Several chemical and physical treatments are available for Knoxville Termite Control. These include soil treatment with liquid termiticide and termite bait stations.
Wood preservation with borate treatments also helps prevent and eradicate termites. These treatments prevent molting in the wood, which eliminates the entire colony. This method works for both subterranean and drywood termites.
Termite Inspection
A termite inspection is the first step in the process of eliminating and preventing termites. During an inspection, an experienced technician will examine your property for signs of termite damage and activity. He or she will check everything that is made of wood including baseboards, window frames and doors and cabinets. A thorough inspection will also include the attic, crawl space and basement. In addition, the inspector will look for characteristic mud tubes and visual damage to wood. Other things that are often checked during an inspection include piles of firewood and lumber, cracks in expansion joints and brick and wood mulch around the house.
The inspection is a thorough process and it may take several hours. To make the inspection go faster, you can prepare your home by clearing items from built-in cupboards and drawers in kitchens and bathrooms. In the garage, remove anything stored against the walls and leave at least several feet of space for easy access by the inspector. You should also clean out your cupboards as much as possible, especially those under sinks. Termites love water and will be drawn to areas where moisture is concentrated.
Once the inside of the home is inspected, the pest control specialist will move outdoors to check the perimeter of the structure and look for mud tubes that lead to the foundation. The inspector will also look at wooden structures like fences, sheds and decks. Finally, the inspector will look at the eaves of the home and inspect any wood-to-ground contacts that are not covered by siding or veneer.
If there is evidence of a termite infestation, the pest control specialist will recommend a course of treatment. Treatment options include the installation of a termite barrier and wood preservation with Boracare. The termite barrier is installed around the exterior of your home and contains a combination of wood fibers and chemicals that are deadly to subterranean termites when they come into contact with it.
In some cases, a fumigation of the entire structure may be necessary. This is the fastest and most effective way to kill termites, but it will require that you vacate the property for a few days while the pest control expert sets up the fumigation tent. This method uses sulfuryl fluoride (Vikane) or methyl bromide gas to fumigate the building and kills the termites instantly.
Termite Treatment
When it comes to termite treatment, there are several different options that can be used. The type of termite species that is present, the severity of the infestation and other factors will help determine which method is best suited for your situation.
For severe and widespread infestations, fumigation is a very effective option. A trained pest control professional will place a tent around your structure and pump in a gas called sulfuryl fluoride (Vikane). This termite treatment is odorless and contains no toxic chemicals that can be harmful to humans or pets. The gas seeps into the wood and kills all of the termites within the affected area. Your home will need to be tented and sealed for several days in order for the gas to penetrate all areas, including hidden termite galleries. Once the infested area is clear of all termites, your home can be re-opened.
Termite barrier treatments are another common way of treating for termites. They involve digging a trench along the perimeter of your home and filling it in with liquid termiticide. Then, the soil is backfilled. This treatment can last on average for about 5 years and helps prevent future infestations by creating a chemical barrier that termites cannot cross over.
In-ground baiting stations are another option for preventing termite infestations. These station are placed in the ground at regular intervals around your property. They contain cellulose-based bait and termiticide. When foraging termite workers find the bait, they take it back to their colonies and share it with other members of their colony. Eventually, the entire colony will be destroyed.
Another way to help prevent termite infestations is to keep the soil around your home dry. This can be accomplished by removing any trees or shrubs that are close to the house, maintaining proper yard drainage and eliminating any areas where moisture is collecting. Additionally, making sure your home’s foundation is not touching the soil and reducing places where moisture can enter the wood through cracks in concrete and around utility penetrations can also help prevent termite infestation.
Termite Bait Stations
Termite bait stations are a great option for controlling subterranean termites. They are often positioned near woodpiles, tree stumps, and other areas where the pests might be found. This is because they increase the chance that termites will come into contact with the product during their normal foraging activities. Termite professionals use different types of bait inside the station to lure the insects in and then introduce a slow-acting insecticide that kills them.
Bait stations are very effective for preventing termite infestations, as they can be placed in areas where liquid treatments can’t be used due to the presence of water or other factors. They also require less disruption to the surrounding area than traditional barrier treatment. Liquid treatments involve drilling around the foundation, which can disrupt landscaping and cause disturbances in the soil underneath structures. This makes them less desirable for homes with landscaped yards and other outdoor features.
A termite bait station is usually a plastic cylinder with slits on the sides that are used to allow for termite entry and exit. A piece of wood (typically eucalyptus or acacia) is mounted in the center to serve as an interceptor. Termites tunnel through and then consume the bait, which they then carry back to their nest where they share it with their colony.
There are two types of termite bait stations, aboveground and below ground, depending on the type of termite species infesting a property. The aboveground stations are placed in the soil around the structure, while the below-ground bait stations are positioned near known termite mud tubes and feeding sites. Unlike aboveground termite baits, belowground baits contain no wood material and instead rely on the termites to detect the poison inside through their pheromones.
Both aboveground and belowground stations are loaded with a slow-acting termiticide, allowing the insect to be killed over a longer period of time before it can affect the rest of the colony. This allows for greater success in controlling the termite population than would be possible with faster-acting products.
Because of this, it’s important for homeowners to work with a licensed pest control professional when installing and monitoring termite bait stations. They can help ensure that the correct product is being used and that it’s placed in the right place to be most effective. They can also provide advice on how to protect a home from future infestations with termites by recommending the correct protective measures and monitoring procedures.
Termite Monitoring
If termites are detected at the very beginning, proper treatment can minimize their damage. This requires frequent and thorough inspections. Termite monitoring systems act like vigilant sentinels, alerting property owners to termite activity as it happens. These systems allow for targeted treatment, minimizing environmental impact and ensuring that the chemicals reach the root of the problem.
Each station houses a high cellulose attractant that lures foraging termites. The stations are buried in the ground at 10- to 20-foot intervals around your home. They are placed in areas where termites are expected to live, such as tree stumps, existing damage or along foundation walls.
Termites feed on the bait and share it with their colony. Over a period of time, the entire colony is poisoned and eventually dies. The poison in the bait also kills any termites that come into contact with it, and new colonies that form in the area are unable to reproduce. This process is known as “colony elimination.”
Once the termites find the bait and begin eating it, they carry it back to their nests where it is shared with the other members. As a result, the entire colony is eradicated and future infiltrations are prevented.
In addition to monitor and bait stations, Terminix offers a variety of other wood treatments that provide additional protection for structures. Surface sprays and foams can be used to treat wood framing, decking and other wooden components of a structure. These products soak into wood to kill existing termites and prevent future infestations.
After conducting a comprehensive inspection and pinpointing potential trouble spots, your technician will create a customized termite plan. Using a combination of liquid termiticides and Terminix’s proprietary barrier, your technician will create a protective barrier around your home. In addition, your technician will strategically install termite monitoring bait stations on your property. A yearly contract with routine termite inspections will ensure long-term protection from these destructive pests.