Termite Eradication: Effective DIY Solutions and When to Call the Pros

Assessing the Extent of Your Termite Problem

Uncover the early warning signals of termite activity that often go unnoticed within your living space. These elusive pests can inflict extensive structural damage that's not immediately apparent. Regardless of the infestation's apparent severity, there could be significant harm lurking behind the scenes.

Level 1: Signs of swarmers

• Discarded wings: Flying termites, also known as swarmers, shed their wings after finding a suitable location for a new colony.

This is an obvious sign of possible termite infestation in the next weeks, or at least it means the existing termite colony nearby. Bear in mind that a termite infestation could be undergoing for years without being detected by a layman.  That’s why a routine inspection is needed to make sure spreading is under control.

Level 2: Termite activity

• Frass: Termite droppings, called frass, resemble small pellets and are a sign of an infestation.
• Mud tubes: Termites construct mud tubes to provide them with moisture while they travel between their nests and food sources.

If you observe the above two signs, immediate action should be taken to prevent huge damage to your house and furniture.

Level 3: Witness the destruction of house furniture or even structure

• Hollow-sounding wood: Tap on wooden surfaces to check for hollowness, which may indicate termite damage. This is a possible indication of a severe infestation of termites. To prevent a huge loss of your property value and protect the safety of your family, you should call pest control professionals as fast as you can.  

Should you detect any indicators of termite presence, prompt action is essential. Seeking out a top-rated termite inspection service is the definitive step to assessing the true scope of the infestation. Don't let the issue escalate.

To learn more about signs of termite infestation

3 Best DIY Termite Control Tips for Your Home

Wood Treatment

Borate

Apply Borate on Wood: Borate is a common termite repellent. Apply it on wood before priming and painting. For long-term protection, applied to wood with pressure treatment, borates soak deep into the material to provide long-lasting termiticidal benefits. This process should be done before the furniture is ready to use. You may find your building constructor to know more.

Aloe vera

According to Dr Deepak Pant , Scientists of the Environment Science Department of the Central University of Himachal Pradesh (CUHP) have maintained that aloe vera could solve termite problems in Shahpur area of Kangra district back in 2016. The trial indicates that growing aloe vera in their surroundings can act as a termite repellent.

Although many companies claim that aloe vera with water could be used as termite repellent, there is no scientific study to support this. If your termite problem is starting to grow significantly, an effective chemical pesticide with low environmental impact is still the best way to treat termites.

Bait Stations

Termite bait stations can be placed around the perimeter of your home to detect and control termite populations. But be careful of the location and termite species the chemicals target.

Location

The bait stations could be mainly two types: Underground bait stations and above-ground bait stations.

Underground stations are more applicable for termites not yet invaded the wood structures of your premises, while above-ground stations are very effective when the infestation has been relatively severe.

Underground stations need to be placed in the ground, sometimes in concrete. This requires drilling of the concrete which needs special attention and needs to be done with the supervision of professionals.

Termite species

There are mainly two species of termites that cause property damage in Hong Kong: Subterranean termites and Drywood termites.

Some pesticide and bait stations work especially for one kind and may not be effective for the other type. The main termite species in Hong Kong is Subterranean termites, sometimes called Underground termites.

To know more about the termite species and how to better recognize them.

Termiticide Barriers

Apply termiticides to the soil around your home to create a chemical barrier that can deter termites for years. People who apply this process should be well-trained and under the supervision of professionals. 

The Risk of Termite DIY Solutions

DIY termite control solutions that are promoted as a cheaper alternative to rid your termite problems have been growing rapidly in the market. Many homeowners that encountered termite problems for the first time, would attempt to use this method rather than engaging a termite control specialist.

However, there may be some risks involved when using these DIY kits.

When to Consider a Professional Termite Inspection

When a sign is found, there’s probably already an infestation going on. The best practice is to find a professional to conduct a site inspection once you find any signs of termites.

Effective termite control requires proper identification of the termite species and a comprehensive inspection to help determine the full extent of the infestation. By working closely with a termite specialist, you can develop a more effective and safe termite treatment plan for your home.

Engaging Professional Termite Pest Control Services

Rentokil Hong Kong will make the decision on the necessity of the on-site inspection, which is a full assessment on the current condition and to all accessible areas where potential termite problem might occur.

At Rentokil, our Specialised Termite Control Team is equipped with in-depth termite knowledge and local expertise to deploy the correct termite control recommendations.

A complimentary termite inspection will be included when you engage with us and this is a full assessment of the current condition and to all accessible areas where potential termite problems might occur.

We also provide a Site Risk Assessment to ensure that all treatments carried out in your premises are conducted safely.

Providing you with a complete peace of mind as regular checks and subsequent monitoring are conducted after the treatment to provide ongoing protection on your property.