Counting the Years: How Long Does a Termite Treatment Last?

August 26, 2019
in Pest Control
by Ashley Dando

Have you seen the skyscrapers that proud cathedral termites are creating across Australia’s remote Top End?

Known as Nasutitermes triodiae, this species creates monolithic structures up to eight metres tall, then leaves them along Western Australia, Northern Territory, and Queensland.

While they maybe some of the most awe-inspiring sights around, we don’t want to see them anywhere near our homes. Yet, it’s a reality that holds true for many residents.

According to research, termite attacks cost Australian residents more than $1 billion per year in damages. To safeguard your property, effective termite treatment is a must.

Yet, how long do these applications last? Is there any way to prolong its effects for as long as possible? Today, we’re delving into this topic to bring you the information you need.

Ready to learn more? Let’s get started!

Different Kinds of Termite Treatments

Whether you’re a commercial business owner or a private homeowner, the havoc that termites can wreak on your property is very real.

That’s why it’s important to invest in the best termite treatment possible. In general, there are two main kinds to understand. Let’s look at each in detail.

Liquid Soil Treatments

One of the oldest yet most effective options, liquid soil treatments have been around for decades, though they’ve changed shape in recent years.

If you choose this treatment, a pest control expert will apply a liquid termiticide/insecticide along the exterior perimeter of your home or along its foundation walls. In turn, this solution sinks into the ground upon contact, creating an odourless barrier around your home or building.

In the 1990s, most liquid treatments only served to repel the local termite population. That limited the number of termites that property owners could catch.

Now? Brands including Termidor and Fipronil are changing the game. These termiticides are almost impossible to detect and carry no scent, meaning that termites are able to forage at will around the solution, then carry it back to their colony. When they do, they affect the other members and dwindle the population size.

Known as the transfer effect, this approach often helps to curb and control infestation with only one application.

Expect your liquid soil treatment to last around five years. Keep in mind, however, that termites can still enter your home even while the solution is active. That’s why it’s important to stay diligent about your annual inspections!

Baiting Stations

Rather than allowing termites to move about your home’s exterior until they come into contact with your liquid soil treatment, you may be more interested in baiting them and eliminating them for good.

This is where baiting stations come in.

The bait itself consists of termite food made of cellulose, paper, and cardboard as well as one special ingredient: a slow-release chemical that kills termites in their tracks. If you install your baiting station in-ground, do so in the soil, placing a new one every three metres or so. Indoors, you can set one up on top of an active mud tube.

You’ll work with your local exterminator to monitor the baiting stations for activity. Once you identify movement inside, you’ll add a chemical known as Hexaflumyrin, which eliminates the termites’ exoskeleton. Unable to shed these skeletons to promote new growth, the termites will die and the colony will dissipate.

While this approach is effective, keep in mind that it might take longer to see the effects. It could be months before the termites find the stations and even longer until they take the bait back to their colony.

This means that the longevity of the system could vary. Expect for the colony to take around eight to 12 months before it begins active feeding on the bait. From there, the duration of time until the colony becomes eradicated depends on its size and participation.

In most cases, once the colony has found and shared the bait, it takes six weeks for it to kick in and kill all the termites off.

Factors That Affect Treatment

When it comes to applying a termite treatment, the approach may take longer or shorter to work on any given property.

Wondering how often you’ll need to call your exterminator for a second examination? The answer depends on a few factors.

First, make sure you partner with a pest management professional qualified and experienced in this industry, able to provide an accurate application every time. This step alone can save you time, money and headache down the road.

Next, take a look around your property. If you can’t access your foundation or exterior walls for elaborate landscaping, lawn ornaments or other obstructions, it may be difficult to apply the termiticide or set up a baiting station near your home.

Finally, the accuracy and duration of your treatment depend on the strength of the colony itself. The more powerful and plentiful the termites, the more difficulty you’ll encounter as you strive to eliminate them.

The Importance of Inspection and Retreatment

While it would be ideal to apply your termite treatment once and be in the clear for a few years, you will need to retreat at some point.

This is why it’s critical to keep an eye on your method of treatment, whether you invest in a liquid soil treatment or baiting station. Monitor and inspect it on a routine basis to make sure it’s performing as intended.

While your pest control expert can tell you the exact schedule to follow for your specific circumstance, expect to inspect your baiting stations between one and four times per year. During this time, you may find that you need to add new stations as required.

Why? Termites are intelligent creatures. It doesn’t take them long to realize what’s going on.

In time, they will both find and avoid the baiting stations altogether. Yet, that doesn’t mean they’ve packed up and left your property. More likely, they’re setting up camp in a different area of your yard that you didn’t cover.

As you monitor your stations and arrange regular professional inspections, you can spot these changes and take steps to correct them.

Why DIY Isn’t Wise

To save on the termite treatment cost, you might consider approaching your termite infestation with a DIY treatment.

Though you may save money at the onset, you’ll more than pay for this decision at the end of the day.

When you take matters into your own hands, you may not be as thorough and accurate with the treatment. Remember that even if a few inner members of the colony survive, they can mate and multiply at a rapid pace. When this happens, you may think that a colony has died off only to see it revive and resurface a few weeks or even months later.

When to Check for Termites

There’s no wrong time to check your home or office for signs of termites.

However, their activity is most prevalent during the spring months. At this time, you’ll often see them swarming near the ground, as they tend to thrive in warm and damp climates.

While your basement and light sources are common places to spot a swarm, a pest control professional knows the exact places to check. When you schedule an inspection from Safeguard Pest Control, for instance, experienced Termite Managers perform a detailed, 58-point analysis of your property, exceeding Australian standards for termite management.

Moreover, they won’t use crude or rudimentary tools to perform the inspection. Rather, they rely on innovative moisture, fibre-optic and thermal technology to ensure the analysis is as thorough as possible. They also use organic and natural pest control products that are safe for those who suffer from asthma and related allergies.

Upon conclusion, you’ll receive a comprehensive and reader-friendly report that details everything you need to know, including important next steps.

Schedule a Termite Treatment Today

Though Australia is linked with termites, that doesn’t mean that your property has to be.

Today, there are more termite treatment options and plans of attack than ever before. Whether you choose to apply a liquid soil treatment or a series of baiting stations, it’s important to trust this work to the experts.

When you do so, you can rest assured that your property is in the best hands and well on its way toward restoration and renewal from the inside out, free of the termites that plague your home and threaten your sanity.

Interested in learning more? We’d love to help.

We’re a team of pest control professionals in operation since 1989. We’re knowledgeable and passionate about this industry and we’d love to share our insights with you.