How to Get Rid of Termites

Serving Pompano Beach, Boynton Beach, and surrounding areas

“What’s the best way to eliminate termites?” If this is the first question that runs through your mind after discovering mysterious wood damage, you’re not alone.

Homeowners who spot these warning signs invariably want to know how to get rid of termites, and the good news is that there are several options:

• DIY termite treatment: Store-bought treatments can be effective, but not always. The important thing is to monitor your progress.
• Professional termite treatment: Professional termite exterminators use cutting-edge bait stations and granular treatments for fast and hassle-free results.
• Termite tenting treatment: For large, established termite infestations, termite tent treatment (also known as fumigation) may be your best and fastest option.
• Proactive termite prevention: Once the active termite infestation has been eliminated, prevention should become your top priority.

What’s the Cheapest Way to Get Rid of Termites in Your House?

While DIY termite treatment might initially appear to be the most budget-friendly option — simply grab some bait stations and spray, right? — think again. DIY termite control can indeed be the cheapest route, but it also carries the highest risk.

Eradicating a well-established infestation is rarely straightforward. Their nests can be concealed in hidden, hard-to-reach spots. You might believe you’ve solved the problem, only for it to persist deep within your home’s structure, quietly doing long-term damage. In these scenarios, the long-term cost of DIY termite control can far exceed the investment in professional termite control at the very first sign of trouble.

Pros of DIY Termite Control

• Lower Initial Cost: Buying DIY products from a store is cheaper upfront than hiring a professional service.
• Immediate Action: You can start treatment the same day you find a problem without waiting for an appointment.

Cons of DIY Termite Control

• Massive Risk of Failure: DIY products are weaker and often just repel termites, causing them to find a new entry point. You are unlikely to eliminate the hidden, underground colony and queen.
• Hidden Damage: A failed attempt gives you a false sense of security while termites continue to destroy your home’s structure silently. This damage is not covered by homeowners’ insurance.
• Safety Hazards: You are handling potent insecticides without professional training or equipment, posing a risk to yourself, your family, your pets, and the environment.

What’s the Fastest Way to Get Rid of Termites?

If you need a termite infestation gone quickly, nothing beats calling a professional termite exterminator. At Petri Pest Control Services, Inc., our termite control experts are trained to pinpoint termite infestations anywhere and choose the right treatments for fast and effective results.

For many infestations, we employ a sophisticated blend of cutting-edge termite bait stations designed to eradicate the colony from within, alongside highly potent granular treatments that deliver immediate, targeted relief. In cases of severe infestation, we might also suggest fumigation as a powerful solution.

Pros of Professional Termite Extermination

• Effectiveness and Expertise: Professionals use stronger, more effective products and have the training to locate and eliminate the entire colony, not just the termites you see.
• The Best Tools: We use specialized equipment and advanced Sentricon baiting stations to implement control and prevention strategies that are impossible to replicate with DIY methods.
• Safety: Technicians are licensed and trained to handle potent termiticides safely, minimizing risk to your family, pets, and the environment.

Cons of Professional Termite Extermination

• Upfront Expense: Professional treatment is an investment in your home’s health, so it’s something to budget for.
• A Day of Work at Your Home: The application process is thorough and typically requires technicians to work around your foundation for a few hours.
• Choosing Your Partner: You’ll want to spend a little time finding a reputable company you feel comfortable with.

What’s the Most Powerful Way to Get Rid of Termites in Your Home?

For certain types of infestations, especially large colonies of drywood termites that live deep inside the wood of your home, the most powerful and comprehensive solution is tented fumigation.

Often called “tenting,” this process involves carefully enclosing the entire structure. A fumigant gas is then introduced, which penetrates every part of your home — including inside walls, attics, and structural timbers. This unmatched reach ensures that no termite can escape, eliminating the entire infestation at once. While it’s a significant undertaking, its thoroughness is why it’s the go-to solution for the most challenging and widespread termite problems.

