Below you can find our top 5 best termite killers:
1. Best Liquid Treatment – Termidor
Termidor is hands down the best liquid termiticides available on the market.
It’s been tested in countless studies and has consistently delivered between 98% and 100% termite mortality rates within just 90 days.
This result is unparalleled by any other termiticides.
When used in soil, Termidor is long-lasting and can protect against termites for over ten years.
Keep in mind, Termidor is non-repellent.
That means termites will still enter the soil after treatment but will die once they come in contact with Termidor.
One downside of Termidor is that it can contaminate water, so you cannot use it if you live near ponds, streams, and drainage systems.
Also, while Termidor has been marked safe for humans and pets by the Environmental Protection Agency, it’s toxic for and animals if ingested.
How to Apply Liquid Treatment
To use Termidor as a soil treatment, dig six by six inch deep trench around your property.
Apply 4 gallons of Termidor per 10 linear feet to the trench.
If you have a crawlspace, make sure you dig a trench on both sides of the foundation wall.
Also, apply 2 gallons of Termidor around any pillars inside your crawlspace.
Termidor Pro’s and Con’s
Pro’s
High Mortality Rate
Fast Acting – kills on contact.
Non-Repellent – still attracts termites
Long Lasting – active for 10 years.
Con’s
Can contaminate nearby bodies of water.
Can not be used near edible plants.
Expensive compared to other soil treatment chemicals.
Limited Effectiveness Against Other Pests.
2. Best Bait Station – Sentricone Bait Station
Sentricon is the best bait station available on the market.
It’s been proven to be effective by multiple independent research studies.
Field evaluations show that Sentricon can eliminate Subterranean and Formosan termite activity within 3 to 6 months.
Sentricon uses pre-packaged baits, known as cartridges.
Bait cartridges make it easy to remove and replenish the bait inside the station.
Other than cartridges, you can fill the bait station with cellulose without termiticide to detect termites or for the prebaiting phase.
How To Apply Bait Stations
1. Gather The Materials Needed
To install termite bait stations, you’ll need:
- Shovel or a post hole digger. Some bait stations will come with a digging tool.
- Bait stations.
- Cellulose. This is typically wood shaving or cardboard.
- Cartridges
2. Map Out Installation Spots
Mark the spots around your home where you want to bury the baits.
The goal is to surround the perimeter of your home with baits 10 to 15 feet apart.
Installing the bait stations at fixed intervals increases the chance of termites finding them.
Place additional bait in other suspect areas such as around moist areas and near previous termite damage.
If your home has been treated with another termiticide, you’ll want to place the baits about 1-2 feet away from the foundation.
Bait stations are typically placed away from the foundation to avoid contamination.
3. Dig Holes on Your Marked Spots
Using a shovel or a digging tool, dig holes to bury the bait station.
Make sure to leave the lid accessible on the ground’s surface.
Having easy access to the lid is vital so you can monitor and replenish the bait.
4. Bury The Bait Station
Bury the stations into the holes.
Make sure that the baits are not loose into the ground. If the holes are too big, add some soil.
5. Pre-Baiting
Don’t add termiticide right away.
First, you’ll want to establish the eating habits for the termites.
This process is called pre-baiting.
Pre-baiting allows the scout termite to find and feed on the bait safely.
The scout termite will then leave a scent trail for the worker termites to follow and feed on the bait.
Once you have a feeding cycle between the scout and worker termites, you can proceed to replace the wood with a toxic substance.
The worker termites will then feed on the bait and bring the poison to the entire colony.
Sentricone Pro’s and Con’s
Pro’s
Easy to Install.
Environmentally friendly.
Cartridges make it easy to reapply bait.
Compact and subtle.
Extensive Studies on the effectiveness.
Con’s
Expensive compared to competition.
Requires continuous monitoring.
Slow Acting and termites continue doing damage.
Termites don’t always find bait.
3. Best for Localized Treatment – Termidor Foam
Termidor foam is one of the best products for localized foam treatment in the market.
It has high concentrations of Fipronil, which is fatal to termites upon contact.
Results can be expected within 24 to 48 hours.
Fipronil is highly effective both as a termite treatment and prevention.
Other than termites, Fipronil works on various pests, including ants, cockroaches, rootworms, and beetles.
