How to Eliminate Termites for Good—and Keep Them from Coming Back

Termites play an important role in nature, breaking down wood and returning nutrients to the soil. But they can pose serious issues to homeowners and irreparable damage to structures.

If you suspect termite activity, it’s important to act quickly to minimize damage to your home. Here, our pest control experts break down how to permanently eliminate termites, along with how to prevent repeat invasions.

Signs of a Termite Problem

Some signs of termite activity are obvious, while others depend on the species invading your home. Trent Frazer, lead entomologist and senior director of quality assurance at Aptive Pest Control, says to look for these common signs of a termite problem.  

• Mud tubes: These pencil-sized tunnels are made of soil and termite saliva, and can often be found on walls or foundations.
• Discarded wings: You may find small, translucent wings left behind by swarmers near windows, doors, or light sources.
• Hollow or blistered wood: The wood may sound hollow when tapped or have bubbled and/or blistered surfaces due to internal feeding.
• Foundation cracks: Small cracks can serve as termite entry points, and may often be found with mud tubes nearby.
• Damaged or sagging floors, walls, or ceilings: Spongy or uneven surfaces can be caused by structural weakening from internal damage.

Causes of a Termite Infestation

Termites are always on the hunt for food (which consists of wood and other cellulose materials) along with moisture. "Infestations usually start when a colony of subterranean termites living in the soil finds a way into your home through cracks in the foundation, gaps around pipes, or wood-to-soil contact," explains Jeremy Logsdon, co-owner of Preventive Pest Control in Houston, Texas.

"Drywood termites can be brought in through infested furniture or can fly in directly," he adds. "Any kind of moisture problem—leaky pipes, poor drainage, or damp crawl spaces—makes your home super attractive to them."

Methods of Eliminating a Termite Infestation

Each situation and termite service is unique, says Damian Marcello, associate certified entomologist at Fox Pest Control. “No two structures are the same, and what is best for one may not be for the other,” he says. 

However, here’s a look at the most common treatments for termite infestations. 

Heat Treatments

Heat treatments are a non-chemical option in which professionals raise the temperature in infested areas to levels that kill termites. “This method avoids using insecticides and can be useful for localized infestations,” McKendall says, “but it may not reach termites hidden deep within walls.”

Chemical Insecticides 

Chemical insecticides are among the most common methods, particularly for treating subterranean termite infestations, says Greg McKendall, CEO at Kilter Termite and Pest Control. 

“Liquid termiticides are applied to the soil around a building’s foundation to create a protective barrier that kills or repels termites as they attempt to enter,” he explains. “Termiticide foams or sprays can also be injected into walls or wood to target known infestations.”

Baiting Systems

Baiting systems are designed to exploit the termites' natural need to forage. Bait stations are placed around a structure in a manner that, at some point, a foraging worker will find the bait, and then the entire colony will begin to feed from it.

“Bait stations can also be installed inside a structure over active termite mud tubes to allow quicker access to and consumption of the bait,” Marcello explains. “Baiting systems are typically less intrusive when it comes to the customer’s termite treatment experience and only need to be serviced on a quarterly or annual basis.”

Professional Fumigation

Professional fumigation is often used for extensive or hard-to-reach infestations, especially in large homes or structures. In this process, the entire building is tented and filled with a gas that penetrates every part of the structure, killing termites throughout.

While highly effective, McKendall warns that fumigation requires the home to be vacated for several days and is best suited for severe dry wood termite problems.

Preventative Maintenance

If you are in a termite-prone area, Marcello says there is no true economical way to termite-proof a home. “You can, however, make it as inhospitable for them as possible,” he says.

There are several effective ways to prevent a termite infestation, and McKendall recommends these proactive steps to save you from costly damage in the long run.

• Reduce moisture around your home. This is one of the most important measures, and includes fixing leaky pipes, cleaning gutters, and ensuring proper drainage away from the foundation.
• Eliminate direct wood-to-soil contact. Keep the wooden parts of your home at least six inches above the ground. Use concrete or metal supports for decks and fences to deter termites from gaining easy access. Additionally, store firewood, mulch, and lumber away from your house and off the ground, as these materials can attract termites. You might also consider removing any tree stumps from your yard. 
• Maintain your landscaping. Ensure tree limbs and shrubs do not touch your home.
• Seal up entry points. Seal cracks in your foundation and around utility lines to block entry points. Install screens on vents and crawl space openings to add an extra layer of protection. Also, keep the exterior of your home painted to reduce the number of small gaps termites use to get started.
• Consider chemical preventatives. Preventive treatments, such as liquid termiticides or bait systems around your home, can provide an added layer of protection. Apply a sodium borate treatment to exposed framing in the attic, garage, and substructure, and use termite-resistant building materials treated with borates when adding on or remodeling. 

What to Avoid

When you have an active and widespread termite infestation, experts agree that avoiding home remedies is best. “You might find DIY remedies that use vinegar, lemon juice, or essential oils to repel termites, but these are unreliable long-term solutions and ineffective against a large-scale infestation,” McKendall warns. “Time spent on home remedies is ultimately time given to the termites to chew up your home.”

Natural remedies found online might kill a few visible termites, Logsdon explains, but they won't eliminate the colony hiding deep within your home or underground. “Also, be wary of anyone promising a ‘one-and-done’ quick fix without a thorough inspection,” he says.

When to Call in a Professional

If you live in an area with termite infestations, McKendall says it’s very likely that you will have to deal with them on an ongoing basis for the best long-term care of your home.

“After treatment, companies typically provide an annual renewal service that includes a complete inspection and treatment of any infestations,” he says. “This will keep your home safe from the expensive damage termites can cause.”