How long does it take to treat a termite infestation in your home?

Termites might not be an everyday pest that you constantly need to swat away or spray for, but when you have a problem with these wood-eating creatures, your property can be in extreme danger. Left untreated, termites can literally eat you out of house and home, leading to many thousands of dollars worth of damage.

Due to the danger they impose, termite control is very important whenever you detect an infestation. Today, we’re going to take a look at how long it takes for a termite treatment to eliminate an infestation, along with some other pertinent details about these insects.

Three Common Types of Termite Treatments

If you discover your home has become infested with termites, a professional will take a look around, determine the severity of the infestation, and proceed accordingly. Depending on a few different factors, they will typically offer one or more of these three types of treatments:

• Termite sprays – With this treatment, a termicide is sprayed around the areas where termites have been located.
• Liquid treatments – This type of treatment is similar to a spray except that it uses a thicker liquid that’s applied to the affected areas.
• Termite baits – Bait stations are set up that attract the termites, at which point poison is collected and then disseminated amongst the colony.

How Long Termite Treatment Takes

Killing termites in your home or business can be a very tricky. In a typical situation, the entire termite treatment will take a professional exterminator less than a day to complete. This will often include the inspection itself, as well. However, if needed, an inspection can be done first and then plans can be made for the exterminator to return on a later date for the sake of convenience.

How Long Before the Termites Are Gone?

The truth is there isn’t an exact timeframe involved when you can expect all the termites to be gone after the treatment has been completed. This is primarily because the size of the termite colony can impede the progress. That being said, as a general rule, a termite spray or liquid treatment will typically begin killing termites within a day or two. If you choose to use bait stations, the process might take a little longer to begin.

After that, it’s all up to the size of the colony, but they’ll rarely last more than four or five days. With bait stations, though, an exterminator may need to return to replace some of the stations before they can kill off the colony.

How to Prevent Termites from Returning

With the use of termite sprays or a liquid treatment, you can typically rest assured that your property will be protected for at least a few years. That being said, you should also take matters into your own hands by following these simple preventive measures:

Learn the Signs of Termites

The first thing you can do is to learn the signs of a termite infestation. These include things like the presence of termite wings, frass (termite feces), mud tubes, wood shavings, hollow wood, peeling paint, etc. Then, simply perform an inspection every month or so and this will allow you to stop an infestation before it begins.

Take Away Food Sources

As everyone knows, wood is a primary food source of termites. If your yard has any dead wood such as old tree stumps or dead branches, make sure you clean those things up right away. It’s also a good idea to keep large amounts of paper properly stored because this can act as a food source as well.

Reduce Moisture Levels

Like with other pests, termites need water in order to survive. If termites detect large levels of moisture, then they’re more likely to set up shop. You can help prevent this by cleaning up standing water around your home and properly maintaining water structures like fountains and ponds.

Seal Off Any Entry Points

Termites often gain entry into your home through small cracks and crevices. These can be found around the perimeters of your doors and windows, along your home’s foundation, and a variety of other areas. If you find any potential entry points, either seal them yourself or hire a professional.

Plan Annual Inspections

Although you should always do your due diligence and watch for a termite infestation, remember that you’re not a professional and may miss something. The best course of action is contact a pest control company for an annual inspection. They’ll send out an experienced, professional exterminator to determine if any action needs to be taken.

Contact ProHealth Pest Control for a Termite Treatment

ProHealth Pest Control specializes in residential and commercial pest control services. For questions about our organic pest control methods or to set up an appointment, call (727) 308-3470 today to schedule a termite inspection and a WDO inspection.