments, borate pretreatments and Sentricon baiting in order to prevent termites from infesting a home.  In addition, these treatments come with a 5 year repair and retreat warranty that guarantees up to one million dollars in structural damage.

Melissa Brown
[email protected]

Source:

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/ent/notes/Urban/termites/pdf/termiteswarmers.pdf

Pin It on Pinterest

Call Now Button