Termites need to be “nipped in the bud” right away by a termite exterminator before any serious damage can occur. You want to avoid moisture accumulation (puddling) near the foundation of your home, which can provide the water needed for termites to thrive. Try to divert any rain water away from your home’s foundation and make sure you have properly functioning downspouts and gutters. The ground should be sloped away from the foundation to allow all rain water to drain completely away from your home.
Any cellulose (such as wood, mulch, paper, etc.) that is in direct contact with the soil, will provide termites with an unobstructed source of food. It’s important to eliminate any contact between the wooden parts of your home’s foundation, and the soil. You want to maintain a minimum of 6 inches between the soil and porch steps, latticework, door and window frames, garage doors, etc. Never stack or store firewood or any other wood materials against the foundation of a building or within a crawl space.
You’ll also want to prevent trellises with vines, or other living plant life from touching the house. Before and during construction, never bury your wood scraps or waste lumber on your property as fill. Especially near any wood structures. You should also remove any old tree stumps near the foundation of a building. Avoid or minimize the use of untreated wood mulches near the foundation of your home.
How Can I Possibly Prevent A Termite Infestation?
The First Step Is To Make Your Home Less Attractive to Termites
Conventional soil treatments performed by a termite exterminator, traditionally rely on creating a chemical barrier in the soil that’s toxic to any termites contacting it. To achieve termite control over long periods of time, apply as a continuous barrier within the soil next to, and under the foundation. Termiticides can be applied during the construction of a building or home to detour and prevent a future termite infestation.
Slow Down Termites With Known Termite Control Prevention Methods
- After construction, keep the soil around the foundation dry through proper grading and drainage (including maintenance of gutters and downspouts).
- Reduce openings that offer termites access to the structure (filling cracks in cement foundations as well as around where utilities pass through the wall with cement, grout, or caulk).
- Fix leaks immediately.
- Keep vents free from blockage, including plants.
- Ensure that trees and shrubs are not planted too close to the structure and do not allow them to grow against exposed wood surfaces.
- Do not pile or store firewood or wood debris next to the house.
- Inspect periodically to help ensure that termite colonies do not become established.
What are the Different Types of Termite Exterminator Treatments?
Non-Chemical Termite Treatment
Some ways to keep termites out do not involve the application of insecticides. For example:
- One such method is a physical barrier, typically incorporated during construction.
- Steel mesh and sands of particular sizes have been shown to perform effectively as physical barriers.
- Biological control agents (nematodes and fungi) have demonstrated some success, particularly in laboratory settings.
Because these methods do not involve the application of an insecticide, the EPA does not regulate the termite exterminator or use of them.
Chemical Termite Treatment
Before a company can sell or distribute any pesticide in the United States, other than certain minimum risk pesticides, EPA must review studies on the pesticide to determine that it will not pose unreasonable risks to human health or the environment. Once we have made that determination, we will license or register that pesticide for use in strict accordance with label directions. The pesticides used by a termite exterminator for the prevention or treatment of termite infestations are called termiticides and must demonstrate the ability to provide structural protection before we register them. In most cases, termiticide application can only be properly performed by a trained pest control professional.
Approved termite treatment include:
- Liquid soil-applied termiticides.
- Termite baits.
- Building materials impregnated with termiticides.
- Wood treatments.
Two common forms of treatment are conventional barrier treatments and termite baits.
Termite Exterminator Barrier Treatments
The most common technique for treating termite infestations is the soil-applied barrier treatment. Termiticides used for barrier treatments must be specifically labeled for that use.
If conducted improperly, these treatments can cause contamination of the home and surrounding drinking water wells and will not protect against termites. For that reason, it is important to hire a pest control professional who is licensed and trained to take proper precautions. The most common active ingredients found in conventional termiticides are:
- Acetamiprid
- Bifenthrin
- Chlorantraniliprole
- Chlorfenapyr
- Cyfluthrin
- Cypermethrin
- Esfenvalerate
- Fipronil
- Imidacloprid
- Permethrin
Termite Exterminator Baits
In recent years, several bait systems have been introduced to help reduce the overall use of insecticides and their impact on human health and the environment. These termite baiting systems rely on cellulose baits that contain a slow-acting insecticide.
The most common active ingredients found in termite exterminator baits are:
- Diflubenzuron – inhibits insect development.
- Hexaflumuron- first active ingredient registered as a reduced-risk pesticide.
- Hydramethylnon- insecticide used to control ants, cockroaches, crickets, and termites.
- Lufenuron- an insect growth regulator used to control termites and fleas.
- Noviflumuron- disrupts termite growth and activity.
Wood Treatments
- Borates – commonly used as a spray on application during new home construction to protect wood.
Are Pesticides Used By A Termite Exterminator Safe?
As the federal agency responsible for regulating all pesticides, including termiticides, sold, applied, or distributed in the United States, EPA must ensure that the pesticide, when used according to label directions, meets current safety standards to protect human health and the environment. To make such determinations, they require more than 100 different scientific studies and tests from applicants. Most states also review the pesticide label to ensure that it complies with federal labeling requirements and any additional state restrictions of use.
Many termiticides are highly toxic, making it critical to follow label directions with added care or hire a termite exterminator. San Jose pest control professionals have the knowledge, expertise, and equipment as required, which minimizes risks and maximizes effectiveness.
San Jose Pest Control Termite Exterminator Nest Removal
You can use all the tools available to a termite exterminator and sometimes they still just find a way in. This is when talking to a professional termite exterminator about steps you can take with your property to avoid termite infestations. If you find out that you do have termites, call a San Jose Pest Control Termite Exterminator. Termites will penetrate some barriers, but the more modern treatments have proven to work more effectively. There’s many different types of treatments, because there are many different types of termites.
You will need to have a termite inspection done to identify the type of termite. You will then be advised of what type of treatment would be best for your problem, location, and situation.
There’s Never Just One Termite – If You See One, There Are Thousands
Most termites live in large colonies that could contain hundreds of thousands of individuals or more. Some types must have plenty of moisture to survive. A termite colony has workers, soldiers, and reproducers. Some of them will look a bit different from others, so it’s important to find out exactly what kind of termite infestation you’re dealing with. A professional termite exterminator can do the assessment as part of your termite inspection.
If you are seeing termites any where near your home or business, call our Termite Exterminators in San Jose!
