Among all kinds of insects, rodents, pests, and various other creatures that annoy and make homeowners feel uncomfortable, none is more dangerous than termites. Only termites can destroy and destroy the foundation and character of a house in just a few years. The first damage done by termites may not be seen for the first five years since the termites began to invade. By then, you may have been too late. Perhaps a home is the biggest investment you will ever make and the most valuable thing to you. Therefore, you must take appropriate steps to protect your home from termites, and to get rid of termites from your home immediately if your property has been invaded by termites.
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Part 1 of 4: Tracing Termites
Step 1. Look for signs of termites
You may not see direct evidence of termites, but that doesn't mean you can ignore them. Signs of termite infestation to look out for are sagging wooden floors, holes in wooden objects and hollow foundations. Or maybe you've actually seen termites with your own eyes.
- Bring a screwdriver and flashlight and head down to the basement, and inspect the foundation beams and passageways by tapping the wood to check for cavities. Then press the wood with a screwdriver to test its strength. If the wood looks brittle and breaks easily, your house may be under attack by termites.
- Also, be sure to pay attention to termite droppings when you carry out this inspection. Termites drop dirt in the form of granules that are wood-like or dark brown in color. If you find this droppings near rotting wood, this indicates the presence of termites.
- Termite nests can also be found on your property; Subterranean termites build a system of tunnels and tubes out of soil or mud, while wood termites build nests in wood.
Step 2. Determine the type of termites invading your home
There are two types of termites that are commonly found in homes: subterranean termites and wood termites. Subterranean termites can be found both in the soil around your house and in the wood in your home, while wood termites only nest in wood (not soil). Subterranean termites usually live in warm areas and on the coast, while wood termites can live anywhere.
- In addition to foundation wood, subterranean termites can also be found in wood and compost piles around your home.
- Subterranean termites usually do more damage to your home than wood termites, and may require a different method of extermination.
Part 2 of 4: Getting Rid of Termites Yourself
Step 1. Prepare a termite trap out of cardboard
Take a few pieces of cardboard, then wet it, and stack the cardboard in a place that termites usually visit. This is a very good trap because the termites will eat the cellulose (cardboard). Once the box has been infested by termites, take it to a safe area and burn the box. Repeat this action several times, if necessary.
Notes: this cardboard trap will not be able to completely solve the termite problem. This is just a quick way to get rid of hundreds of termites at a time. Combine this method with other methods for better results.
Step 2. Try the beneficial nematodes
Beneficial nematodes are species of small, internode worms that are natural parasites of garden pests, including termites. These nematodes will look for a host, such as termite larvae, and enter the larva's body, which makes the larvae die within 48 hours. Then the carcass of the host is used by nematodes to lay eggs.
- Beneficial nematodes can be purchased at garden supply stores or online. Currently, there are about five varieties of nematodes on the market.
- Nematodes should be used immediately after purchase if your soil temperature is over 16 °C. If not using immediately, store your nematodes in the refrigerator. Spread the nematodes early in the morning or after sunset, as ultraviolet light can harm the nematodes.
Step 3. Dry your wood in the sun
If the object infested by termites is not part of the house but is a piece of furniture or an object that can be removed from the house, dry it in the sun. Termites live in darkness, and will die if exposed to heat and sunlight. On sunny days, take your furniture outdoors for as long as possible, preferably 2 to 3 days.
This method works great when used in conjunction with the cardboard trap method for catching/removing termites
Step 4. Freeze the termites
If it's the rainy season and you can't dry your furniture in the sun, try another method, which is to freeze the furniture to kill termites. Place the wooden furniture (or piece of furniture) in the large freezer for 2 to 3 days. While this can be difficult if your furniture is large, this method is guaranteed to kill termites as long as your furniture can be placed in the freezer.
Part 3 of 4: Asking Professionals for Help
Step 1. Use boric acid
One of the most effective ways to get rid of termites is to use boric acid. And this is the main ingredient used in over-the-counter termite killers. Boric acid kills the nervous system of termites and dehydrates the termites.
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The best way to kill termites using boric acid is to feed it to the termites.
