How to Treat Termites in Walls: The Key Steps

You spend a lot of time building up those walls to be sturdy, but somehow termites can make their way inside anyway. How can termites get past all of your building’s defenses?

It’s easier to keep termites out of your home than it is to deal with when they’re inside. In this article, we’ll go over the key aspects of treating a termite problem.

When dealing with the pesky termites, you not only have to make repairs, but you have to ensure the issue doesn’t come back. We’ll walk you through some key steps that you can take to secure your home for the future.

Keep reading to learn more on how to treat termites in walls!

Using Boric Acid Baits

Boric acid bait is a popular choice for treating different types of pests in walls like termites. It works by transferring the boric acid from the bait to the colonies, eliminating the termites from the walls of your home without the need for tenting or fumigation.

This method is a great way to avoid invasive treatments and potential health risks that come with them. To use boric acid baits, open the bait stations and place them in areas where termite activity is suspected. You should place the bait stations next to a wall, or at the base of the walls in your home.

Check the bait stations regularly and replace the baits when necessary. In order to work effectively, the boric acid bait needs to be left in place for a significant amount of time. Follow the directions given for the product and consider scheduling a professional inspection to make sure that the boric acid bait is working.

Drilling and Injecting Pesticides/Termiticides

Drilling and injecting pesticide termiticides is an effective means of treating termites in walls. This process begins with locating and pre-treating the soil around the affected wall with a liquid termiticide.

This helps to create a preventive barrier to ward off new termite activity and keep the existing termites from spreading further. After the area is pre-treated, the contractor will drill holes in the wall at intervals to access the affected wood and inject the termiticide into these holes.

Depending on the type of termiticide used, the wall may then need to be sealed with a protective membrane, to make sure that it does not leach into other areas. The injections should be repeated at least yearly to maintain protection against future termite invasions.

Using Heat 

Heat treatment is an effective way to treat termites in walls without the use of chemical pesticides. Heat treatment involves heating the infested area to temperatures exceeding 120°F for several hours. This heat will be circulated throughout the entire infested area in order to ensure that all termites are eradicated.

Prior to the treatment, it is important to ensure that all combustible materials are removed and that the walls are properly insulated. Additionally, wall penetrations and other potential entry points must be sealed to ensure that no termites can enter the structure and recolonize.

After the temperature has been held at the elevated temperature for the requisite time, the walls of the structure can be checked to make sure no further signs of termites remain. If any do, then additional treatments may be required. Heat treatment can be an effective and safe way to rid a structure of termites.

Fumigation

Fumigation is an effective way to treat termites in walls. It is an effective long-term solution that is designed to eliminate the pest’s population without the use of hazardous chemicals. Fumigation works by encapsulating all the surfaces within a home or structure and releasing a stranglehold gas inside the area.

This gas disrupts the sexual and reproductive processes of the pest, which eventually eliminates them. Fumigation requires that all people and pets be removed from the property while the pest control does their job.

Fumigation is able to penetrate even the tightest wall crevices to eradicate termites from all surfaces. After the fumigation is complete, the property must be aerated to dissipate any residual gasses before people are allowed back in.

It is important to understand that fumigation is not a permanent solution and should be treated as part of an integrated pest management strategy to keep termites at bay.

Using Nematodes

Nematodes can be used to treat termites in walls with great success. The nematodes, beneficial, microscopic worms, feed on and destroy the termites living in the wall. To apply the nematodes, the wall needs first to be thoroughly inspected for termites.

Once it has been confirmed that termites are present, nematodes can be purchased from any garden center. They should be applied to the affected area in a liquid form. The nematodes then seep into the wall and start to attack the termites.

After they have done their job, a professional will need to be called to remove any damaged wood. This will ensure the problem is eradicated and will also help prevent any harm caused by the termites coming back.

Using Termite Baits

To treat different types of termites in walls using termite baits, first inspect the house for the infestation areas and establish the extent of the infestation. Once identified, the areas should be cleared of anything that could block the bait application and the bait stations should be secured into the ground near the infestation, or inside the walls themselves.

Regularly inspect the bait stations and replace the infested bait with fresh bait every few months. When the baiting process fails to get rid of termites, then chemical treatments may be used, such as drilling into the affected area and applying termiticides to the galleries.

Depending on the severity, professional assistance may be needed. Keep in mind that termite baiting is not a fast and reliable way to eliminate them, however, it is the safest and most effective way to prevent further damage and to minimize termite infestation before further treatments are necessary.

Learn How to Treat Termites in Walls

In conclusion, how to treat termites in walls can be a difficult process. With the help from a qualified professional, implementing the correct termite treatment in a timely fashion can eliminate the pests and protect the structure of your home.

If you suspect a termite infestation, contact a local pest control specialist right away.

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