When is the best time to treat for termites?
What Are Termites Attracted To?
- Termites are attracted to wood. And depending on the termite, they may be attracted to dry wood, or they may be attracted to moist wood. ...
- Termites are attracted to moist soil. Moist soils allows termites to thrive, staving off dehydration and death. ...
- Termites are attracted to dark, warm places. ...
How long does termite treatment typically take?
This time includes roughly 6 hours of fumigation and the waiting period of 24 to 72 hours after termite tenting. The entire termite tenting process lasts a week for larger homes. Termite tenting protects your home from termites for between 4 and 10 years, but yearly inspections are essential.
How often should you treat for termites?
You should treat your house for termites every 5 years. Physical termite barricades last 20 years, fumigation lasts 4 years, and bait stations should be replaced annually. Homes in dryer climates may require less frequent treatments, while ones in humid climates may require more frequent treatments.
How often should my home be treated for termites?
Whether you’ve had termites in the past or are looking to prevent them, all homeowners should have their home inspected annually for termites. For the most part, termite treatments last anywhere from a couple to 10 years depending on the type of treatment used. Your professional pest control company will help determine a custom termite treatment plan that outlines how often your property should be treated for termites.
Is termite treatment a one time thing?
On average, termite treatment lasts about 5 years. Liquid termite treatment can last five years or more, whereas termite bait stations only last one year and need to be maintained annually.
How long is a termite treatment good for?
Average treatments last about 5-years. Liquid treatments can last a little over the 5-year mark. Whereas bait treatment typically only lasts for a year and would need routine maintenance.
When should you spray for termites?
Termites are active 365 days a year, therefore termite prevention is a year-round process. However, winter months are an ideal time to implement termite bait stations for both your home and/or business because during this time, termite activity is moderately more predictable.
What is the average lifespan of a termite?
Workers and soldiers live approximately one to two years. Queen termites may survive for over a decade under optimal climate conditions.
What time of the year are termites most active?
Most species of subterranean termites swarm during the spring and summer months, typically on a warm day with calm winds after a rainfall. Drywood termites and one particular species of subterranean termite (R. hageni) typically swarm during the late summer or fall months, from August through November.
Are termites hard to get rid of?
Termites can be a difficult pest to deal with, especially in warmer weather. For smaller infestations, there are many DIY solutions that homeowners can use and apply to get rid of termites. However, when dealing with large infestations, homeowners should call a professional exterminator to handle the issue.
How long does it take for termites to destroy a house?
A single termite on its own would take thousands of years to do serious damage to your property, and termites only live for around two years. The problem is that termites do not live on their own; they live in colonies with hundreds, or even thousands, of other termites.
What time of year is best for termite inspection?
SpringSpring is the best time for a termite inspection because you will be able to determine whether any have decided that your home will make a great place for a colony. If you continue to have an inspection every spring, you will ensure that potential problems are caught before they can do extensive damage.
What is the best time of year to treat termites?
winterAs soon as the temperatures get back above freezing, termites will travel back up their tubes and tunnels, and get right back to work. The best time to do a termite treatment is now. It doesn't matter if it is spring, summer, fall, or winter.
How do you know you have termites in the house?
Keep an eye out for the following signs of termite activity:Discolored or drooping drywall.Peeling paint that resembles water damage.Wood that sounds hollow when tapped.Small, pinpoint holes in drywall.Buckling wooden or laminate floor boards.Tiles loosening from the added moisture termites can introduce to your floor.More items...
What kills termites naturally?
Borax powder, or sodium borate, can kill termites naturally. You just sprinkle the powder on the termites and the affected area, or you make a solution of the powder and water to spray or paint on affected areas. You can also paint the solution on surfaces as a termite repellant.
What happens when the termite queen dies?
A queen termite has a long lifespan and is typically the oldest termite in the colony. Termite queens can live 25 to 50 years, with peak egg production for up to 10 years. When the queen dies and the pheromone she uses to block reproductives' development is no longer produced, a new queen will develop in the colony.
How often should I inspect my house for termites?
To avoid infestations, homeowners should have their home inspected annually for termites. Termite treatments last anywhere from 5 to 13 years depending on the type of treatment used and any signs of current activity. Your professional pest control company will help determine a custom termite treatment plan that outlines how often your property ...
How do I get rid of termites?
A combination of preventative methods and regular inspections by a professional is the most effective way to ward off termites. A pest control company such as The Hitmen will also know exactly how much and what type of treatment will work best for your unique situation. It’s important to leave the hard work to the experts when it comes ...
How to prevent water damage to your house?
