Termites are known to cause significant economic damage across homes and industrial buildings. They attack more than 600,000 homes in the US per year and also cause damages worth up to $5 billion annually. Termites consume the core of building materials and leave the structures weak and eventually cause them to crumble. 

This makes it imperative for homeowners to schedule regular structural checks and treatments to kill off these pests and prevent further infestation. Unfortunately, you may still need fumigation to take care of an infestation. Here is everything you need to know about precautionary measures for post-termite treatment.

termites and treatment

How Long Do Termites Live after Treatment?

Whether you are dealing with dry wood termite or subterranean termite, you need to understand that the treatment regiment’s effectiveness is impacted by the extent of the infestation. Termites are social insects that live in colonies and there is a likelihood of having more than a colony in the home.

Worker termites require moist soil to survive so treatment measures are usually targeted at hindering the transfer of moist soil into the structure and also keeping the humidity low. So, within a few days to weeks, the termites usually start dying depending on the treatment regimen.

However, once the worker termites die, you might notice a swarm even after the treatment. This is due to the way termite swarmers are built as their organs are adapted to be able to withstand dry conditions so they tend to survive the first few days of the treatment before they also die off. Also, the treatment might take some time before it reaches the queen termite so it might look like it is not effective but once the queen of the colony dies, the rest follows.

The severity of the infestations as well as the presence of multiple colonies could also delay the effectiveness of the treatment. Therefore, homes and buildings should be thoroughly checked to identify all existing colonies and ensure the treatment is applied to them all.

termites nest in florida

How Long Does Termite Treatment last?

Each termite treatment has a timeframe within which they are highly effective before they need to be reapplied. Most chemical and liquid termite sprays usually last for an average of 5 years if they are applied properly. They are very effective and also fast in action as termite death can be observed within a day or two. Once all infestations have been eliminated and the home is fully sprayed as preventive measures, they last for up to five years or more but routine annual checks should be done to be on the safe side.

On the other hand, termite bait stations are effective for up to a year so they have to be maintained and reset annually. Once the poisonous baits are placed in strategic locations around the home, you wait until the termites feed on the poison and return to their colonies where they infect other members and start dying. This is only effective for about a year as they run low quicker and needs to be replenished regularly to keep them effective. It could take months before the termites locate the bait and carry the poisonous food back to their colonies to infect others. The longevity of termite treatments usually depends on the type of termite and level of infestation.

termites in wood

Can Termites Come Back After Treatment?

Termites are stubborn insects and one of the hardest to control as they find their way into homes as long as they detect a food source. Therefore, termite treatments might not provide a permanent solution to the problem but if preventive barriers are installed after the treatment, re-entry is made impossible for them.

They also replicate at a fast rate so even if they are killed by the treatment, the few that get missed can reproduce in no time. However, with dry wood termites, re-entry is not likely to happen if the treatment is carried out appropriately. Also, late treatment and a high degree of damage could make a treated home or building more vulnerable to another attack as the structures have already been made light and weak.

Therefore, the treatment has to be a continuous process with regular checks and maintenance that help detect new colonies early so they can be dealt with. Installing preventive chemical barriers that will be effective and long-lasting helps in preventing further termite infestation after treatment. Also, hiring a professional and experienced termite control company as opposed to doing it yourself goes a long way in ensuring these insects do not come back to your property.

Returning Home after Termite Fumigation: What to Expect?

Total termite fumigation usually requires an evacuation of the property to keep both you and your family safe from the chemicals and also allow the fumigation company to treat the whole home thoroughly. Once you can return home safely, there are certain things to expect:

  •         You may see other pests: do not be caught unawares when you see other pests in the home after you return. These pests snuck into the home to feed on the dead termite colonies left after the treatment. You can prevent this by pre-treating the home before leaving or going for a complete home pest control treatment.
  •         You might see a few termites: after the treatment, the termite swarm might take longer to die but rest assured that they will eventually die off. Also, termite eggs left behind might not be killed by the treatment but even if they hatch, they will not survive since there’s no colony left to support them.
  •         You might notice termite droppings around the home or on windowsills: this is normal and you do not have to worry. These droppings are from the tunnels created by the termites and are pushed out when doors and windows are slammed. You can get rid of them by wiping them or painting the walls and ceilings with a new paint coat.
  •         You might need to treat the surroundings: to prevent a further infestation from subterranean termites and those living in surrounding trees, it is important to have the whole property treated.

Termite Fumigation Experts In Florida

Termite treatment is very important as these insects cause huge economic and structural damages to properties. Understanding the process and post-treatment measures is very important to make the treatment regimen long-lasting while preventing further infestation.