Can I treat my home for termites myself?

Termites love eating wood. It’s the main ingredient in their diet. They have a preference for untreated wood but will eat any type of wood if necessary. The problem with termites is that they are relatively small, measuring less than an inch on average. They prefer not to be seen by humans and will head for the wood in your foundations because it’s the easiest to get to.

If you don’t know they are there they can eat a surprising amount of wood and create structural issues in your home in as little as six months. That’s why you need to recognize the signs of termite infestation and know how to handle the issue yourself. It is possible!

Signs Of Termites

Small holes in your wood are a sign that you have a termite issue. Other coon signs include:

• Fine piles of sawdust near the wood holes
• Mud tubes in the soil around the outside of your home. If you cover the tube they will reopen in a day or two, confirming you have active termites.
• Rusting in the walls
• Hollow sounding wood
• Wings on the floor. Young termites have wings and fly to create a new nest. When they find a suitable spot they lose their wings, you’ll see them on the floor

Treating Your Own Home

You simply need the right attitude to handle the termites and eliminate them from your home.

• Baiting

Buy good-quality termite bait stations and position them around your home. They should be placed near where you’ve seen the termites or evidence of their existence. The bait will attract the termites and they will carry it back to their base to feed the other termites. In the process, they’ll all be killed by the poison.

You probably won’t see the dead termites in your bait station, but you will see the bait going down. Keep topping up the bait and monitoring. When the bait is no longer being taken try the trap in a different location before assuming the termite issue has been dealt with.

• Liquid Termiticides

These liquids are specifically designed to kill termites on contact. They are a great option if you know where the nest is, even if it means getting into the crawl space to find them. Because it kills on contact it’s a very fast method of getting rid of your termites. Simply get into your crawl space and douse the nest and surrounding areas with the spray. It’s advisable to wear a mask while you do it. Check a few days later to ensure the nest has been entirely destroyed. If you see any more termites repeat the procedure. Don’t forget the amount of damage termites can do. If you have any doubts regarding your techniques or whether your approach has been successful, get a professional firm to check the current situation and advice you on the best thing to do next.