Termites

Most Effective Products

Supreme IT Insecticide
Suspended Concentrate
As low as $54.99
FiPro Foaming Aerosol
Aerosol
As low as $28.99
Red Eye Termite Monitoring Station
Station
As low as $14.99
Tim-Bor Professional Insecticide
Water-Soluble Powder
As low as $15.59
Keith's Pro Tips

"Correct identification of termites is pivotal for control. Trap your suspected termites and contact your local Solutions Pests and Lawn store. We have entomologists who will tell you the exact species of termites you're dealing with."

Termite Control: How To Get Rid of Termites

This page is a DIY termite treatment guide. Using the products and methods suggested you can get control of any termite species. The termite category pages give additional information on the different species. Follow these guides and use the recommended products and we guarantee 100% control of all termite species.

Termites can be a homeowner’s worst nightmare as they are among the most destructive pests to a home structure. Termites are tiny, light-colored and have an enormous appetite for wood. If termites are on your property, expect them to cause a lot of damage. In fact, termites cause so much damage, that they cost the US a whopping 5 billion dollars in damage ANNUALLY.

No one wants to have to deal with a Termite infestation, but unfortunately, if there isn’t a proper treatment plan put in place, a termite problem may be hard to avoid. You should not let the thought of termites and termite control scare you away from saving thousands of dollars by tackling the job yourself. 

Our DIY Termite Treatment guide will show you the recommended products needed and the techniques you can perform to conduct a professional-quality treatment of your home so you can confidently eliminate termites and save money.

Identification

termites identification

Identifying what termite is infesting your property is crucial because different termite species may require different means of treatment. Misidentification of termites can lead to using the wrong treatment products, costing you time and money.

So what does a termite look like? From afar they look similar to ants but there are subtle differences that you can observe to differentiate between the two:

  • While termites have a straight abdomen/waist, ants have a squeezed/pinched waist. Termites have straight radio-wire like antennae while ants have them twisted. Termite wings are a similar length while ants have wings of various lengths.
  • Color can also be a major factor to help tell the difference between termites and ants. While both ants and termites can come in different colors, worker and soldier termites are mainly a creamy white color or clear colored while ants never come in that shade of color.

Termites have three main species to worry about: Subterranean Termites, Drywood Termites, and Dampwood Termites. Within these three groups are divisions of termites separated by role.

  • Reproductives or Swarmers have wings and can fly, while Soldier Termites have large heads and mandibles. Worker Termites are cream-colored and look like small ants. It is easier to identify termites by their infestation location. 
  • Indoors you can find Drywood termites in the attic and in the eaves. Unlike other species of termites, Drywood Termites don't need to be in close proximity to soil to invade a structure. In the basement, both Subterranean Termites and Formosan termites might be found. Subterranean Termites usually swarm between January and May. Formosan Termites swarm between April and July.
  • Outdoors you might find Subterranean Termites at bottom of your structure, where soil meets wood. Formosan Swarmers might congregate in large numbers around exterior lighting. Dampwood Termites need access to lots of moisture and are more common in coastal regions. Dampwood Termites infest wood structures that are exposed to constant rainfall like wooden siding near rain gutters.

Inspection

After you have properly identified the Termite that is infesting your property, you will need to inspect the home to find where the termites are located. During the inspection, you will be looking for termite activity and termite damage. Inspect with a flashlight and screwdriver or sharp ended object, to inspect inside the wood.

Where To Inspect

Start inside your home. Look in basements, attics, crawl spaces, and any area that uses wood. Inspect ceiling joists, support beams, wooden window frames, wooden door frames, and any part of your home made of wood. Outdoors look in fences, patios, porches, decks, wooden walkways, and any part of the property made of wood. Look in the base of the structure where soil meets wood. Outside look in window frames, door frames, eaves, soffits, and fascias.

What To Look For

You need to look for Termites or signs of termite activity such as mud tubes, discarded swarmer wings, frass and termite galleries. Mud tubes are small tunnels that grow like roots from the soil up to the structure. Formosan and Subterranean Termites are the species most known for making mud tubes.

Swarmers of all species will discard their wings during the reproductive process. If you see swarmer termites or even their termite wings anywhere, it should be a great cause for concern as it means that the termite population has grown so heavily that swarmers are leaving the nest.

Frass is a combination of feces and sawdust that the termites discard out of the damaged wood. Dampwood and Drywood termite species create frass, and you might find it window sills, and below the damaged wood.

Next, inspect inside the wood. Use a flashlight and a screwdriver to dig inside the wood to look for termite galleries. Termite galleries are small tunnels inside the wood that go with the grain. If you find termite galleries, mud tubes, swarmer wings, and frass you will have discovered termite activity.

Treatment

Once you have confirmed Termite activity it is time to begin treatment. Remember that you must first read all the product labels and follow their application instructions, and stay safe by wearing personal protective equipment.

Our top recommendation for killing and controlling termites is to perform a trench treatment with Supreme IT and then monitor termite activity with the help of Red Eye Termite Stations. Indoors, you can apply Fipro Foaming Aerosol in voids and crevices where you have seen an active infestation as well as treat infested wood with Tim-Bor Professional Insecticide.