Pros of Tented Termite Fumigation

• Comprehensive: It’s a whole-structure solution, reaching every possible termite hiding spot within your home.
• Highly Effective: Considered the gold standard for complete elimination of drywood termite infestations. The issue is typically resolved in a single treatment.
• Peace of Mind: Provides a high degree of confidence that the infestation has been fully eradicated.

Cons of Tented Termite Fumigation

• A Short Staycation: You and your pets will need to arrange to be away from home for a couple of days.
• Some Preparation is Needed: Requires some planning, like bagging up food items and removing certain plants. Your gas service will be temporarily turned off and needs to be relit by the utility company afterward.
• Upfront Cost: As a major treatment, it’s an investment you’ll want to budget for accordingly.

What’s the Best Way to Get Rid of Termites Long-Term?

Once an active termite problem is solved, the job isn’t quite done. The best long-term strategy is to shift your focus to termite prevention, ensuring they don’t come back.

While professional prevention systems offer a powerful layer of defense, the foundation of any good long-term plan starts with simple, no-cost practices you can do yourself. Termites are always searching for food, moisture, and shelter. The goal of homeowner prevention is to make your property as unwelcoming as possible by denying them these resources. Simple habits, like managing moisture near your foundation and keeping potential food sources like firewood stacked away from the house, can make a huge difference.

Pros of Termite Prevention

• No Cost: These methods only cost your time and effort, not your money.
• You’re in Control: You decide what gets done and when, with no need for appointments or contracts.
• Reduces Risk: Making your home less attractive to termites is a powerful first line of defense. This approach is entirely about managing your home’s environment, not applying chemicals.

Cons of Termite Prevention

• Requires Constant Diligence: It’s not a one-time fix; it requires ongoing effort to maintain a termite-unfriendly environment.
• Not a Guaranteed Barrier: While helpful, these practices don’t create a shield. A determined colony can still find a way in.
• Can Create False Security: It’s possible to do everything right and still get termites due to factors beyond your control.

Termite Prevention Tips

• Do routine termite inspections. Walk around your house and yard to look for any observable changes. Teach yourself how to recognize termite warning signs. If you’re not sure, you can always call us for a professional termite inspection.
• Keep wood piles away from your home.
• Remove mulch and other wood or paper products from the perimeter of your foundation.
• Seal all cracks and holes around the outside of your home.
• Make sure there is no excess moisture around the foundation of your home.
• Inspect all wood brought into your home for signs of termites.

For more tips, be sure to check out our article on termite prevention in Florida.

What’s the Best Type of Professional Termite Treatment for Your Home?

Different types of termites call for different approaches. In Florida, subterranean and drywood termites are the most common, and each requires a unique treatment strategy. Professional exterminators often use a combination of methods to ensure thorough elimination.

Here are some of the most widely used termite treatments:

• Fumigation
• Barriers
• Soil Treatments
• Baiting Stations
• Wood Treatments

For more information, be sure to check out our article on comparing termite fumigation with no-tent termite treatments.

Should You Try DIY Termite Control?

There are many over-the-counter options for termite control, but their effectiveness is limited. Homeowners often try sprays, bait traps, or natural mixtures like vinegar or citrus-based solutions.

While these may temporarily reduce the number of visible termites, they rarely address the entire infestation. Larger, deeply rooted colonies typically require professional attention to be fully eliminated.

Trust Petri Pest Control Services, Inc. to Get Rid of Termites in Pompano Beach

Termites won’t stop by themselves; you need to stop them. So what’s the right treatment for your home? That depends on the size and type of infestation, which is why a professional inspection is crucial.

At Petri Pest Control, our termite control specialists know how to find the hidden threats and apply treatments that work. We customize every plan based on your home’s unique needs and offer detailed inspections to guide our process.

Think you might have a termite problem? Give us a call or fill out our contact form to schedule your free termite inspection today. Let Petri Pest Control help protect your home from these destructive intruders.