Termites, sometimes called "white ants" because of theire appearance, are the destructive, lumber-munching, creepy-crawlies that will invade your house, your porch, your fence, your birdfeeders, and anything else in your environment made of wood. While termites make an important contribution to the ecosystem (especially in tropical environments) by recycling organic matter, they also cause serious, and dangerous, structural damage to homes and other wooden structures.
Termites are attracted to exposed untreated lumber, and areas of moisture and humidity, so the most effective method of termite control is identifying and elminating these factors from your environment, protecting your house and yourself from a termite invasion before it happens. The information on this page is meant to help you identify, prevent, and get rid of termite invasion in the fastest, safest, and most environmentally sound way possible . . . before you find your house falling down around your ears.
Termite Control
Conduct a through inspection to identify your termite problem. As soon as you think you have a termite problem look for every possible source of infestation. Look for cracks and openings in the the foundation and exterior of the building, leaky outside faucets and drains, and any standing water around the foundation. You can identify termites by mud tubes accessing the foundation or wooden structures, small red-brown and black droppings, structural damage to wood (look and listen for tell-tale hollowing of wood, usually along the grain), and, of course, visible swarms of termites. If you're unsure whether you or not you have a termite problem, call in a professional for termite identification.
Control your termite problem by taking preventative and protective measures. Whether or not you've definitely identified a termite problem, it's a good idea to to take steps to prevent and protect against termites. Do this by sealing off all cracks in the foundation or walls, covering outside vents with a fine screen, landscaping to draw water away from the foundation, and using specialized timber treatments regularly to seal wood against damage from weather, fungus, and pests. The cheapest and fastest way to control termites is to elminate the possibility of an infestation.
Make the repairs necessary to get rid of termites. Once you have identified a termite problem, and pinpointed the source, make all necessary repairs immediately. Fix or replace leaky outdoor faucets and drains, replace damaged ventilation covers, replace and seal damaged timber, repair any faulty grading around the foundation to drain water away from the building, use caulk to fill in any cracks in or around the foundation and walls of the building. Take your repairs a step further and don't just fix the damage where you see termites -- identify and repair all your structural problems to prevent further termite damage.
Reduce wood to ground contact to get rid of termites. Exposing wood (even treated wood) to bare earth or mulch allows termites easy access, so keep all wood door frames, fencing, firewood piles, etc., at least six inches off the ground, separated by a layer of polyethylene sheeting, and as covered as possible. Fence posts and other imbedded wood should be encased in cement.
Eliminate moisture to eliminate termites. Termites, like other pests, thrive in moist environments, so minimize water accumulation and humidity in and around your building. Stop water build-up around foundations with drains and landscaping; decrease humidity levels by keeping vents clear, clean, and screened; and maintain pipes and faucets to avoid leaking.
Professional Termite Control
If treating your termite problem yourself isn't working, or just isn't an option, call in a professional termite or pest control company, such as Terminix. A professional pest control representative will be able to identify hard-to-spot termite damage and infestation, provide termite control, and even help you take steps to prevent further infestation.
Professional pest control treatments are usually chemical-based, so be sure to have the dangers of any pesticides explained to you before using them in or around your home, and ask a pest control specialist to monitor the air quality during and after a pesticide treatment.
