How to Safely Remove Termites In Your Home

Termites can be described as colony pests and they are in five main varieties. They normally feed on cellulose matter. This means that a typical home is likely to have these silent killers. Termites are capable of appearing in wood or plant materials without an indication of their presence. They are designed in a way that they can easily tear away very tough cellulose materials. The main types of termites that can be found in a home are Subterranean termites, Formosan termites, Drywood termites, Dampwood termites and Conehead termites. These termites have different colors, shapes, sizes and are found in various locations. However, the subterranean is considered to be the most destructive type. Regardless of where a home is situated, all of these different kinds of termites can be present. They are a constant threat that should be safely removed from the home.

Signs

It is important for all homeowners to know when their property has been attacked by termites, signs of infestation are the best way to do this. The following are some common signs that they can look out for:

• Wood damage – This can be found below and behind surfaces such as walls and floors especially for homes made using wood material.

• Wings – Look out for discarded wings that are near doors, windows as well as other access points to the home. Their size is similar to those of typical ants.

• Mud tubes – These are commonly found near sheds or trees or even in places where the house and ground connect. These tubes help in blocking dry or cool air so that adequate moisture is retained.

• Brown pellets – Termite excrement is in form of brown pellets and can be found close to weakened wood. These droppings may also be wood colored.

Termite removal

There are many techniques that can be used to safely remove termites in your home, the main ones are listed below:

Cardboard trap
Setting up a cardboard trap is pretty simple and very effective for termites. Obtain several flat strips of good quality cardboard. Wet the cardboards before carefully stacking them on top of each other. Place them in any location where you might find termites. The cardboards make an ideal termite trap because they like feeding on cellulose i.e. cardboard. Once the cardboard becomes infested, carefully take it outside in a safe area before burning it. You can repeat this process several times if need be.


Beneficial nematodes
These is a worm species that is small and unsegmented. They are a natural parasite to garden pests like termites. Usually, they look for hosts like termite larvae, burrow inside them and consequently kill them within 48 hours. The carcass of the host is their spawning ground. Beneficial nematodes are readily available online or at local garden supply stores. Nematodes are not harmful to pets, humans or plants. They will only focus on insects and will eliminate their colonies very fast. Remember that beneficial nematodes should always be used immediately, if not, they should be safely inside a refrigerator and utilize them either after sunset or early in the morning. It is abit expensive but very effective.

Exposure to sunlight
Incase the termite infestation in a home is on an item or piece of furniture, remove it outside and leave it out in the sunlight. Darkness is the lighting condition that makes termites thrive, if they are exposed to the light and heat of the sun they die. This technique is very effective when done in conjunction with cardboard traps. Alternatively, make sure that curtains are drawn during the day to let sunlight inside your home, this will remove any existing termites. Exposure to sunlight might be a slow process compared to other types of termite removal techniques but will eventually get the job done.

Freezing
Homeowners who reside in rainy areas thus are unable to expose furniture infested with termites to the sun can freeze them instead. The pieces of wood furniture can be placed inside a freezer for approximately 2-3 days. However, this can be a challenge for large pieces of home furniture.

Remove mulch
Termites love feeding on mulch because it is made of cellulose and also retains high levels of moisture. The simple act of removing any mulch that surrounds your home can safely remove an entire termite colony.

Salt
Salt is a very effective treatment for removing termites in your home. Simply feel a jar with equal parts of warm water and salt. Fill a syringe with this solution and inject all the areas that are affected. It works to kill termites through dehydration.

Using heat
The microwave technique can be used here It involves having the home heated to very high temperatures. The people that are able to do this are professionals with the right tools that are not easily available for sale or use.

Termite baiting
This technique involves the application of Bait Stations, this should be in areas that are considered to be termite activity hotspots. Termite specialists are the best people for this job because they know suitable places for bait stations to remove termites in your home. The benefits of this method are that it is non-disruptive and unobtrusive. This means that no drilling is needed and the appearance of your home will remain intact. Termite baiting is preferred in places where chemicals or pesticides are dangerous to plants, soil or even people.

It should be noted that there are certain chemicals like boric acid and arsenic dust that require licensed professionals to apply because they are harmful but effective. If homeowners should apply them then protective gear is mandatory for safety. They help in quickly dispatching termites from your home. There may also be restrictions regarding the use of these chemicals in some localities.

Conclusion

The techniques listed above on how to safely remove termites in your home are guaranteed to work, what remains is only for you to take action. It is important to be proactive when it comes to removing termites, therefore, always keep an eye for any of the signs earlier mentioned to prevent an infestation.