Ways to Get Rid of Termites and Signs of Various Types of Termites in the Home

How to Get Rid of Termites in Your Home

There are many dangerous pests, and termites are among the worst. When termites enter your home, they can turn it into ruins over several years. There are various methods available with different chemicals to help eliminate all termites.

Before discussing how to eliminate termites, this section ofHouse Care SelMagzwill introduce you to different types of termites.

Understanding the different types of termites before finding a way to eliminate these insects

Subterranean Termites:

This type of termite usually lives in the soil and tends to build large colonies associated with trees and construction wood. They are found throughout the United States and are often long, narrow, and oval-shaped, ranging in color from white cream tobrownor black and white.

Dampwood Termites:

This type of termite is typically found in very wet forests within tree trunks and can often be found in coastal areas. So don’t worry, as it’s unlikely to find these termites in your home.

Drywood Termites:

Drywood termites do not need direct contact with the soil, as they usually live in or under dry wood. They are responsible for damaging homes, although they cause less damage than subterranean termites, they are still problematic. You can also find these termites in South Carolina and California.

Signs of Termites in Your Home

Signs that you can identify to determine if termites have entered your home include:

Before fighting termites and applying chemicals in your house, you should ensure whether termites have definitely entered your home. Below are some signs that indicate termite presence in your home.

Damage to Wood:

Termites often damage wooden objects in homes, and to ensure that your wooden items are not harmed, you can check your wooden furniture weekly to see if any problems arise. If you find issues, take steps to eliminate them. If checking your home items is somewhat challenging, you can look for pest control companies to handle this task.

Finding Wings:

When termites enter wood, they may shed their wings, and with a little searching, you can find them and take immediate action to eliminate them.

Muddy Tubes:

Termites need moisture to survive and grow in humid places. For extra assurance, you can inspect the foundations of your home, canopies, and trees, and if you see these insects, take immediate action to eliminate them.

Brown Pellets:

Look for brown pellets next to old and worn wooden items; this might be somewhat challenging, but using a flashlight can make the job easier.

Test the Wood:

As mentioned at the beginning, termites can turn solid wood into hollow. For more assurance, go to your home’s basement and test the wood; by tapping on it, you can feel if the wood is hollow or solid.

Practical Ways to Get Rid of Termites:

Depending on the type of termite you identify, you can consider our solutions and use them to eliminate them.

High Temperatures:

Termites cannot survive at temperatures below -20 degrees Fahrenheit or above 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Accordingly, some specialists choose to use liquid nitrogen to kill termites by freezing them.

Build a Cardboard Trap:

You can use this method to combat termites and eliminate them. All you need to do is place this trap in the path of the termites and check it regularly.

Expose the Wood toSunlight:

Though this method may not be as effective as other methods, exposing wood to sunlight can help slow the termite process until you hire a skilled person in this field to eliminate termites for you.

Permethrin or Arsenic Powder

By using these two chemicals, you can achieve instant results and eliminate termites. If termites consume these chemicals, they will be eliminated immediately, and you can reliably use these treatments.

Nematodes

Nematodes are microscopic worms that kill insects on surfaces, and using these worms can take 2 to 4 weeks.