If you have ever dealt with termites, you know that they are one of the most troublesome pests a homeowner can face. Many homeowners dread the possibility of a termite infestation, and many are highly motivated to ensure that their homes are well protected from the threat of termites. However, when you are deciding how to protect your home from termites, it is important that you understand the various methods employed by pest control professionals to protect against and exterminate termites. There are a variety of methods used to for termite treatment, however there are three in particular that are most often used. These three methods are liquid treatment, bait treatment, and borate treatment.
Liquid Treatment:
Liquid treatment is the oldest and was formally the most common treatment method employed against termites. True to its name, liquid treatment involves the application of a liquid termiticide both inside of the home and into the soil around a structure. This creates a chemical “barrier” around the home, simultaneously threatening termites inside as well as those who are outside trying to get gain access to the home. Liquid treatment is very useful due to versatility and fast results.
Originally, one the biggest issues with liquid treatment was that it simply created a barrier that termites would avoid. If the termites could find an opening in the barrier, they could pass by the treatment without any issue. However, newer treatment products have solved this problem by making the treatment non-repellant. This means that the termites will pass through the treated area without realizing they are being affected by the termiticide. They will spread this treatment to other termites and quickly reduce the size of the colony.
Although the problems with termites bypassing the liquid barrier are largely solved, there are still cases in which liquid treatment is not ideal. Liquid treatment can sometimes require drilling into concrete slabs or the foundation of the home to access the soil where termites live. It is also necessary to dig around the foundation, which can damage ornamental flower beds and plantings.
Bait System Treatment:
Bait treatment is a newer treatment method than liquid. Though it was initially unpopular among pest professionals when introduced several decades ago, it has since been improved and is rapidly increasing in use. Bait treatment involves placing a series of essentially termite feeding stations around the home. These “Bait Stations” are initially filled with cellulose for termites to feed on. After they are put in place, termites close to the home will eventually find them and begin to rely on these stations as a food source. Once inspections of the stations have revealed termite feeding, the cellulose supply is switched for an active bait matrix. This new bait is covered in a slow acting poison that the termites will pick up while feeding. The termites will then return to their nest and take the treatment with them to spread to the rest of the population, eventually eliminating them in mass.
Bait stations are very useful for homes that lack easy access for liquid treatment. They are a longterm solution to termite protection, and can protect homes without requiring intrusive drilling. They are also useful as an early warning system to nearby termite activity. Some older companies in the business are less likely to use bait systems, preferring to use exclusively the tried and trusted liquid treatment. However, bait stations are a proven method for protecting homes from termites, and in some cases can be superior to liquid treatment.
Borate Treatment:
Borate treatment is a fairly recent development in the fight against termites. This method is currently only used occasionally, but its use has been steadily increasing in the past few years as it has become more trusted by the pest control industry. This treatment method involves the application of a chemical spray made of a mixture of borate and glycol. It is typically used on homes while they are under construction or renovation.
The treatment is applied to the wooden framework of the structure. Over time, the glycol evaporates and enables the borate to sink into the wood. Once it has fully penetrated the wood, the wood itself becomes permanently poisonous to termites, ants, and a variety of wood destroying fungus. This method is ideal for protecting the structure of the home long term. Borate treatment is also considered to be a greener solution to termites, as it does not interact in any way with the outside soil.
The main drawback to borate treatment comes from the narrow timeline for its application. Because it can only be used to treat the framework of the home, it can only be applied during extensive renovations or during the initial building of the home. However, as it grows in popularity, it is slowly becoming more and more common for builders to make use of borate treatment while constructing homes.
Conclusion:
Termite treatment is a tricky business. The truth is, there is no one method for treatment that is best in every scenario. Therefore, it is very important to make sure that the company that you hire to treat your home is one that you can trust to provide you with the best treatment method for your specific situation.
Here at Blease Exterminating, we are proud to only offer the most effective, efficient, and safe pest solutions at an industry leading quality standard! Our technicians are experienced professionals who are able to deal with any pest problem that you might deal with!
