Termite infestations can lead to thousands of dollars in property damage if they are undetected, and the even worse news is that they are not easy to detect. However, there are methods such as the bait system and the chemical barrier which can be used to prevent an infestation from happening in the first place. In this article, we’re going to cover chemical barriers in particular and what you can expect if you set one up on your property.
What are chemical barriers?
Chemical barriers are exactly what they sound like. A pest control specialist will insert termiticides into the ground in order to create a protected perimeter around your home which is impenetrable to termites. The barrier will protect your home against both existing and future infestations. In the case of an existing infestation, termites that are in the home are trapped inside and they will soon die out because they do not have access to their colony, and those that are outside can no longer reach the home. The termiticide used can be either a termite killer or a termite repellent, each achieving the same effect. In some treatments, slow acting termiticides can be used which will work similarly to a baiting system, where termites covered in termiticide return to the colony and spread the poison, leading to the colony’s collapse.
How do chemical barriers work?
If a chemical barrier is meant to address an existing infestation, the pest control specialist will perform an inspection to make sure that you are dealing with subterranean termites and not drywood termites. Drywood termites build their colony inside the wood itself, which means that a termite barrier will not affect them.
Then, depending on the pest control company you are working with, the specialist or the team will dig a trench around the perimeter of the building in order to expose its footing. The trench will then be injected with the termiticide compound. As the termites travel to and from the building, they will come into contact with the barrier, and depending on the product used, they will either be killed right away, or repelled.
That’s pretty much it. The process is fairly straightforward and it takes a few hours to complete. If you would like to know more information such as pricing or other related issues, or if you would like to set up an appointment to have a chemical barrier installed, contact us today.
