An unfortunate reality of living in The City Beautiful is all the pests we have to deal with, or more specifically, all the termites. These wood-destroyers love moisture and warmth, making Florida a termite’s prime vacation destination. Should a family of termites choose your home as their vacation spot, make sure you are educated on how to get rid of termites in Orlando.
Termite Treatment Options in Orlando
Living in a subtropical climate, we get used to having to deal with all sorts of annoyances the environment loves to throw at us, whether it be hurricanes or mosquitoes or the countless other pests that call Florida home. Termites are just an unfortunate fact of life to add to that list of annoyances.
An understanding of all the termites treatment options is imperative for making an informed decision should termites make their way into your Orlando home.
Liquid Termiticide
In this traditional approach to termite treatment, the exterminator places a long-lasting chemical agent around the perimeter of your home. Liquid termiticide can be an invasive treatment and may require drilling through porches, patios, or adjacent concrete slabs.
It’s available as either a repellant or non-repellent treatment that can also be used as a soil treatment for subterranean termites.
Pros
- Easily accessible
- Long-lasting
Cons
- Often very invasive
- Drilling may be required
Note: Termiticides also come in dusts and foams.
Bait Termiticide
Another standard treatment for termites is bait termiticide, which is a slow-acting way to get rid of termites invading your property. Poisoned cellulose is placed inside bait stations around the perimeter of your property.
The cellulose is intended to lure termites to the slow-acting poison. They will then return to their nest to spread the poison to the rest of their colony. The termites also leave behind a colony-specific scent that draws more termites to the bait to continue the spread.
This common method can be a painstakingly slow process, and there is no guarantee the termites will find the poisoned cellulose. However, because bait stations are placed around the perimeter of the home, they are usually very effective. Bait treatment can become expensive due to exterminators making more frequent visits to monitor activity and replenish the bait.
Pros
- Easily installed
- Less invasive
Cons
- A slow process
- Expensive
- Requires more visits for monitoring
Heat Treatment
A chemical-free treatment, heat is used to get rid of the termites inhabiting your home. With this treatment, heaters are used to heat the infected wood to a minimum of 120 degrees Fahrenheit for at least 33 minutes.
This method can be used for spot treatments in specific areas, such as in an attic. Heat is also often used for apartments and condos since not all units may be infested with termites.
Heat may be an alternative to the traditional chemicals typically used, but it’s not always effective. Wood in contact with concrete can be difficult to heat to a lethal level.
Pros
- Spot treatment
- Time-efficient
- Non-chemical
Cons
- Heating wood to lethal temperatures can be challenging
- Efficacy is not always reliable
- If the home isn’t properly prepared, some items could be damaged by the heat.
Fumigation (Tenting)
Fumigation, often a feared treatment, is the most invasive and expensive option and is also commonly referred to as “tenting.”
Fumigation requires residents to leave their home for a few days. Once the home is cleared, pest control technicians erect an air-tight tent over the house and pump gas fumigant inside. The fumigant is then left for at least 24 hours to allow it time to seep into every grain of wood to kill every termite hiding inside the home.
This is the go-to option for extreme infestations that impact an entire home. Termite tenting is the most effective method that also works on all termite types. Bonus: Fumigation will also kill any other pests that may be lurking inside your home.
Pros
- Extremely effective
- Kills all pests in its path
Cons
- Process extends multiple days
- Homeowners must vacate the property for at least 24 hours
- The most expensive treatment
Note: If you have subterranean termites, you will need to seek a second treatment, in addition to the fumigant, to treat the termites in the soil. Fumigation only treats the termites inside your home.
Non-Chemical Treatments
For residents seeking more environmentally-friendly treatments, there are a few options available: electrocute, microwave, and freeze. Note: These three treatments are effective only for drywood termite infestations.
Electrocute: Technicians use an Electro-Gun that combines high-frequency and high-voltage electrical currents to electrocute these wood-eaters.
Microwave: With microwave termite treatments, termites are “cooked” to death in three minutes or less by using microwave technology.
Freeze: Liquid nitrogen is injected into infected areas of the home to freeze termites to death.
Pros
- Free of harmful chemicals
- Spot treatment
- Only takes a few hours to complete the process
Cons
- Only effective for drywood termites
- Severe infestations require a different method
- Harder to find companies that offer alternatives to traditional methods
Signs of Termites in Orlando
With such a high population of termites in Florida, Orlando homeowners must know what to look for so they can quickly identify and act on any pest issues. Here are the common signs of termites in your home:
Signs of termites
- Termite tubes: These are busy tunnels subterranean termites create as a way to get from their nest to their food source (your home).
