Termites are a major concern, especially in some geographic areas. Yet, you may be concerned about using toxic means to control them. Fortunately, there are many options.
Environmental Concerns
Environmental concerns range from overall environmental hazards to more localized issues. On a wider scale, burying toxins in the yard for a perimeter treatment or tenting and fumigating your entire house can release a lot of toxins into the environment. These toxins may affect more than the termites you are targeting, as they may also affect nearby wildlife due to seeping into the local environment.
On a more local scale, concerns with toxic treatments and their effect on children and pets are a big worry. Even treatments like fumigation, where the toxins are supposed to disperse before you return home, can cause health concerns. The toxins used in the process are absorbed into the walls, where they can later off-gas into the home and cause issues for your family's health like headaches and irritation.
Environmental Prevention Techniques
An integrated management practice is needed for eco-friendly termite treatment. The first part of integrated control is prevention through environmental means. This means setting your home up so it doesn't become an easy target for termites. Construction plays a part here, as a home with a concrete foundation in good repair — which elevates the stick-built portion of your home above the soil level — goes a long way toward preventing a termite invasion.
In the yard, anything that could attract termites should be kept well away from the house. Piles of mulch, stacked firewood, and even blown-down branches need to be kept far away from the foundation and walls of your home. Any dead stumps in the yard must also be removed promptly so they don't tempt termites onto your property.
Integrated Control Options
The other side of integrated management is the control of existing termite populations. Bait traps are an excellent tool for this, as they both monitor for termites and destroy their colonies without leaching into the rest of the environment. The traps contain materials that kill termites. They are buried at intervals around your home, out of the reach of children, pets, and local wildlife. Your exterminator checks them annually. If activity is found, the extra traps may be installed. The traps work because the termites take the bait back to their colony, destroying it at its source.
If termites are already in your home, then an eco-friendly option is nitrogen treatment. Your home is sealed off and liquid nitrogen is sent into the walls, where it instantly freezes and kills the termites. There are no toxins or poisons necessary for this method.
Contact an eco-friendly termite exterminator to learn more.