Before killing termites, it is important to remove any easy food sources for them. For many homeowners, this often means moving the firewood pile from beside the house. Any wood, lumber, or even paper debris that is near a home’s foundation can become a home for a colony of termites to begin. Make sure to grind out or pull out any stumps that are near the home and any other plant-based debris that is present as well.
Termites also need an entry point into the home to infest the interior of it. Make sure that there are screens in place on every outside vent to prevent these pests from moving in. Regularly inspect any decking, fencing, and other wood components of the home and take action to remove the pests immediately if they are found.
There are DIY, chemical, and non-chemical solutions that will remove a colony of termites, check their prices in Nigeria. The most common non-chemical solution is to install a barrier around the home. This typically happens when the home is being built, but a new barrier can be installed in a similar fashion to a new waterproof membrane along a foundation.
Termites also struggle to move through sandy soil. Installing a barrier around your foundation, that is sand could slow these pests down. Combined with steel mesh on any vent, this can be an effective solution. Certain fungi and nematodes have also been shown as being effective at eliminating a termite colony.
Certain chemical solutions are also approved for use and may be available through an online store, at a local hardware supply store, or through a professional pest eliminator. The most common type of chemical solution to remove termites is through the use of bait. The bait is set out around the area of the colony, it feeds off of it, and eventually it dies off. There are three other common chemical solutions that are also approved for use.
- Liquid pesticides that are specifically formulated for termites and applied to the soil.
- Building materials that are already infused with a pesticide.
- Wood treatments that are applied as needed.
It is important to apply any chemical solution to kill termites as instructed. These chemical pesticides can get into the water system of the home and any surrounding drinking wells. When this happens, the treatment is generally not effective against the pest. That’s why having some proven DIY methods of termite pest control can be extremely helpful to eliminate stubborn colonies.
13 Simple Methods to getting Rid of Termites in the House
Here are 13 proven DIY methods you can do to Get Rid of Termites in the House.
1. Use Insecticides and Foams
Insecticides and foams are the most common way to attempt to get rid of termites. With most of these products, you will have to vacate your home for a period of time.
The insecticides can come in several forms from gasses, to applied liquids. The foams are great because it allows the poison to make its way into the cracks of the wood, effectively killing termites and other bugs that have made their way into the home. Both insecticides and foams are excellent choices for anyone that is looking to get rid of termites quickly.
One product that has been shown to have a lot of positive effects is Termidor SC Termiticide Fipronil Case-(4) 20 oz. bottle, which can quickly and easily take care of termite issues. Check out the best Insecticides for killing Termites.
2. Use Bait
Many people choose to kill termites using boric acid at bait stations. This has been known as an effective way to deal with an existing termite population.
Basically, you set the bait station, then coat or spray wood evenly with the boric acid. The termites will be attracted to the bait, and the boric acid will kill them as they arrive at the bait.
You will need to apply the acid to the bait station with regularity as needed, and it should help you to quickly deal with a festering termite population. One popular option is the Advance Termite Bait System, which has been shown to have some very positive results and help to bait and trap termites. Check out the best Bait Product for killing Termites.
3. Destroy Wooden Mulch
Termites are attracted to wood mulch. In fact, mulch is one of their biggest attractors. When you are looking at all of the attractors in or around your home, mulch is often going to be the main contributor.
If you require the mulch for one reason or another, you can move it as far away from your home as possible and hope that it limits the number of termites that make their way to the home.
4. Flood the Soil
For subterranean termites, another excellent idea is to flood the soil. By identifying the region that has been infested with termites and then flooding the area, you could get rid of any outdoor termite problems entirely.
READ ALSO: Termite Bait Stations: Pros, Cons & How it works
This is effective because termites are not able to swim, and will quickly drown once water has been applied to the area they have infested, but know that this method does not give you up to 60% assurance of killing the termites.
