How To Get Rid of Termites: Bait Stations are King

If you Googled “how to get rid of termites”, you don't need a laundry list of options. You have a termite infestation, and you need a termite treatment that actually works — right now. These are the only 2 methods that really work effectively.

If you’ve got termites, we recommend looking at a termite baiting option. Most pest control companies use Sentricon or Trelona bait stations. Both are effective and use similar modes of action. If you want a long-term termite control solution with less upkeep, look at Liquid Barrier Treatments

Why You Should Trust Us

When it comes to eliminating termites, trust is everything. Our expertise stems from years of hands-on experience and consultations with leading professionals in the pest control field. 

We interviewed Michael Bosco, owner of Safe Haven Pest Solutions and former president of the Texas Pest Control Association, as well as Professor Ed Vargo, an endowed chair of urban entomology at Texas A&M. Their insights ensure that the methods we recommend are both scientifically sound and proven effective in the field.

How to Get Rid of Termites: The 2 Best Options

There are two methods of dealing with termites: 

1. Liquid Barrier Treatments (aka trench-and-treat): excellent for subterranean termite infestation problems quickly.
2. Termite Bait Stations: long-term preventive measures for controlling subterranean termites and some drywood termites.

Each termite treatment method works in different ways to protect your home. Both are supported by a wealth of scientific and field-based evidence. 

For a comprehensive understanding of preventing termite damage, you can read our in-depth guide reviewing termite prevention systems.

Liquid Barrier Treatments

Think of a liquid barrier treatment as creating a termite forcefield around your home. Because nearly all termites are subterranean, it involves creating a 12-16 inch deep trench around the entire home. The trench is then filled with a termiticide.. This creates a chemical termite barrier that subterranean termites cannot cross without being killed.

Liquid termiticides often contain active ingredients such as Fipronil or Imidacloprid, which are highly effective in killing termites on contact and through ingestion.

💰 One Time Cost: $1200-$2500

The cost of a liquid barrier treatment is expensive, but generally ranges from $1,200 to $2,500 depending on the size of the property and the extent of the infestation.

Part of the cost comes from the amount of product needed to create an effective barrier “It’s about four gallons for every 10 linear feet. So on a typical home that's gonna be somewhere between 100 and 200 gallons of termiticide.”

💰 Ongoing Costs: none

The primary advantage of the liquid barrier treatment method is there are no ongoing termite bait refills. With homeowners moving every 5-7 years, a trench-and-treat can cover your home for the duration of the time you live there.

🕒 Duration: 8-12 years

As Michael Bosco explains, "a trenching system once you trench– that insecticide is gonna stay in the soil for 8 to 12 years, depending on what kind of soil they're putting it in." Different regions in the country may have a shorter or longer duration depending on their soil. For example, Bosco notes that “liquid termiticides …in the Dallas-Fort Worth area tend to last about five to eight years.”

🔄 Maintenance: Minimal (truly passive)

This method requires minimal maintenance. However, it's crucial to ensure that the barrier is not disturbed by landscaping or construction activities.

Who Shouldn't Get Liquid Barrier Treatments:

• Those with complicated home footprints: If your home has additions, cracked foundations, or lots of penetrations, it will significantly increase the cost of a trench-and-treat. "On a slab home you need to drill the slab and inject every entry penetration point,” says Bosco.
• Environmental Impact: Although modern termiticides are safer than older formulations, they still involve the use of chemicals in the environment.
• Pier and Beam homes: The open crawl space of a pier and beam nearly doubles the amount of termiticide needed for this kind of treatment. “Actually needing to [trench] on the interior beams as well as all the piers and the price point goes up drastically,” Bosco explains.

Ask a Pro To Order Liquid Termite Barrier Treatments

Most homeowners cannot purchase liquid barrier chemicals independently — even though they're a quicker solution, they're not DIY termite control. Ask your licensed termite control services company to place the order.

Bait Systems

Bait systems are designed to kill the termite colony by sharing baited food. They act in a similar way to ant traps. Termites consume the bait and carry it back to their nest, effectively poisoning the colony from within. Bait systems are effective at controlling both subterranean and drywood termite populations.

Bait systems use Chitin Synthesis Inhibitors (CSIs) such as Hexaflumuron or Noviflumuron. Professor Vargo explains, "CSIs work by interfering with the termite's ability to produce chitin, an essential component of their exoskeleton. Without it, they cannot molt, and this ultimately leads to their death."​

💰 One Time Cost:

Initial setup costs can range from $800 to $1,200, depending on the size of the property and the number of bait stations required.

They typically cost less than a trench-and-treat due to the decreased labor requirements. 

💰 Ongoing Costs: $200-$300/year

The primary difference with bait systems is the requirement for ongoing maintenance. The bait stations need to be filled with new termite bait and checked for evidence of termite activity.

🕒 Duration: 1 year

Each bait station is typically effective for one year, after which the bait inside needs to be refreshed, and the station checked for termite activity. 

🔄 Maintenance: Annual Bait Replacement

Regular maintenance is necessary to ensure the bait remains effective and that new termite swarmers are detected early.

Who Shouldn't Get a Bait Station:

• Movers, or anyone that needs faster remediation: It may take up to 90 days for the bait to affect the entire colony, as termites must find and consume the bait.
• Savers who want to avoid annual costs: Bait systems require annual maintenance to ensure effectiveness. “You're still dealing with the annual warranty, which is important for a homeowner," Bosco mentions.

Major Manufacturers:

• Sentricon: A widely used bait system that has received the Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award for its environmentally friendly approach.
• Trelona: Another popular bait system known for its effectiveness and ease of use.

Ask a Residential Pest Control Company to Purchase Termite Baits

Only a pest control company can purchase bait systems, and they typically come with annual contracts and warranties from the companies that sell them. 

“Those products are all regulated by the EPA, and most of them are not restricted,” Bosco explains. "The two dominant baiting systems on the market are not available to homeowners."​

Conclusion

When it comes to eliminating a termite infestation, both liquid barrier treatments and bait systems offer effective solutions. The choice between them depends on factors such as cost, maintenance preferences, and environmental considerations. Trusting in proven methods and consulting with residential pest control experts ensures that your home remains termite-free.

For more detailed information and guidance, feel free to explore our in-depth guide on termite prevention systems.

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