- Spray or coat the wood (or other cellulose material) with boric acid evenly.
- Place this boric acid bait in the garden near your house or in an open area where termites attack.
- Check the bait regularly and reapply with boric acid if necessary. You will find many termite carcasses around the bait.
Step 2. Purchase and use a termite product
This product can be purchased at a farm shop or building store. The use of this termite product is the first step you must take to get rid of this dangerous pest. You can use a bait product or a liquid termite killer product. Place the bait near the termite-infested area and spray termite-killing product in the same area.
Step 3. Use heat
Since heat can kill termites, you can heat your home to high temperatures to kill them. However, this must be done by a professional, because the equipment used is not sold/used freely. Call the pest control service in your area, and see if this method works in your home.
Step 4. Contact the experts
If you think termite infestation is outrageous, or the house is so significant that you're worried about damaging it if you do it yourself, contact a professional exterminator. When contacting the service, make sure that you:
- Called three different services to get a comparison.
- Look at the history of these services from the Department of Agriculture or Livestock before deciding to hire them.
- Get written approval from the service you hire stating that they can get rid of termites completely for two years. With this agreement, the service must come back to your home periodically, check for new termite infestations, and get rid of them. And that's all at no extra cost from you.
Step 5. Do it yourself professionally
In most places, you can legally buy products that are also used by professionals if you want to use them yourself at home. Termidor SC and Taurus SC are examples of liquid products that are smeared around the outside of the house. Both of these products can be purchased on the internet at a low price. For around a million rupiah, you can handle an average-sized house yourself and get the same results as a professional would if you were willing to put in the time and effort to do it.
Part 4 of 4: Preventing Future Termite Attacks
Step 1. Keep your house or apartment dry
Termites are naturally attracted to wet and humid environments because termites need water to survive. So, make sure you always increase your vigilance to keep your belongings dry so that termites don't come back into your home.
- Make sure you've fixed and drained leaks and puddles, both indoors and outdoors. If possible, dry or suck up unwanted water.
- Dirty and wet gutters are also ideal habitats for termites, so keep your gutters clean of debris for further prevention.
Step 2. Use a pest repellent
You can permanently get rid of termites by adding 0.1% permethrin (about 1 tablespoon in 3.78 liters of solution) to paint, wood polish, or wallpaper glue when building or painting a house. You can even add permethrin to the cement for the floor or the glue you use to attach wood floors. Since permethrin is a pesticide that is safe for humans, you don't have to worry about poisoning.
Step 3. Keep wood away from your home
It's clear that termites are wood eaters, so keep firewood and rotting tree trunks and branches away from your home. You will only invite termites if you keep putting lots of wood in your house. If the wood cannot be placed far from the house, cover the wood to keep it dry to reduce the interest of termites. If you need to use wood, grease it with permethrin as described above.
Step 4. Close the gaps in your home
By caulking and sealing windows, door sills and crevices around your home, you are taking an important first step to preventing termites from invading and living in your home. Cracks around electrical wires and pipes in your home can be an ideal way for termites to enter your home.
Covering doors, windows and patios with wire mesh is a must if you are concerned about termite infestation
Step 5. Perform regular termite removal
One of the most effective ways to keep your home safe from termite damage is to provide a protective barrier around the outside of your home. Luckily, this doesn't cost a fortune when you do it yourself with products that professionals like the Taurus SC or Termidor SC are used to. Both products contain the same percentage of the termiticide/insecticide Fipronil and are used in liquid form around the outside of your home. Fipronil has a very low toxicity and is very effective against ants and termites.
Tips
- Internet sources of information on pest control from vendors such as "Do It Yourself Pest Control" provide videos that show you how to get rid of termites in your home and do it like a pro. It's a good idea to watch the video first before buying any product so you can get an idea of what you need to do to effectively carry out this extermination project yourself.
- Termite damage can destroy your home, so if you are unsure of your ability to get rid of termites in your home, contact a professional exterminator as soon as possible.
- Spraying pesticides once a week and sealing any holes near termite-infested areas with boric acid is a useful measure.