You can apply Termidor foam to treat both termite galleries and nest.
Termidor foam has an expansion ratio of 30:1.
That means in 5 seconds, 1 oz. of a Termidor can expand at approximately 1 quart of foam.
How to Apply Localized Foam Treatment
To apply foam treatment, locate areas that have termite activity inside the wood.
Termites can be anywhere, including sidings, walls, and furniture.
Once you locate the termites, drill into the wood or wall until you feel less resistance.
This hollow area is where the termite gallery is.
To treat wood, drill holes every 6-12 inches across the entire wood. Once done, inject the foam spray into the holes for 2-4 seconds.
If you suspect termites inside your walls, drill into the wall about 18 inches above the floor. Inject for around 6-8 seconds since voids on the wall tend to be much larger.
If you have a thin nozzle, make sure to point the foam in all directions to coat the entire wall.
Termidor Foam Pro’s and Con’s
Pro’s
High Mortality rate.
Easy to use with built in injection tip.
Expansion allow for easy application in otherwise unreachable areas.
Fast Acting – kills on contact and active for 8 weeks.
Con’s
Expensive compared to competition.
Does not prevent termites.
Only active for 8 week.s
Can not be used near electrical wires.
Can be messy.
4. Best Wood Treatment – Bora-Care
Bora-Care is one of the most effective products used to prevent and control termite infestations.
It can reduce termite wood consumption by 90%. And it has a 94% termite mortality rate on termites.
Boracare is excellent because it seeps deep into the wood when applied.
You can apply directly on any wood that has no paint or sealants.
For painted or sealed wood, the best way to apply Bora-Care is via injection.
Once absorbed, Boracare will stay on the wood for its lifetime as long as it is sealed and coated.
To use BORA-CARE, dilute five gallons of water for every one gallon BORA-CARE.
Next, transfer the solution to a pressurized spray bottle and spray it to any exposed wood.
Some common areas where you might have unexposed are the attic, roof, basement, porches, deck, shingles, or siding.
To apply bora-care to painted wood, drill and inject the solution into the wood.
For the best results, drill holes every 6 to 8 inches and inject for 2-5 seconds in each hole.
When using Bora-care, always wear safety equipment, including gloves, masks, long clothing, and goggles.
Bora-Care Pro’s and Con’s
Pro’s
Prevent Termites.
Works on unfinished and finished wood.
Effective for lifetime of wood.
Also prevents rotting and wood.
Con’s
Can not be used on plants or trees.
Time-consuming to apply.
Can not be used in soil.
Only effective for treating wood.
5. Best Termite Dust – Delta Dust
Boric acid or Borax is another excellent way to eliminate termites.
A study found boric acid can eliminate 70% and 89% of termites within ten days.
And in this study, powdered boric acid was shown to have a 100% mortality rate on termites after 15 days.
Powder boric acid is highly effective because it instills horizontal transfers.
Once the dust covers the termites, they return to the colony and infect the rest of the population.
One disadvantage of boric acid powder is that it’s not effective on moist wood.
It is only effective on Dryood and Subterranean termites located in dry wood.
How to Apply Termite Dust
To use boric acid powder, you’ll first need to find locations of termite activity.
Next, drill into wood until you hit a hollow area. That’s where the termite galleries will be located.
When using boric acid powder, I recommend you use a dusting bulb.
A dust bulb will allow you to get into small and deep holes.
Using 3-4 pumps should be enough to fill an entire gallery of termites.
Remember to avoid using it in moist or damp wood because this will reduce its effectiveness greatly.
Pro’s and Con’s of Termite Dust
Pro’s
Transfer Effect delivers high mortality.
Easy to use and apply.
Limited tools needed.
Inexpensive.
Con’s
Slow acting.
Not effective on moist wood.
Best for localized treatments.
Limited effectiveness against dampwood and subterranean termites.
How To Prevent Termites?
To prevent termites, make sure you:
- Properly Store your Firewood
Formosan termites thrive on firewood.
While they live in the soil, their workers will penetrate and feed into firewood.
Do not stack firewood against your house. Doing so will give termites an easy way to expand their feeding into your home.
Make sure to keep them away from your home and at least a few inches off the ground.