Step 1 - Outdoor Trench Treatment with Supreme IT

termite treatment trenching

Supreme IT is a 7.9% bifenthrin insecticide labeled to control over 70 types of pests, including termites. Once applied, this product residual will leave no offensive odor and continue to control termites and prevent their infestations for up to 90 days after application. By digging a trench around your home, you can create a barrier that will keep termites from doing damage.

Begin by creating a 6 inch wide and 6 inch deep trench around the base of your home structure. Mix 5 fl. oz. of Supreme IT with 4.9 gallons of water in 5-gallon bucket to have a 5 gallon emulsion.  Pour the mixture into the trench and immediately fill it back with dirt until it is turned into mud. Repeat the process for each 10-foot section of your structure until the entire perimeter of your home is covered. 

Step 2 - Red Eye Monitoring Stations & Fipro

Red Eye Termites Station treatment

Red Eye Monitoring Stations help to monitor infestations to let you know that Termites are still present and active. Place the Red Eye stations 8 to 10 feet apart and 5 feet away from the structure. Monitoring the Red Eye is simple; There is a clear view window on the top of the station with a painted red eye on a wooden dowel. As termites come up through the bottom of the station, they will begin to feed on the wood. The red eye then drops letting you know that there is termite activity. 

When you discover termites, you can deal with them right then and there since the station as an injection port that you can use to insert Fipro Foaming Aerosol into the station. Fipro Foaming Aerosol is a non-repellent insecticide labeled to kill termites and has a foaming feature that can penetrate hard to treat areas where Termites can hide. The Fipro foam will travel through the station until it reaches the termite galleries providing a direct kill of termites.

Step 3 - Indoor Treatment with Fipro Foaming Aerosol

Fipro Foaming Aerosol termites application

For any indoor termites, use the same Fipro Foaming Aerosol. Simply apply the injection tube into cracks and crevices, slits, openings, and small holes in damaged wood. Hold the trigger for 5 to 10 seconds, release the trigger but keep the injection tube inside for another 5 seconds. This will allow the foam to dissipate into the termite galleries.

You can also drill 1/16" holes every 12 inches for 10 feet in sheetrock (or drywall) if termites are present in these areas. Finally close to holes with wall putty and you're finished.

Step 4 - Wood Treatment With Tim-Bor Professional Insecticide

Treating wood with Boracare

Largely for Drywood Termites, Tim-Bor Professional Insecticide is a termiticide, insecticide, and fungicide that is used to treat wood that termites are eating or creating galleries in.

Depending on the type of treatment you want to apply (preventative or remedial) application rates will vary. 

To figure out how much Tim-Bor Professional Insecticide you need, you will need to determine the size of the treatment area. Measure the linear feet of all exterior walls, interior walls, and areas you wish to treat. Most commonly, homes use 2x4, 2x6 or 2x8 studs on their walls.

Apply 5 gallons of liquid solution per 1,000 sq. ft. of wood surface area. Thoroughly wet wood surface area. 

Prevention

Continue to monitor with Red Eye Stations to prevent termites

After treatment has successfully removed the termite threat, you will want to make sure they don't return.

  • A Supreme IT treatment can protect your house from future infestations for 90 days. The Tim-Bor Professional Insecticide to all unfinished and wooden parts of your home can keep it protected for the life of wood as long as its not exposed to rain or flooding.
  • You can also continue to use Red Eye Monitoring Stations to monitor termite activity around your property before they reach your foundation. If the stations show termite activity treat them with Fipro. Use the application instructions on this guide to set up your Red Eye Monitoring Stations.
  • Other things you can do to prevent termites, include reducing moisture in your property. Fix leaky faucets, pipes, air conditioning units, or plumbing inside and outside your structure. Fix or repair weather stripping around windows and doors. Fix rain gutters that are not draining properly. Make sure your lawn is elevated and water does not collect in any area of the lawn. Fix roofs to prevent leaks and possible moisture inside the home.
  • Trim vegetation or ground cover away from the foundation. Do not allow mulch or soil to cover the foundation of your property. Pick up and discard wood debris (sticks, branches, logs, firewood) in your lawn. Remove tree stumps from the yard. Limit wood to soil contact by placing cinder blocks under wooden structures like outdoor furniture or tool sheds. And finally, fix ir replace your fences if they have taken too much moisture and are rotten. 

Key Takeaways

What are Termites?

  • Termites are a damaging threat to home structures due to their insatiable appetite for wood.
  • The most common termite species that invade homes include the Subterranean Termite, the Drywood Termite and the Dampwood termite.

How To Get Rid of Termites

  • Control termites in your home by performing a trench treatment with Supreme IT and applying Tim-Bor Professional Insecticide to infested wood. These products can also be used for long term prevention.

Preventing Termite Reinfestation

  • Prevent Termite reinfestations by monitoring with Red Eye Monitoring Stations and spraying with Fipro Foaming Aerosol.
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