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The Ultimate Guide to Rodent Control
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Termites can wreak havoc on your home or property if left unchecked. As tiny pests that eat wood, they often work in silence. Over the years, I’ve helped 100+ customers tackle everything from early signs to severe damage. Here’s how to kill termites with proven methods.
In this guide, you’ll learn the best way to get rid of termites using bait stations, liquid treatments, and simple prevention tips. You’ll also see when it’s time to hire a professional pest control expert.
Termite species differ in nest habits and feeding. Subterranean termites live in soil and build tunnels to reach wood. Drywood termite infestations happen above ground in furniture or rafters. Dampwood termites target rotting logs, and Formosan subterranean termites form massive colonies near ports.
Termites eat wood and paper, their main food sources, and can cause billions of dollars in damage annually. They work 24/7, so early action matters.
Termites live hidden, so you spot their signs before seeing insects. Look for mud tubes on concrete foundation walls and crawl space supports. These indicate termites in your home and require immediate action.
Tap wood trim with a screwdriver. If it sounds hollow or breaks, you may have hollow-sounding wood from termite tunnels. Discarded wings on windowsills or in light fixtures also signal a swarm.
Termites cause billions of dollars each year in damage by consuming wood for cellulose. Without treatment, they weaken beams and joists, leading to costly structural damage.
Early steps help prevent costly damage and protect your home or property before the rest of the colony spreads to new areas.
Subterranean termites live in soil and require contact with wood to stay moist. They build mud tubes—pencil-width tunnels—to forage without drying out. Termites without a moisture source cannot survive, so fix leaks promptly.
Drywood termite infestations occur in dry wood above ground. They don’t need soil contact and often live inside furniture. Look for kick-out holes and frass—tiny wood pellets. Local orange oil or fumigation is the only reliable cure.
Formosan subterranean termites form large colonies and spread fast. They swarm at night in late spring. Though rare here, they pose a growing threat near coastal areas and ports.
Dampwood termites attack moist wood in decaying logs or stumps. Termites rarely attack dry, well-maintained structures without moisture leaks. Keep wood and debris off the foundation and seal crawl space vents.
Spotting termite activity early lets you treat termite problems before they worsen.
Prevention is the best way to get rid of termites before they start chewing. Keep wood at least roughly 12 inches off the ground and avoid earth to wood contact. Move firewood and debris away from your concrete foundation.
Avoid mulch near foundations—moisture can attract termites. The University of Kentucky Entfact recommends good drainage and spacing wood away from soil to limit moisture and reduce entry points.
Without proper protection, termites could invade again. Seal cracks in your slab and downspouts, and maintain grade to slope away from your home.
One way to get rid of termites is with a baiting system like Sentricon. I’ve found it costs less and causes lower stress when used proactively. Registered technicians place bait stations around the foundation every 10–15 feet.
These stations contain termite baits made of cellulose and a slow-acting insecticide. They exploit termite foraging behavior to lure workers inside.
As termites forage, they carry bait back and share it with the rest of the colony. This disrupts molting and egg production, collapsing the queen’s role in weeks. The University of Maryland Extension notes bait systems require regular checks to stay effective.
Learn more in our Sentricon® FAQ’s: How Does Sentricon Work?
Liquid barrier treatment uses trenching and rodding to inject termiticide into the soil around the foundation. Licensed technicians apply non-repellent chemicals like Termidor or Premise to kill termites silently.
Trenching exposes the soil around your concrete foundation so termiticide can be placed. Rodding pushes chemicals into moist soil under slabs to form a continuous barrier.
Drilling through slabs or stoops lets us inject termiticide directly into the soil beneath. After treatment, holes are sealed to match your finish.
In active mud tubes, technicians use foam insecticide to treat termite galleries and kill foragers. Combining spot work with a barrier gives fast, effective control.
DIY options include diatomaceous earth, boric acid, and physical barriers like steel mesh. These can kill some termites but often fail to reach the queen or rest of the colony.
Some homeowners use orange oil to target drywood termite galleries. While it may kill exposed termites, it rarely eliminates a hidden colony.
Liquid barriers provide fast protection by killing the termites that cross the treated soil. Baiting systems take longer but use tiny amounts of pesticide and can eliminate the termite colony at its source. Both methods effectively treat active infestations.
If termites infest your home, hire a professional pest control expert without delay. Pros follow every detail on the pesticide label and can offer an estimate for treatment.
Professional treatment ensures thorough elimination of termites. Pros drill and trench soil around my house perimeter to place termiticide, ensuring no gaps. Only licensed technicians professional handle complex termite work.
A proper termite inspection covers the soil around the outside, crawl space, and interior wood. Registered technicians check for mud tubes, probe wood to inspect wood integrity, and use moisture meters in moist wood areas. They scan for termite problems and document findings.
For severe termite infestation, we combine bait stations with targeted liquid treatments. We treat areas of your house where activity is highest, inject rods into soil around the foundation, and hit mud tubes directly. Structural repairs follow termite removal if beams are damaged.
After treatment, a termite inspection each year catches new colonies before they grow. Our warranty program covers materials and labor for retreatment if termites return. Annual service helps prevent costly damage over decades.
The Mid-Atlantic sits in a moderate to heavy termite zone. According to Virginia Tech Cooperative Extension, Eastern subterranean termite swarms happen in spring. Homes near the Chesapeake Bay often have moist soil that attracts termites.
Building codes here require preventative measures like preconstruction soil treatments or borate wood treatments to help protect your property.
Over 57 years, our family-owned team has served over 100,000 homes in the DC area. One Alexandria client had Formosan subterranean termites infest their crawl space. We installed Sentricon bait stations and used Premise rods to kill the termites from spreading. Two months later, the infestation ended.
In Fredericksburg, a homeowner found discarded wings on a windowsill. Our inspector discovered a mature termite colony under their deck. We trenched around the foundation, treated with Termidor, then replaced damaged beams. They now rely on our annual termite inspection and have no new issues.
Our programs cover termites and other pests like ants and roaches in one plan, so you only call one team for all your concerns.
Termites can cost you thousands in structural damage if not stopped early. Whether you choose baiting systems like Sentricon or liquid treatments with Premise and Termidor, professional pest control delivers the best results. Call our team of registered technicians for professional help and an estimate for treatment at 703-683-2000 or email [email protected].
Using a liquid non-repellent termiticide like Termidor provides quick knockdown. It kills worker termites soon after they cross the treated barrier and collapses the colony in weeks.
DIY methods like diatomaceous earth or boric acid may kill some termites, but they rarely eliminate the queen. Hiring a professional is best for complete termite removal.
Vinegar is not effective for termite control. Termites avoid high acidity and it doesn’t penetrate their hidden galleries.
Permanent control relies on eliminating the colony and maintaining a barrier. With annual termite inspection and follow-up treatments, termites rarely return.
These signs of termite activity include mud tubes, hollow-sounding wood, discarded wings, blistered paint, and sagging wood floors. Any of these signs should trigger a termite inspection.
Once a year is enough for most homes. Annual checks help you catch activity early and prevent costly damage before it happens.
With five years of hands-on experience in the pest control industry, George Schulz is a registered technician with the Virginia Pest Management Association and a proud third-generation professional in a family business that’s been protecting homes for over 57 years. He manages and trains a team of service pros while also leading internal research efforts—recently spearheading a deep-dive review of thousands of documents on pest control materials to hand-pick the most kid and pet friendly, most effective solutions tailored specifically for homes in the DC metro area. Read his bio.