- Damaged wood: Check if your wood sounds hollow by tapping on the suspected area. Contact a professional termite company ASAP if you suspect termite damage.
- Damaged flooring: Termites can damage all kinds of flooring, not just hardwood floors. They love the soft wood subflooring as well, ultimately attracting them even to tiled or carpeted flooring.
- Piles of termite wings: After swarmer termites find a mate mid-air, they land to establish a new nest and immediately discard their wings.
- Cracked, bubbling, or peeling paint: Commonly a sign of a leak, but it’s also a sign of termite activity as termites are naturally attracted to moisture.
- Termite droppings: Piles of pellets that look like salt or pepper may be termite droppings, which are a common sign of drywood termites.
Types of Termites in Orlando
The subtropical climate of the state of Florida makes it a prime place for termites to live. All three types of termites have made appearances in homes across the Orlando metro area: subterranean, drywood, and dampwood. Within each termite type, there is a caste system to keep the colony running that includes workers, reproductives, and soldiers.
Subterranean Termites
There are several subterranean termite species found in the Orlando area. The Formosan termite is by far the most common species. There have also been sightings of the eastern subterranean (Reticulitermes flavipes), dark southeastern subterranean (Reticulitermes virginicus), and light southeastern subterranean (Reticulitermes hageni) termite species.
Subterranean termites:
- 1/8 to 1 inch long
- White, black, brown, or reddish
Drywood Termites
The drywood species most commonly found near Orlando is the West Indian drywood termite (Cryptotermes brevis) followed by a smattering of other drywood termites, including Cryptotermes cavifrons, among other species.
Drywood termites:
- 1/4 to 1 inch long
- Cream-white to light brown colored
Dampwood Termites
These aren’t as commonly found in Florida, but they have been known to pop up here and there. The Florida dampwood termites Neotermes jouteli and Neotermes castaneus have been spotted just a few times in the Orlando area.
Dampwood termites:
- 1/2 to 5/8 inch long
- Large head
- Light to dark brown with streaks of yellow or red in their body
- Bigger than drywood and subterranean termites
How to Prevent Termites
It’s always best to play on the offensive rather than the defensive when it comes to termites. It is certainly possible termites will be an eventual reality, but everything you can do to put them off as long as possible or minimize their effect is worth the effort.
Here are some termite prevention tips for your Orlando home:
- Quickly remove rotting wood or dying trees from your property. Termites are drawn to diseased or dead wood.
- As part of your annual outdoor maintenance, inspect all wood furniture and trees. Also, prune and properly take care of trees. Most termites are not attracted to healthy trees.
- Adding downspout extensions or splash blocks can help minimize moisture buildup, as can regularly cleaning your gutters.
- Be on the lookout for potential leaks or drainage issues, particularly after a heavy rainstorm. Fix all problems ASAP.
- Any wood that comes in contact with the soil needs to be treated before it ever touches the ground.
- Keep firewood several inches off the ground, covered, and away from your home. You can also read more about this topic in our guide: “How to Prevent, Spot, and Kill Termites in Firewood.”
- Use a dehumidifier in the attic, or add a screened vent for crawl spaces. Doing this can help minimize moisture levels in these areas.
- Part of regular home maintenance should include a termite inspection from a professional pest control company.
How Much Does Termite Treatment Cost?
There are a few different factors that come into play when determining termite treatment costs. The size of the infestation, size of your home, and the type of treatment will all play a role in the final price.
Most homeowners spend an average of $558. Nationwide residents pay between $275 and $863 for termite treatment.
FAQ About Termites in Orlando
Can You Have More Than One Type of Termite?
Yes, more than one kind of termite can inhabit your home at one time, especially in a termite-heavy state like Florida. Contact a termite professional for an inspection to determine the type of termite feasting on your home. It’s necessary to know the type or types of termites because this will impact which treatment will be effective on your infestation.
What Time of Year Are Termites Most Active in Orlando?
Even though termites are active year-round, they are the most active in Orlando when they swarm in the springtime. Termites are naturally attracted to warm, humid environments, making Florida a prime destination for termites no matter the season.
Does Insurance Cover Termite Treatment?
No. It’s highly unlikely homeowner’s insurance would cover termite-related costs. Companies typically consider termites as a preventable problem and therefore will refuse to cover necessary treatments.
Insurance is also unlikely to cover termite damage repair costs. Generally, insurance companies do not want to pay since termite damage is something that happens over an extended period of time.
Ready to Turn on Your Termite No Vacancy Sign?
When it’s time for you to close your doors to vacationing termites, contact a professional termite specialist and schedule an inspection.
Main Image Credit: Chansak Joe A. / Adobe Stock Free / License
