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Localized Insecticide
If you have an infestation that is not yet widespread, a localized insecticide can work. Dry wood termite nests consist of a network of tunnels called galleries. The tunnels cut across the wood’s grain which is what makes them so destructive. This pattern weakens the wood structure to the point of collapse. A localized insecticide takes advantage of this characteristic. Your termite professional will drill into the wood to find an entry point into the tunnels. Then, they begin injecting an insecticide in the wood. This can either be in a liquid, a foam, or an aerosol form. They keep forcing the insecticide into the wood until it fills up all the galleries. If the treatment is effective, it kills all the termites, including the queen.
Microwave Treatments
You may wish to avoid using chemical insecticides in your home. Back in the day, you didn’t have much choice. Non-chemical options weren’t very effective. Now, however, you can opt for microwave treatments. Microwave treatments can be very effective against dry wood termites. This method is a localized method just like the insecticide. It’s effectiveness, therefore, depends on the expertise of your pest control professional. To get started, a professional will need to determine where the colonies are. Then they can point a microwave emitter at the spot and inundate it with microwave radiation. Termites, like most creatures, are made up mostly of water. This radiation kills the termites by heating up the liquid in their bodies. Once they get hot enough, it causes them to explode. If there happen to be a few running around when you turn on the emitter, you’ll see them pop. Folks who have been combating termites for a while report a satisfying feeling when they pop.
Cold Treatments
You can also choose a cold treatment for termite infestations. These are similar to the insecticide method we mentioned earlier. The professional will drill into your wood until finding a termite gallery. In this case, they won’t apply a chemical insecticide. Instead, they will inject liquid nitrogen into the wood. This lowers the temperature to a point that the termites cannot survive. This is usually around or below 20 degrees Fahrenheit. This is a great treatment to use when you don’t like the idea of injecting chemicals into your house. Liquid nitrogen doesn’t have the same environmental or health concerns as chemical insecticides.
Heat Treatments
But what do you do if your infestation is already widespread? In that case, these localized treatments may not be enough to combat the problem. It may be difficult to get all the colonies in one swoop, giving the termites time to recoup. If you have a large-scale infestation there is probably already a lot of damage. You don’t want to give them a chance to cause more havoc. In these cases, an all-over extreme heat treatment can be helpful. The idea is to heat the wood up to a temperature that the termites cannot survive. Professionals will set up heaters in your home. The aim is to get the temperature inside the wood up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. This means the air temperature often reaches up to 140 degrees! The termites are effectively roasted alive through this technique.
Gas Fumigation
Another option for a very widespread infestation of termites is gas fumigation. This is a very thorough method of wiping out termites. Gas fumigation guarantees complete eradication of these pesky insects. Gas fumigation is an extreme method. You’ll want to have professionals determine the scope of your problem. Other, more localized methods may be enough if your problem isn’t that widespread. Once the professionals have determined that your problem warrants this method, they’ll proceed. Before they begin, they remove all objects that the gas could have a negative effect on. The next step is to set up a giant fumigation tent around the entire house. Then they start filling the tent up with gas.
As you can imagine, the gas is able to thoroughly penetrate every little corner of your home. It should make its way into all the termite galleries and nests and wipe out everything. The eggs, the adults, and the most important–the queens. This method will destroy all termites already living in your home. It won’t keep them from coming back eventually, though. If you live in a high-risk area you might want to consider setting up some prevention methods. This will keep any further infestations from getting so bad in the future.
Eliminate Your Dry Wood Termite Problem
Don’t worry if you have an extensive dry wood termite problem. There are plenty of effective methods to kill them and keep them from destroying your home. You should always take steps to get rid of them as soon as you realize there is a problem. This is the best way to avoid extensive, and costly, property damage. Not sure if you have a problem? We are experts in pest control, so you don’t have to be. Feel free to contact us if you suspect a dry wood termite infestation. We can help you determine the extent of your problem. We can also help you determine the best way to deal with it.
