Sometimes renters can come to your home without you knowing, and when I say renters I mean termites!
All photos from: Morgue File
They are the most undesirable guests a homeowner can have, and they usually cause major headaches and stress. Removing various types of termites can be a long and arduous process. So better start as soon as you see them. They can cause great harm to your home. After that, you'll need to do a major renovation or replace furniture. Once there, they tend to form a colony, making it even more difficult to control. They can live up to 25 years. Therefore, if you notice an infestation, you need to take immediate action. How to Get Rid of Termites in Your Home:
Find and identify them
The very first thing you should do is locate them. There are signs of termites that you should examine carefully to follow their trail. You can hide in wooden furniture, so look for any visible damage. Do not miss any places where wood surfaces meet earth. You can hide in pipes that run in walls. Since there are different types of termites, you can find other types in dry places. Wood pellets are another well-known place they can be.
Call a professional service
This is the most obvious thing to do. I do not advise you to try to get rid of them yourself, as you do not have any special equipment or knowledge on how to do it properly and effectively. Remember, this is a pretty tough job and you shouldn't just leave things to your own devices when the termites are rampant. However, if you think they can only be found in one specific location, there are some DIY solutions you can try.
Set termite bait
These baits are put into the ground around your house and hopefully the termites will bring them back to the nest. It can take 3-14 days to kill the entire colony.
Apply a barrier treatment
When using the barrier treatment make sure that you follow all prescribed instructions accordingly. The barrier treatment consists of granules that are applied outside of your home. It kills the termites before they get inside.
Use spray or foam
If you've just spotted termites in a super accessible spot, get the right spray or foam to get them cleaned up right away. They're great for indoor termites, while the previous two are more suitable for outdoor use.
Use boric acid
If you're looking for something that isn't that harmful and natural, get boric acid, or borax as well. It's still poisonous, but not as powerful as the other insecticides. It is said that it works for most termites and that it takes 3 to 7 days for them to die. You can use it either as a powder or as a borate solution. It's great that you can use it both indoors and outdoors. It's also very cheap, so it fits into any budget.
To conclude
Consider your own situation and save accounts before deciding how to treat the termites. If you don't want to wait to see if they're gone or your treatments have been successful, call the professional pest control service and have them deal with the termites as effectively as possible.
