Termites In Home: What NOT To Do

The second we see signs of termite activity in our homes, the first instinct is to run to the hardware store and buy all the home remedies for termites we can find. But that impulse isn't particularly helpful.

While DIY options can be great for general pest control, DIY termite treatment is almost always a waste of time and money. 

• DIY termite control often fails to address the full infestation. This is due to a lack of knowledge, incomplete treatments, and improper pest identification.
• Most DIY termite extermination is ineffective and risky. Most homeowners are unfamiliar with the sheer size of termite colonies, and how to properly use bait and other chemicals.
• We recommend professional bait treatment as a good solution. It’s moderately priced and requires minimal maintenance — just annual bait refills.

We spoke to two pest control industry leaders for valuable insights on home termite treatments. Michael Bosco is a pest control expert and former president of the Texas Pest Control Association. Dr. Ed Vargo is Professor and Endowed Chair of Urban Entomology at Texas A&M University.

3 Home Termite “Solutions” That Just Don't Work

The 3 mistakes homeowners make when reacting to termite activity all have one thing in common: knee-jerk reactions that don't address the situation quickly or thoroughly enough.

Here are 3 things you shouldn't do if you think your home has a termite problem:

DIY Home Treatments

It's so tempting to start termite control on your own the moment you spot termite activity. But tackling a termite problem yourself ultimately leads to more problems. 

“The worst solution is ‘oh, I can take care of this myself'," Michael Bosco warns. Termite infestation is not a DIY situation. 

Why it fails: DIY treatments often fail to address the heart of the problem: the reproductive termites, including the king and queen. These treatments may kill a few visible termites, but they rarely penetrate deep enough to affect the colony's core.

“Sometimes people truly do research it… they'll go out and buy the Terminate stakes, but there's just not a lot of tools available for a homeowner to get rid of [termites],” 

Homeowners can’t purchase the two most effective bait systems on the market: Sentricon, and Trelona.

Mistaking Termites for Ants

Michael Bosco notes that many homeowners mistake termite swarms for ants. 

"Sometimes that swarm isn't necessarily very big and so they just think it’s an ant problem,” he explains. “When it goes away, they think it’s gone.”

Why it fails: The fleeting nature of termite swarms can be deceptive. When a swarm disappears quickly, it's not because the problem has resolved itself. On the contrary, it often means the termites have successfully moved into the wood of your house to establish new colonies. 

By mistaking these swarms for harmless ants, homeowners give termites a head start in damaging their property. 

Spot Treatments with a Local Pest Company

The cost of treating your home for termites isn’t cheap, so many homeowners try less expensive routes. ”They go for the least expensive route and try to do a spot treatment with a liquid insecticide/termiticide," Bosco notes. 

When the cheaper spot treatment fails, homeowners are left paying twice for the same termite control job.

Why it fails: Spot treatments often prove ineffective. These localized treatments only address visible signs of termites, leaving the majority of the colony — including the all-important reproductive termites — untouched. Termite colonies are often far larger than they appear. 

By only treating one area, you're essentially leaving your home's defenses incomplete. This piecemeal approach can give a false sense of security while allowing the infestation to persist and spread to other parts of your property.

5 Reasons Why DIY Termite Treatments Fail

Here are 5 reasons why DIY termite treatment isn't a good idea:

1. Termite colonies are hidden: “Their nests are cryptic. They're hidden,” explains Dr. Ed Vargo. “You might find some near a tree in your yard, and then over by a pile of wood.” Colonies can extend from your home’s foundation and wooden structure throughout your backyard.
2. Incomplete treatments: If you fail to locate the full colony, you'll spend time and money just to keep some termites alive. If even a handful of termites survive, they will repopulate and re-infest your home.
3. Improper pest identification: Do you really know if that's a winged termite or flying ant? And can you tell the difference between termite species? Pros have different approaches to drywood, dampwood and subterranean termite treatment..
4. Chemical treatment safety: People who are unfamiliar with handling the specific chemicals and compounds within termite baits, traps and treatments shouldn't handle or dispose of them.
5. Structural damage: If you suspect a termite attack, get a professional termite inspection to avoid personal injury near potentially unstable structural areas.

What Does Termite Damage Look Like? [PHOTOS]

Termites in Home: What You SHOULD Do

There are two methods of dealing with termites that are supported with a wealth of scientific and field-based evidence. By choosing the right professional treatment, you can effectively manage and prevent termite infestations in your home.

Getting rid of termites? Read our in-depth review of termite prevention systems.  

Bait Systems 

💰 One Time Cost: Medium

🕒 Duration: Annual

🔄 Maintenance: Annual bait refills

Bait systems, like Sentricon, use termites' own behavior against them. These systems contain a slow-acting chitin synthesis inhibitor that termites carry back to their colony. 

As Dr. Vargo notes, "This active ingredient only affects them when they go to molt." This ensures widespread colony elimination.

Liquid Barrier Treatments

💰 One Time Cost: High

 🕒 Duration: 8-12 years 

🔄 Maintenance: Minimal (truly passive)

Liquid treatments involve creating a chemical barrier around your home's foundation.

“[Technicians] inject insecticide up to a foot deep in the soil,” explains Dr. Vargo. This method not only prevents new invasions but also targets existing infestations by exploiting termites' contact with the soil.

Home Termite FAQ: Signs of Termites in Your Home

Look for these 4 telltale signs of termites in your home:

• Termite mud tubes on exterior walls or foundations
• Discarded wings from swarming termites
• Hollow-sounding wood when tapped
• Visible damage to wood structures

As Professor Ed Vargo notes, "One of the telltale signs of having subterranean termite infestation is the mud tubes on the outside of the foundation."

Where to Look for Termites

Termites can infest various areas of your home. Pay special attention to these 5 areas:

• Foundation walls and slab edges
• Wooden structures in contact with soil
• Areas with high moisture (bathrooms, kitchens)
• Attics and rooflines
• Crawl space areas

Subterranean Termites, or Drywood Termites?

There are two main types of termites. They behave very differently, and often require different treatment options.

Subterranean Termites

Two main varieties of subterranean termites exist: Eastern Subterranean termites and Formosan termites. 

Eastern Subterranean termites are native and form colonies of several hundred thousand bugs. They typically foraging over areas of about 50 feet. 

Formosan termites are invasive and can form much larger colonies in the millions, and that can cover an area up to half a football field in size. 

Subterranean termites:

• Live in the soil
• Build mud tubes to access food sources
• Can be found throughout the continental US.

Drywood Termites

Unlike their subterranean counterparts, drywood termites live entirely within wood and don't require contact with soil. They can infest structures without any ground contact, making them particularly problematic in coastal areas where they're more common.

Drywood termites:

• Live entirely in wood
• Don't require contact with soil
• More common in coastal areas.

Professor Vargo explains the key distinction between subterranean and drywood termites: where they live.

"Drywood termites can get into a structure and infest the wood. There's no contact with the soil," he says.

Conclusion

It’s easy to feel stressed when you find signs of termites in your home. Don’t compound the problem by investing in ineffective DIY solutions or spot treatments — spend your time and money on getting the job done right by a professional termite control company.

Need more information about getting termites out of your home for good? Resi-Report is here to help.