Eliminate sources of standing water in or near the home. Be wary of areas of your foundation where wood is in contact with soil. Keep piles of lumber or firewood away from your property or stored above ground. Regularly inspect your deck, patio, or outdoor furniture for signs of damage.
Do you need to reapply termite treatments if your home was fumigated?
Even though you’re no more or less likely to get another infestation than homes without a history of termites, treatments should always be reapplied in a timely manner. However, if your home was fumigated, it’s necessary to receive treatments more often because fumigation does not prevent future termites.
What is a good pest control company?
A good pest control company will not only administer complete cleaning but will help you with the kind of treatment that needs to be done for your case specifically. There are two kinds of 1-time treatments that could be administered.
Can wood be used as a breeding ground for termites?
As we already mentioned, wood can become the breeding ground for termites, and hence you will have to ensure that you store it dry. This means keeping it away from any surfaces that could provide it with moisture.
Do you have to have standing water to keep pests away?
First of all, ensure that you do not have any water bodies around you with standing water. This is one of the most fertile areas for pests to breed and grow in numbers.
Can you keep termites in lumber?
Firewood and lumber are very prone to termite growth, and hence, you should not keep them very close to the house. What happens is that termite begins growing and multiplying in these piles and then slowly spreads to the house.
What termites are you pre-treating your house against?
In the USA, the most common types of termites that infest the cracks of most homeowners’ houses are subterranean termites that are native to the American landscape, and the dry wood termites species.
What are some of the different types of treatment for termites?
The different types of treatment available against termites are liquid-based, heat-based, and chemical-based. However, of these only one type of treatment is a preventive measure, so to speak, against termite infestations.
How often do termites come back after treatment?
Termites may return after treatment, depending on the situation and how the treatment was carried out. Unfortunately, no treatment provides a long-term answer for eradicating termites from your home. Termites are extremely stubborn, and if given the opportunity, they will always find a way back into your home.
Is one termite treatment enough?
No, one termite treatment is not enough to keep these pests at bay. The fact is that termites are very stubborn and tough pests to exterminate entirely. And, if you leave even a few of them behind, they will set up colonies in no time and resume damaging your home!
How often should you pre-treat your house for termites?
The golden rule is that prevention is far better than cure. Termites cause about five billion dollars’ worth of damage to American homes. Therefore, pre-treating your house for termites is likely the most frugal course of action you can take for the long-term health of your house.
How can you keep termites out of your house?
Termite prevention can start with a few simple practices and habits that you can implement at home itself. Following these basics diligently will almost guarantee that you stay termite-free in the first place!
FAQs
There is no set number of times that you should treat your house for termites. The fact is that treating your house against termites is more of a periodic practice that you must engage in to keep your house free of these pests.
How long does termite treatment last?
On average, termite treatment lasts about 5 years. Liquid termite treatment can last five years or more, whereas termite bait stations only last one year and need to be maintained annually.
What are the most common termites?
Subterranean termites and drywood termites are the most common. Subterranean termites live in the soil around houses and build tunnel networks to access their food—the wood that your house is made of. Drywood termites, on the other hand, tunnel within your wood and eat right through it.
Do termite treatments last longer?
Your termite specialist will need to access all the wood components of your home. If these elements are inaccessible or harder to reach, the treatment won’t last as long.
Do termites need bait stations?
Termite Bait Stations. In order to be effective, termite bait stations need to be monitored and maintained year-round. A specialist will place the baits strategically around your property. Termites will take the bait while foraging, and bring the poisonous bait back to their colony, infecting the other termites.
How much does a termite inspection cost?
Termite inspections typically cost about $75 to $150. However, some companies waive the inspection fee if you hire them to get rid of the termites. The real expense is in the treatment.
How much does it cost to install a pest control system?
Initial installation costs $800 to $1,500 ; annual maintenance is about $125 to $250. Fumigation is also an option, ranging from $1,400 to several thousand dollars, though most pest control pros avoid it because of environmental concerns and the time and cost involved.
How do you know if a termite is eating your wood?
Signs of activity can include swarming, as well as: • Mud tubes, which the light-averse insects build to move from place to place in or around your home. • Sagging floors and ceilings, which could indicate termites eating away at wood. • Termite excrement, which looks like wood pellets or coffee grounds. • Discarded wings, from termites chewing ...
When hiring a pest control service, consider those with positive consumer reviews on a trusted site and ask to see the
When hiring a pest control service, consider those with positive consumer reviews on a trusted site and ask to see the service provider’s license. Beware of high-pressure tactics meant to pressure you into immediately signing a long-term service contract.
