The cost of termite control usually catches people by surprise. Even though many people use the words termite control and termite treatment interchangeably, they are two different actions.
Termite treatment entails extermination (in other words, eradicating an existing termite infestation.) Termite control on the other hand usually refers to the prevention of a termite infestation in the first place but also includes extermination efforts.
Elsewhere on this site, we have discussed extensively the costs associated with the best termite treatments. In total, termites cause between $1.5 billion and $2 billion worth of damage to homes in the U.S. annually (and much more worldwide!).
This article is devoted to prices associated with your options for preventing termites from munching on you home or structure in the first place.
Remember, if you have a serious infestation it is always best to consult a professional pest control expert. They can best identify the termite colony through various methods, the species of termite infestation, as well as recommend the best treatment or control options available to you depending on your situation.
You can be on the lookout for certain signals and evidence of the presence of termites. One of these signs to be on the lookout for is discarded termite wings as well as winged termites themselves.
This is your home you are talking about so do not only consider the cost of the termite control but also the effectiveness as well. We will go over some other factors to consider too.
Table of Contents
- About how much does termite control cost?
- The method of termite control you chose
- Further Resources on Termite Control Prices
About how much does termite control cost?
First off, we must specify between termite control and termite treatment prices. Typically when people talk about termite treatment they are referring to the extermination of a present infestation. Termite control on the other hand typically refers to preventing an infestation in the first place. However many people use these terms interchangeably so we will touch base on both of them.
If you want to know how much it will cost to remove a current termite infestation from your home or structure it depends on several factors. I know that’s probably not what you wanted to hear but it really does with getting rid of termites as with most insect pests. Some of these factors are
- The size of the house, shed, fence, porch, or whatever else you need to get treated.
- How long the house or structure has been infested (the length of time will determine how extensive the infestation is).
- What type of termites are present (the main types are drywood and subterranean).
- How difficult it would be for pest control professionals to access the infested area or areas.
- The method of termite treatment or control that you opt to use.
- How much the termite exterminators in your area charge (Always get at least 3 different quotes)
- Any structural repairs that must be implemented to the building or structure.
The method of termite control you chose
Typically a termite company will either recommend you use a termite bait system or a liquid termiticide or a combination of both.
The non-repellant termiticides will kill the termite colony slowly by contaminating worker termites with the insecticide. This type of insecticide is designed not to kill the termites immediately but to stay on their endoskeletons long enough that they can pass it on to each other.
Since termites are such social creatures, the termiticide will eventually make its way back to the Queen termite. Once she dies the colony will eventually follow since they have no way of reproducing without her.
Some people try to go the do-it-yourself route. While this is attractive because of the amount of potential money you could save, it is not advisable by most pest control experts.
You are essentially taking a gamble on your home because if you do not successfully control or exterminate the termites then the value and even the structural integrity of your home becomes at risk.
That being said, if you live in an area that is low risk to termites and you really take the time to learn how to effectively apply methods of both termite prevention, control, and treatment then I see no reason why you can’t try it yourself.
If you decide to go this route it would still be a good idea to hire a professional termite inspector to do a thorough home inspection so you have some feedback as to whether or not you are effectively combating termites around your home.
Termites are very difficult to detect until they have already been present in your home for around 5 years at which time there are often signs such as termite frass and termite pinholes that you can spot with the naked eye.
Other than those two key signs, detecting them often requires the tools, knowledge, and experience of a pest control professional.
If your infestation is old and extensive then termite professionals might recommend fumigating your entire home which involves evacuating the home while it is tented (surrounded with a large tarp).
Then a gaseous form of the termiticide is pumped through the house. This gets into the wood and is the most failsafe way of killing termites.
As always, please share your experiences and opinions on any termite prevention tactics you have used.