Liquid Treatment:
Liquid treatment is the oldest and was formally the most common treatment method employed against termites. True to its name, liquid treatment involves the application of a liquid termiticide both inside of the home and into the soil around a structure. This creates a chemical “barrier” around the home, simultaneously threatening termites inside as well as those who are outside trying to get gain access to the home. Liquid treatment is very useful due to versatility and fast results.
Originally, one the biggest issues with liquid treatment was that it simply created a barrier that termites would avoid. If the termites could find an opening in the barrier, they could pass by the treatment without any issue. However, newer treatment products have solved this problem by making the treatment non-repellant. This means that the termites will pass through the treated area without realizing they are being affected by the termiticide. They will spread this treatment to other termites and quickly reduce the size of the colony.
Although the problems with termites bypassing the liquid barrier are largely solved, there are still cases in which liquid treatment is not ideal. Liquid treatment can sometimes require drilling into concrete slabs or the foundation of the home to access the soil where termites live. It is also necessary to dig around the foundation, which can damage ornamental flower beds and plantings.
Bait System Treatment:
Bait treatment is a newer treatment method than liquid. Though it was initially unpopular among pest professionals when introduced several decades ago, it has since been improved and is rapidly increasing in use. Bait treatment involves placing a series of essentially termite feeding stations around the home. These “Bait Stations” are initially filled with cellulose for termites to feed on. After they are put in place, termites close to the home will eventually find them and begin to rely on these stations as a food source. Once inspections of the stations have revealed termite feeding, the cellulose supply is switched for an active bait matrix. This new bait is covered in a slow acting poison that the termites will pick up while feeding. The termites will then return to their nest and take the treatment with them to spread to the rest of the population, eventually eliminating them in mass.
Bait stations are very useful for homes that lack easy access for liquid treatment. They are a longterm solution to termite protection, and can protect homes without requiring intrusive drilling. They are also useful as an early warning system to nearby termite activity. Some older companies in the business are less likely to use bait systems, preferring to use exclusively the tried and trusted liquid treatment. However, bait stations are a proven method for protecting homes from termites, and in some cases can be superior to liquid treatment.
Borate Treatment:
Borate treatment is a fairly recent development in the fight against termites. This method is currently only used occasionally, but its use has been steadily increasing in the past few years as it has become more trusted by the pest control industry. This treatment method involves the application of a chemical spray made of a mixture of borate and glycol. It is typically used on homes while they are under construction or renovation.
The treatment is applied to the wooden framework of the structure. Over time, the glycol evaporates and enables the borate to sink into the wood. Once it has fully penetrated the wood, the wood itself becomes permanently poisonous to termites, ants, and a variety of wood destroying fungus. This method is ideal for protecting the structure of the home long term. Borate treatment is also considered to be a greener solution to termites, as it does not interact in any way with the outside soil.
The main drawback to borate treatment comes from the narrow timeline for its application. Because it can only be used to treat the framework of the home, it can only be applied during extensive renovations or during the initial building of the home. However, as it grows in popularity, it is slowly becoming more and more common for builders to make use of borate treatment while constructing homes.
Conclusion:
Termite treatment is a tricky business. The truth is, there is no one method for treatment that is best in every scenario. Therefore, it is very important to make sure that the company that you hire to treat your home is one that you can trust to provide you with the best treatment method for your specific situation.
Here at Blease Exterminating, we are proud to only offer the most effective, efficient, and safe pest solutions at an industry leading quality standard! Our technicians are experienced professionals who are able to deal with any pest problem that you might deal with!
If you have a problem or even a question about termites, ants, roaches, mosquitoes, bedbugs, rats, mice or any other pest call Blease Exterminating today!
PS. Consultation is FREE and so is their exclusive FREE 58 Point Pest Analysis of your home or office So call TODAY!
PS. Consultation is FREE and so is their exclusive FREE 58 Point Pest Analysis of your home or office So call TODAY!