- Install Bug Screens
Install bug screens over attic vents to prevent entry.
- Ventilate Properly
Termites flourish in damp and moist areas.
Ventilate your home to prevent them from becoming too humid.
- Replace All Damaged or Rotting Wood.
Formosan termites love damaged or rotting wood because they are easy to penetrate and eat.
Keep them away, remove all damaged or rotting wood, and replace them with wood that’s treated with pesticides.
- Maintain Landscape
Remove all plants and mulch away from the foundation of your home.
- Apply Fresh Paint
Chipped Paint and small holes allow termites to penetrate wood easily, so make sure to seal them.
- Avoid Using Mulch
Mulch provides termites with the perfect shelter and source of food.
It traps moisture and insulates against harsh temperatures. It’s also often made of cellulose, which termites need to survive.
To keep termites away, minimize the use of wood mulch in your home.
Or use mulch that naturally repels termites such as redwood, melaleuca, cypress, and cedar mulch to prevent attracting termite.
Oher alternative you can use is rock, gravel, pebbles, rubber, and pine needles.
Finally, make sure you keep mulch away from your wood siding, door, window framing, and foundation.
- Eliminate Excess Moisture
To prevent termites, make sure to keep moisture away from your home with proper drainage systems.
- Eliminate Soil to Wood contact
Remove any soil-to-wood contact in your home. Make sure your wood sidings, fences, decks, doors, and window framing are not touching the soil.
Resource: 16 Termite Prevention Tips
Signs You Have Termite Infestation
Unfortunately, there are no standard devices that make it easy to detect termites.
The most common way to inspect for termites is to look for visual signs.
Here are some that you should watch out for:
- Flying Termites Or Swarmers
- Discarded Termite Wings
- Dead Alates
- Mud Tubes
- Pallets/ Frass
- Patches
- Hollow Wood
- Noises In Your Walls
- Bubbling Paint
- Damaged Wood
- Hard To Open Doors And Windows
- Termite Cement
Resource: Top 13 Signs You Have Termites
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What Do Professionals Use To Kill Termites?
The products listed above are the most effective products and widely used by termite professionals.
- Soil Treatment – Termidor
- Foam Injection – Termidor Foam or Bayer Premise Foam Termiticide
- Bait Stations – Sentricone Bait Station
- Wood Treatment – Bora-Care
What Are Natural Ways To Kill Termites?
Some of the most effective natural ways to kill termites are:
1. Beneficial Nematodes
2. Wood Vinegar
3. Borates / Boric Acid
4. Essential Oils
5. Diatomaceous Earth
6. Heat Treatment
7. Cold Treatment
8. Beauveria Bassiana
9. Termite Barrier
10. Petroleum jelly
Resource: 15 Ways to Kill Termites Naturally
What is The Most Effective Way To Treat Termites?
The most effective way to kill a termite will depend on the type of termite and level of infestation.
The most effective way to eliminate Subterranean termite infestation is soil treatment combined with spot treatment indoors.
For Drywood termites, the most effective way to eliminate infestation is either fumigation or heat treatment.
For Dampwood Termites localized spot treatment combined with wood replacement is often best.
Some preventative actions such as reducing moisture and replace, eliminating wood to soil contact, and replacing rotting wood is also recommended.
What Are the Types of Termites?
There are three main types of termites found in the US: Subterranean, Drywood, and Dampwood.
Under these main types are dozens of termite species subtypes. Each one is unique in their biology, behavior, and economic impact.
Subterranean termites
Subterranean termites live in soil but will enter homes to feed on anything that has cellulose, including the foundation, walls, roof, etc.
They easily penetrate wood that’s in direct contact with the ground.
Drywood termites
Drywood termites nest in wood. You’ll often see them in dead trees, walls, or wooden floors and furniture.
Dampwood Termites
Dampwood Termites live in wood with high moisture content.
As such, they are known to infest damp and rotting wood.
You’ll generally find them fence posts sheds, eaves decks, porch, and outdoor furniture.
When Should I Seek Professional Help for Termites?
Getting a professional termite inspection is always a good idea if you suspect you have a termite infestation.
Professional help is also a must if you have a large infestation.
If you see flying termites and noticeable termite damage in your home, contacting a pest control company for treatment is highly recommended.