Table of Contents
When treating dry wood and subterranean termites, the most commonly used method is tenting the whole building or house and leaving it for several days. This is to wait for a gas fumigant to get rid of the termites. While this is proven very effective, did you know that there there are ways on how how to get rid of termites without tenting? In this way, you do not need to evacuate and stay somewhere else while treating the termites in your house.
The 2 most common types of termites are subterranean and dry wood termites. Unlike subterranean termites, it is hard for you to look for possible signs of dry wood termites activity in your house. More often than not, you will only confirm termite infestation if there are physical damage, especially on wood and wood materials. This explains why the most common form of treatment is heating and gas fumigation. But in this article we will not focus on tenting, but other alternatives on how to get rid of termites without tenting. Keep on reading to find out more.
How to Get Rid of Drywood Termites Without Tenting: Traditional Methods
Before anything, if you are still having doubts about alternatives to tenting, it is proven safe and effective to get rid of termites without tenting. On the other hand, since tenting makes the process much easier, it might be hard to completely get rid of them using the alternatives that we will provide in this article. You will need more days and extra effort. But the good thing is that it is less expensive and less harmful to both humans and the environment.
Aside from that, alternative methods tenting is more difficult since the termites are most likely to build and establish colonies. Because of this behavior, they are able to create even small colonies in different areas. Also, these colonies are composed of hundreds or thousands of members. No matter how small they are, you can find them in several spots and areas in your house.
Before we tackle the different ways on how to get rid of termites without tenting, let us first discuss the following traditional method of treating termites.
*Heating
Heating is one popular way of treating termites because it is highly effective. In comparison to fumigation, it is less hazardous. It does not utilize chemicals and instead uses the heat to get rid of the termites. Nevertheless, heat treatment is only most suitable in treating certain areas of the house like attic, basement, or detached shed. That being said, the majority of homeowners are trying to look for alternative ways for tenting. Which is why in this article, we will give of tips on how to get rid of termites without tenting.
*Fumigation
This is probably the most common method for treating termites. Normally, homeowners will pay for both heat treatment and fumigation so as to completely get rid of the termites. While this is the best treatment of termite infestation, a lot of people believe that it is harmful to humans and the environment. In addition to that, there are always side effects of using this type of method.
Fumigation has bee know for its hazardous fumes that may lead to health problems. In addition to that, it is also an intensive treatment where homeowners will need to stay somewhere else for several days. In some cases, the treatment will last for a week. Even if it requires them to only vacate for few days, homeowners still prefer to wait for a week to make sure that the house is free from hazardous gas.
Facts About Drywood Termites
As mentioned earlier, the most common types of termites are dry wood termites and subterranean termites. Among the two types, the more popular is the dry wood. They are most likely to invade your house and may cause havoc.
Before we move on to the tips on how to get rid of termites without tenting, it is important to know the following:
- Compared to subterranean termites, dry wood termites are not equipped with intensive caste.
- From the term itself, dry wood termites are not fond of moist places. Hence, they like to stay in dry surfaces so they are more likely to be found on household timbers.
- While they are so small in size, they are capable of chewing woods and even those across the grain. Apart from that, they are also capable of building their own large chambers. These large chambers are responsible for bringing damage in your house.
- It is impossible to discover dry wood termites on an early stage because there are almost no indications aside from physical damage on the surface. Because of that they will most likely hatch eggs that will serve as the reproductive termites.
- It is important to regularly check some areas of your house that are most likely to invade by dry wood termites. For instance, attic, basement, soffit areas, fascia boards, to name a few.
- The moment they established a termite colony in your house, it can have a member of at most 5000 termites.
How to Get Rid of Termites Without Tenting: Possible Signs of Termite Infestation
Dry wood termites are more of a squeaky type of termite. They are far different from subterranean termites. Also, it is very hard to confirm that there are termites inside or outside your house because they do not form burrows. Hence, it is challenging to spot them. More often, you will just find that a physical damage is caused by termite infestation. Aside from that, there are also no mud tubes and mounds around the house that will serve as an indication of termite activity.
But still, if you are looking for possible termite infestation, the most common sign are the swarmers. If you are not familiar with these, they are termite that will shed their wings and start a colony. But is important to familiarize yourself with swarmers and ants when it comes to their physical appearance because they may somehow look similar.
The moment the termites find the perfect place to to attack, they will start shedding their wings and start to lay eggs to reproduce. That being said, how are you going to know if your house is infested with this kind of species:
- wood tunnels
- hollow wood
- presence of swarmers
- droppings of the species
How to Get Rid of Termites Without Tenting
*Treatment with the use of Orange Oil
This is probably not the first time that you heard of orange oil for treating certain species. Orange oil is also popular for treating bed bugs and other insects.
