Eliminating Termits

Eliminating termits can be a painstaking, lengthy process. Professional pest control services have the proper training and equipment to apply the treatments that can eliminate these wood devouring pests from your yard and house. An infestation can take years to develop, but once termits have entered your residence, they can wreak thousands of dollars worth of damage by destroying beams, joists, furniture and other wooden structures in your home.

Swarming termit infestations may continue for years before the insects produce visible signs of their presence. Most homeowners would have difficulty identifying early signs of termits, because the evidence is so subtle. If you see mud tubes snaking along the exterior walls of your dwelling, piles of wood pellets that resemble sawdust or discarded wings left by reproductive members of the colony, it is very likely that an infestation has already begun. By eliminating the invaders with the help of a professional service, you can prevent expensive home repairs.

Inspecting for Termits

As soon as you notice signs of a termit infestation, contact a local pest control service for quotes on inspecting for colonies and eliminating termits. Professional, licensed contractors will inspect your house and yard for signs of the insects before they consider taking the necessary measures for eliminating termits. Some companies will perform this service at no charge, in the hope that the homeowner will then schedule treatments for eliminating these pests.

Regardless of the inspection cost, paying for professional inspection services is well worth the money. An infestation can lead to extensive home repair costs, especially if the pests have invaded the support structures of your dwelling. Any of the wood based structures in your home, from beams and walls to furniture and books, are subject to damage. The cost of eliminating termits is minimal compared to the cost of rebuilding entire sections of a home after structural damage has occurred.

Reliable pest control professionals have extensive experience in eliminating different termit species from residential buildings. Dry wood termits can be especially elusive, burrowing deep into the wood where they are no longer visible. Inspectors who are licensed by the appropriate state regulatory agency have the expertise to identify a dry wood infestation. These experts are up to date on the most effective measures for locating and eliminating termits.

Once an inspector has confirmed the infestation, you have the opportunity to compare estimates from other services to guarantee that you get the most competitive estimate. In addition to the cost of eliminating these pests, consider the licensing status of the company, its reputation in your community and the experience level of its service technicians. Experienced pest control technicians know where to apply liquid insecticides and install baits when eliminating termits.

Chemical and Non Toxic Barriers

When eliminating these wood devouring insects, most services use a combination of chemical bearrier treatments and baiting systems. Barriers can be created in the soil around your house using liquid termiticides, which are injected into the earth. These chemical shields prevent insects from leaving the colony or returning to the soil from the house. However, chemical barriers are not foolproof, and termits can enter the home through gaps in the soil.

Baiting systems can serve as a backup to chemical barriers by poisoning the termits that survive the chemical barriers. Paper, cardboard or wooden traps are installed in areas of your home where the insects are likely to appear. These devices are also installed in the ground around your home. Baits contain substances that are toxic to these pests. When the insects ingest these toxins, they carry the poisons back to the colony. These baiting systems, combined with barriers, may eventually be successful at eliminating an infestation.

Although the chemical substances used for eliminating termits are extensively tested to confirm their effects on humans and domestic animals, many homeowners are concerned that these treatments are not safe for their families or pets. Non toxic barriers have been used by some pest control services for eliminating termits. Some barriers are made of sand, which cannot be colonized, or of metal. If you are concerned about the effects of liquid termiticide on your soil, family members or animals, look for a service that employs non toxic methods.

New products and treatments are always being developed to address the serious problem of termit infestation. Sprays, baits or fumigants can be purchased at hardware stores or home improvement outlets for use by homeowners. However, although these products may be effective when used on a limited area, such as a fencepost or woodpile, they may not be effective at eliminating termits once your entire home has been infested. For the most effective, long lasting elimination of these pests, compare estimates from several of the top pest control companies.