Termites

I have termites, what type of treatment should I have done? This is a question I hear on a regular basis. Termites are one of the biggest issues facing homeowners and homeowner associations today. They cause millions in damage to homes across America.

Knowing what type of treatment to have performed, means you need to know several things. The first is what are termites and how do they live. Understanding this may help you determine what type of treatment you want to have performed.

There are two main types of termites in California: drywood and subterranean termites. Both types of termites live in colonies, subterranean termite colonies are located in the soil. This is because they require more moisture and make what are called mud tubes; witch is just like when we use highways.

Subterranean termites will not travel anywhere there isn’t a mud tube. In fact if you see a mud tube and break some of it away, the termites will repair it before traveling through it again. They move through out a home using these mud tubes and return back to the soil. Subterranean termites feed on wood and cellulose debris and have large colonies.

Drywood termites live in the structure itself and do not travel into the soil. Their colonies are found completely inside the home. They also feed on wood and are most famous for their “sawdust” droppings which make everyone aware they are present. They use the wood they feed on to plug up their tunnel systems to keep predators such as ants out.

Both types of termites live in colonies, use tunnels and are very social insects. This behavior, the socialization, has been used to help in the control of termites in recent years. We will discuss this again later on.

Treatment Options

The following treatments are what can be done for each of the type of termites. The treatment that you choose will depend on what type of termite you have, how many areas are infested and where the infestations are. We will use these questions to help evaluate what treatment is best for you.

Subterranean termites

Since subterranean termites live underground the treatments you can have performed are limited.

Trench and Treat: This treatment is performed when the subterranean termite colony is located where landscape and the structure come together. During this treatment the landscape is dug up and a termiticide is placed in the trench and then the trench is filled in. The termiticide that are used to today are not like the ones of years ago. These products DO NOT kill the termites quickly but work over a period of a couple of days. This allows the termites to spread it like a cold throughout the colony to make for a much higher rate of control.

Drill and Treat: These treatments are performed when the termites are found to be in between the structure and a hardscape item such as a walkway or driveway. Holes are drilled into the hard surface and termiticide is injected through the holes which are filled back in after the treatment.

*There are also other products that are used to control subterranean termites such as gels. These gels are injected into the mud tubes the subterranean termites use to travel through out the house. The gel can be fed on or just touch the termites, and it too, works slowly to make sure the termites live long enough to carry it back to the colony underground.

Drywood termites

These termites live in the actual structure they are infesting and there is a multitude of treatment options available, some sound very good but when it comes to actually killing off the termites they can fall short.

Local Treatments: These are treatments that are performed by drilling into the wood the termites are infesting. The hole itself is very small and is used to inject termiticide into the tunnel system. There are still termiticides that kill the termites right away but the best are the slow acting non-repellant ones to allow the termites to spread it throughout the colony, such as Termidor and Optigard Flex.

These treatments can be performed on any termite colony that can be ACCESSED! This is very important as we will discuss later during the fumigation portion. But if the infested area cannot be reached it CANNOT be locally treated, but one exception: Heat, which can be used as a local treatment.

Heat Treatments: Heat treatments are exactly that, heating the structure up to kill off the termites. This is the ONLY treatment that can be used as a local treatment and a full structure eradication method. An entire structure can be heated or just a wall, attic or specified area. Heat treatments though are not ideal in our opinion to perform multi-unit control when the entire structure is in need of treatment.

Fumigations: These are performed on an entire structure whether it is a single family home or a multiple unit living area. Fumigations are a highly effective means of getting rid of drywood termites. It is the most thorough method and most times more cost effective than heat treating entire structures.

When would a termite inspector recommend a structure be fumigated?

There are several reasons why an inspector would recommend a structure be fumigated. One of the reasons is that there are termites in multiple areas. When an inspector finds termites in several locations it is highly possible, and most likely probable, that termites exist elsewhere in the structure he cannot see or get to or what is referred to as inaccessible areas.

When this occurs he/she will recommend a fumigation to ensure that the entire structure is treated and protected against future damage. Fumigation is also recommended when the termite activity is noted infesting inaccessible areas. What the inspector is concerned about here is that he/she knows the termites are there but not the extent of the infestation is in the areas they cannot see or access to treat properly.

Lastly, fumigations are recommended as a way for termite companies to protect themselves. If an inspector notes termite activity and suspects further infestation as previously discussed they may make a primary recommendation for fumigation. BUT if they believe that the activity noted during the inspection can be treated an alternative way they will also provide what is called a sub-standard secondary recommendation.

While the sub-standard secondary recommendation is for a highly effective product and treatment method to be used, the company still cannot say that the entire structure is termite free. That is why it is called a sub-standard secondary. Fumigation (and heat) are the ONLY state approved methods that a company can claim that the entire structure has been treated for termites, all other treatments are considered local and any other statement to the contrary is considered fraudulent in its claim.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should a home or structure be fumigated?

If there are termites in multiple areas or are in areas that cannot be accessed for treatment. I would also recommend multi-unit dwellings, heat can be used in this situation but can actually be much more costly than fumigating.

What type of termiticide is best?

There are many products on the market that can do a fine job but two of the best are Termidor and Optigard Flex. The University of California Berkeley and University of Riverside performed a 2 year study and these two slow acting products provided the highest results.

Because these products are slow acting and TRANSFERABLE (which means the termites help spread it throughout the colony) it allows for more thorough control even in areas that were not treated. But to always make sure termite colony are controlled, you should AWLAYS treat where they are noted in an inspection.

Years ago, all termicides killed on contact or shortly after. Years of study have shown that allowing the termites to live longer and carry the treatment throughout the colony can and is much more productive and thorough.

What about Orange Oil?

Over the past 2 years Orange Oil companies have been running ads that seem to good to be true, and in many ways that is true in itself. Orange Oil is a product that can be used as a local treatment ONLY, anyone selling Orange Oil as a whole structure treatment cannot make the claim that they will eradicate all of the termites. BY LAW only fumigation and heat treatments can make that claim.

How long of a warrantee should I expect?