How to Kill Termites in Your House

Termites can be a really serious problem, and it is important that homeowners know how to kill termites should they find any infestations. The first thing to do is to make sure that the problem is actually termites, and not something else. Often, people mistake termites for flying ants, which although are annoying, are not nearly as terrible to have around as termites because they are not destructive.

There are a number of ways that you can determine whether or not you have termites in your home. One way is if you notice swarms of insects that look like flying ants. You can also check your foundation and wood on your home, doing scrape tests to see if the wood is rotten. If it is, this is a pretty good sign that you may have termites.

Killing Termites

The trouble-free way to kill termites in your house and which many people opt for is to have a professional exterminator come in and do it for you. But there are steps you can take to try and kill them yourself.

First of all, you will need to inspect your entire property for termites to determine where the nests are located. Then, you can do a few different things. If you want to use something that is not as harmful as some of the other pesticides that are available, you can use boric acid, which although is often marketed for killing roaches, can also be used to kill termites. Other methods for killing termites include:

Liquid Termite Pesticide – You can purchase liquid pesticides that will kill termites from many companies, as well as other termite control products. To use the liquid, spray it around the perimeter of your home, as well as in any cracks in the foundation where termites can enter. Termites will be killed when they try to pass through this chemical barrier.

Termite Baits – You can trap termites in termite baits, and there are a couple of types that can be used. One type contains a slow acting stomach poison that will kill every termite that eats it. The other type is carried by worker termites back to the rest of the colony.

Powder Termite Pesticide – You can also sprinkle a powder termite pesticide around the perimeter of your house, which will, like the liquid pesticide, act as a barrier that will not allow termites to get in. You should also place the powder in any areas where you think there are termites in addition to the home’s perimeter.

These are just a few ways of how to kill termites. If these methods do not work, there are other things that you can do, including taking preventative measures to make sure that you don’t end up with termites in the first place.

Preventative Measures You Can Take

The best way to avoid having termites in your home and having to spend a lot of time and money to get rid of them is to prevent them from coming into your home. There are a number of things you can do to keep termites away.

There are all kinds of plants you can have in your garden that act as termite repellents. If you love to cook with herbs, it is always best to use fresh herbs, and many of the herbs you regularly use are great termite repellents. Make sure that you grow garlic, onions and chives, which will keep the termites away, and add delicious flavors to the foods you cook.

Also make sure that there are no damp areas around your home, as termites love these. Take care of any leaky pipes and clean any standing water.

Treating your wood is also a good idea, and you can do this simply by applying a coat of paint or stain to wood in and around the home.

You never want to have insects in your home, especially insects such as termites, which are extremely destructive. Make sure that you are taking steps to prevent termites from ever coming into your home, and if they do get in, do whatever it takes to get rid of them as soon as you can, even if you have to hire an exterminator.