5. Hot and Cold Method
There are a number of different treatments that utilize hot and cold temperatures to drive out termites as well. Termites are not able to live in -20 degrees Fahrenheit or less. By that same token, hotter temperatures above 120 degrees Fahrenheit or more for a duration of 35+ minutes will also kill termites as well.
There are multiple ways of achieving these temperatures for outdoor termites. For colder temperatures, one popular method is the use of liquid nitrogen, which should easily kill any termites it comes into contact with.
There is no simple method for raising the temperature high enough for a long enough period of time to kill termites, as the soil provides a reprieve from hot days in the sun. If safe, you could start a fire to burn away the termites as well.
As already discussed, extreme heat or extreme cold can destroy the termites immediately. You may use the microwave technique for your indoor or the liquid nitrogen technique to kill the termites
6. Remove Stumps and Other Attractors
Along with mulch, tree stumps and other rotten wood will be huge attractors for termites, and you need to do everything that you can to limit these issues. Remove stumps from the ground, and move other wooden attractors as far away from the home as you possibly can.
Removing stumps and other attractors will ensure that they have to relocate in order to live, and should help you to drive the infestations away from the home and limit potential damage they could create if they were to make their way inside.
7. Use Nematodes
Another popular solution for reducing termites and termite damage is the use of nematodes. Nematodes are a small worm that are natural parasites to garden pests, those pests including termites.
They are able to search for hosts and burrow into them. Nematodes will target termite larvae, reducing termite populations over time and helping you to keep termites from doing further damage to your home.
Termites are a dangerous pest for homeowners that can lead to thousands of dollars in long term damage. You have to make sure that you are able to take the right steps to reduce their presence and save your home from potential damage. Check out the best nematodes options for killing Termites.
8. Electrocution
This may sound weird, but this is one of the most effective methods of eradication termites. It is not necessary to drill holes but if you do so it will be more effective.
9. Orange oil
Orange oil is simply the extract from the orange peel. It is not soluble in water. You should be very careful in handling this oil as it is dangerous for humans. If you intake the oil by mistake you may suffer from stomach problems. Also, it will irritate your skin or eyes.
Orange oil is used to treat a variety of insects by destroying their cell membranes. You need to drill a small hole in the infested wood and pour the oil into the hollow spaces. Results will be seen within a week or two.
10. Sunlight
Sunlight is the most non-cost effective way to kill termites. Termites like darkness and once exposed to light and heat can help in sweeping them off. For example, if your table or chair is infested, you can take them out in sunlight and leave it for 2-3 days.
11. Boric acid
Boric acid is a natural insecticide that dehydrates insects and stops their nervous system. You may coat or spray the wood with boric acid.
Please beware. This acid can be toxic if inhaled. You need to use masks and gloves while using the acid. Keep your pets and children away from this substance.
12. Bug bombs
Bug bombs consist of liquid insecticide and are available in pressurized aerosol cans. They are easily available at grocery stores.
When sprayed, it falls on the floor and other areas. After termites come in contact with this toxic substance, they die. The bombs, however, do not penetrate the wood or reach termite nests. Wear a mask when you use the bug bomb.
13. Cardboard Trap
You need flat strips of cardboard. Wet the cardboard and stack them where termites are usually found. Termites feed on cellulose and cardboards have cellulose.
Once the cardboard gets infested by the termites, you may take it out and burn them. This process should be repeated multiple times to get the best results.
Understand that this is just a quick fix and might not solve the major termite problems. In that case, you may require some other treatment methods.
Conclusion
In my opinion, whatever you’re doing is worth doing well. The most assured method in getting rid of these infesting termites is employing the use of insecticides and Foams, if you must ask me to mention more then I’d say the use of baits and Nematodes.
The other listed methods above are also proven to have worked over the years, but those are natural methods that do not give you fast and more effective results, it is basically advised for those with Zero or lower budget. If you can afford any Insecticide, bait, or nematodes, why not give any of them a shot, and get permanent results.