The orange oil is probably the most preferred alternative method to tenting and othe hazardous methods. If you want to get rid of termites in your house but you do not want to use harmful chemicals or hire pest control professional for tenting services, you should consider this treatment. It safe and proven effective in getting rid of various kinds of pests and insects.
To use orange oil for treatment, simply inject the oil to the affected wood and other surfaces. Remember, a little goes a long way because pure orange oil is acidic and D-limonene. In addition to that, this D-limonene is the component that is responsible for providing the orange fruit the citrusy smell. Even though orange oil is an essential oil, it is harmful to apply the pure oil in your skin because of the too much acid.
Once you successfully injected the orange oil inside the wood, just wait for several minutes or even hours until the oil reaches the termites’ chamber. This will then eventually kill them. On the off chance there are still termites in the wood, you must reapply the oil until you completely get rid of them.
Lastly, orange oil is the best option if you have already confirmed the location of termites because it is where you will inject the oil. If not, it would be best to seek professional service in treating your area.
*Safety Precautions
Remember, when applying orange oil for treatment, make sure that you wear gloves and masks. This is important so as to prevent direct skin contact since it is very high in acid.
Apart from, you must be extra careful because orange oil is also flammable and. With the flashpoint of 115F, it must be securely stored. Most importantly, when doing the treatment it is advisable to keep children and other animals away.
*Boric Acid Treatment
Another way on how to get rid of termites without tenting is by using boric acid treatment. It not that harmful as it sounds though. In fact, it is actually one of the most popular DIY solutions to termite infestation. However, similar to orange oil, you must be able to determine the exact location of the termite. Otherwise, you will just put the solution to waste. Furthermore, you should know that this is not the quickest way to get rid of termites.
To use boric acid in treating termite infestation, combine boric acid powder and water. Use a syringe in injecting the solution to the infested wood and other wood materials. In the event that there are no opening, you may need to drill to make a hole.
Some homeowners also make use of propylene glycol, this is the less harmful version of the anti-freeze. When handling this type of solution, you must be extra cautious. Aside from that, it is also hard to acquire this.
It is impossible to get rid of the termites on your first try, which is why you have to reapply until they are all completely killed. One indicated that you completely got rid of them is if you hear no sounds of termite activity.
If you decided to hire professional exterminators, they would also make use of this solution. Normally, they are more potent because as they are trained to handle and procure different chemicals that they will use for the treatment.
*Safety precautions
Similar to handling an orange oil treatment, you must always wear gears such as face masks and gloves. Also, after using the gloves, you must clean it thoroughly. Better yet, use a disposable gloves.
Even though this is a household product, you must never underestimate what a borax can do. There is a reason why borax is widely used as a strong cleaning agent for a lot of years now.
*Spot Wood Treatment
Another alternative to tenting is the spot wood treatment. If you are able to discover early termite infestation early, then the infested area is most likely small. In case of small infested areas, spot treatment is the best option. Spot treatment specifically targets the area and bombard them with the strong substance that will kill them.
If there is no hole in the wood material, then you have to drill in order to make an opening. In this hole, you will inject the solution that you will use to kill the termites.
If you do not want to experience the hassle of spot treatment, you can just buy another wood. This is also feasible, but if several wood materials in your house are infested, it might be an expensive option for you.
The problem with spot treatment is that they are possible for confirmed locations of termites. However, if it is dry wood termites, it might be difficult since you will only get to see the damages once they are done eating the internal parts of the material.
*Safety Precaution
Regardless of the solution you will use of the spot treatment, make sure to handle properly and wear appropriate protection gear. This is so that there will be no skin contact with the substance because the solutions used are harmful.
WHEN TO CALL PROFESSIONAL EXTERMINATORS
On your self, being able to know how to get rid of termites without tenting is a great knowledge. On the other hand, if the Drywood termite colony is huge and has been in several areas in your house, it’s best to seek the assistance of licensed exterminators.
They can determine the infestation and provide you with the most effective treatment method. Also, you should take note that the abovementioned ways have restrictions. If the infestation is in an extreme stage, you may need to choose tenting treatment for guaranteed results.
Final Words
Being knowledgeable when it comes to treating termites without tenting is very important. It is also the first step in making sure that your house is free from termites. While the above-mentioned methods are effective, they are only suitable for moderate termite infestation. You might need to call for professional service in case it is an extreme situation.
