Last Updated December 23rd, 2022: If you have come to the realization that you have an active termite infestation, you’ll need to act quickly to help prevent any severe damage to the structure of your home. If given the time, termites can cause severe structural damage and cost you thousands of dollars in repairs. When you know you have termites time is of the essence, and you need to act quickly to eliminate termites. In this guide, we’ll be covering how long does termite treatment last?
Whether you’ve decided to treat termites yourself or hire a professional, you still need to understand how long your home will be protected from termites. So how long do termite treatments actually last?
How Long Does Termite Treatment Last?
Termite treatments will last between one to five years. Depending on the type of termite treatment you received, it can technically last a bit longer than this range, up to seven to ten years. Different treatment types might have you asking how many years termite treatments actually last, but generally it’s around three to five years.
Termite Bait Treatments:
If you opt to use a termite bait treatment, you can expect guaranteed protection for at least one year, before the bait stations need to be refilled. Termite bait treatments are designed to attract any active termite infestations to poison bait, which they will then bring back to the rest of the colony and eliminate the entire colony. These are extremely effective, but they will need to be consistently monitored to ensure that the bait station is filled and doesn’t run empty.
Liquid Termite Treatments:
Liquid termite treatments last between five years to ten years depending on your treatment methods. Liquid sprays such as Taurus SC can last up to ten years in the soil if properly applied. These types of treatments are most effective when you dig a trench around your home’s perimeter and apply the treatment into the trench.
Termite Tenting:
Termite tenting is extremely effective at eliminating current termite infestations, but it doesn’t have any lasting termite protection effects. It involves having a giant tent placed around your entire home, and then using chemicals that fill your home and in your walls to eliminate any active termites. It is very effective, but it’s also quite intrusive and involves you and your family moving out of your home.
Although it can eliminate active infestations, it doesn’t prevent a new termite colony from moving immediately afterward. If you’re looking for lasting termite protection, consider using one of the above treatment options, or a combination of two types of termite treatments for longer-lasting protection.
Termite Heat Treatments:
Similar to termite tenting, termite heat treatments are good at eliminating active termite infestations, but they don’t provide extended termite protection after the treatment. It will kill active termites, but won’t prevent a new colony to move in. If you are looking for long-term termite protection, then you should choose a termite liquid treatment or a termite bait station treatment!
How Often Should You Treat For Termites?
Depending on the type of termite you’re facing, and what type of treatment method you’re using will determine how often you should treat for termites. If you’re using liquid termite treatments or termite bait treatments, then you should get it retreated every three to five years.
Do Termites Come Back After Treatment?
No, If you use a liquid termite treatment or a termite bait treatment, termites will not come back within three years. There is a lot you should learn to expect after a termite treatment. You will probably notice increased termite activity as the termites begin to die and they might swarm as they try to escape. That being said
What Factors Influence How Long Termite Treatments Last?
The above time frames are all based on averages, but depending on a few factors, these time frames can change.
Type Of Termites:
The species of termites can determine how long your termite treatment lasts. Along with this, depending on the species of termite, is going to determine which type of treatment is the most effective. For example, subterranean termites should use liquid or bait treatments because they live in the ground. On the other hand, drywood termites are best treated with fumigation or tenting because they live inside the wood or foundation of your home.
Degree Of Severity:
Depending on the severity of the termite infestation, is going to determine how long the treatment lasts. The bigger the termite colony, the longer it will take to eradicate the colony, as well as the higher the chance termites are to come back. That’s why you should ensure that your termite professional knows what they’re doing, or you could risk having the infestation come back!
Final Thoughts On Long-Term Termite Protection:
As you can see from above if you’re looking for long-term termite protection you need to ensure you’re using a liquid termite treatment or a bait station treatment. These treatment methods provide years of protection from termites, rather than just immediate relief from termites like tenting and heat treatments provide.
Thank you for reading our guide on how long does termite treatment last, I hope it was helpful in guiding you on which termite treatment method is best for you!
Resources:
https://www.epa.gov/safepestcontrol/termites-how-identify-and-control-them