How Often Should You Treat for Termites? What Homeowners Need To Know
Termite treatments last anywhere from one to ten years depending on what was used. Here is how to tell where yours sits and when it needs renewing.
How often termites actually need treating
Termite treatments and inspections matter for every home. It does not matter whether you have an existing infestation or are trying to prevent one. Even so, it can be hard to know how often you should treat for termites.
When a termite infestation goes undetected, it can eat into your wooden foundation and cause extensive damage. Below is why regular termite treatment is worth scheduling, how long each treatment type actually lasts, and what to watch for in between.
How long does termite treatment last?
Termite treatments last between one and ten years on average. Which end of that range you land on depends on the method.
Liquid termite treatments
Liquid termite treatments last from five to ten years on average. For most of them, your pest control company digs a trench around the perimeter of your home to distribute the product. If there are gaps in that chemical barrier, some termites can still make their way to the house. Gaps like that tend to appear when someone digs around the foundation after the treatment goes down.
Termite bait stations
The bait in termite bait stations lasts an average of one year and may need inspection 1-4 times per year. A specialist places the stations in the ground around your property. When foraging termites find a station, they carry the bait back and it spreads through the colony. Bait takes longer to eliminate a colony than a liquid barrier does, and the stations need to be maintained annually.
How often should you treat for termites?
Because treatments last an average of one to ten years, an annual inspection is what tells you whether yours is still doing its job.
An annual inspection can also show whether there are new entry areas your current treatment does not cover. Even if professionals added termiticide to your soil during construction, a yearly inspection is still necessary.
How often termiticide reapplication is needed depends on the type of treatment.
- Termite bait stationOne year
- Liquid barrierFive years
Factors influencing how long termite treatments last
Three things move the number more than anything else: how big the infestation is, how the property is built, and which termite you have.
Infestation level
Larger infestations are harder to knock out with the same amount of bait. If you have a significant infestation, a specialist may need to check the bait stations more often.
Property setup
Every wooden part of the property needs to be treated. If there are areas termites can reach but people cannot, that alone can prevent complete treatment.
Termite type
The most common infestations come from drywood and subterranean termites, and the two reach their food very differently. That difference changes where a treatment has to go to be effective.
Drywood termites
Drywood termites do not just enter through the floor. Points of entry may include:
- Unscreened attic or foundation vents
- Window frame cracks
- Door frames
- Soffits
- Roof sheathing
Since a drywood termite can only enter your home through wood, it is easy to distinguish them from other types of termites.
Subterranean termites
Subterranean termites build mud tubes and can enter your home through the ground. Some of their favorite points of entry include:
- Cracks in the foundation or brick mortar
- Expansion joints
- Bath traps
- Damp wood in contact with the ground, especially wood siding
- Infested lumber
- Mulch, trellises, or planter boxes
What should you do between treatments?
A few habits make the property less inviting to termites and help you catch damage before it reaches the house.
- Get rid of standing water
Damp wood in your attic, crawl space, or outside your home attracts termites.
- Notice where wood meets soil around your foundation
That contact point is the easiest way in for termites.
- Do not store wood on the ground
Woodpiles or building material stored directly on the ground invite infestation.
- Check your deck, patio, and outdoor furniture for damage
Damage anywhere on the property is a sign termites may already be in the house too.
- Dispose of branches, stumps, and dead trees
Decomposing wood attracts termites.
If you are not sure what you are looking at, our guide to the signs of termites walks through what damage looks like up close.
How to treat a property with termite history
If you have had a termite infestation before, more termites can show up later.
If your home has ever had termites, regular treatment and inspection matter more, not less. An experienced, licensed pest control team can build a treatment plan around your specific property, the termite type involved, and the entry points that let them in the first time.
Contact us to schedule your termite inspection.
Questions homeowners ask
Is preventive termite treatment needed?
Yes. A termite queen can lay up to 30,000 eggs in a single day, so an infestation grows quickly once it starts. Preventive treatment and a yearly inspection are how you stay ahead of that.
How fast does a termite treatment need to take effect?
Quickly, because queens lay eggs daily. The treatments exterminators use cause termites to start dying within a day or two. With severe infestations it can take longer to eliminate the whole colony.
Will termites come back after treatment?
Termites can come back after treatment. That is why ongoing maintenance is necessary to keep them at bay.
Is an annual termite inspection necessary?
A yearly inspection is ideal for all homes, and some mortgage companies require one. If your property has a history of termite infestations, a yearly examination is critical.
Find out whether your termite treatment is still working
An annual inspection is the only way to know whether the barrier around your home still holds and whether new entry points have opened up.
Keep reading
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Read articleNot sure when your home was last treated?
Tell us what you know about the property and we will schedule an inspection to confirm where things stand.