I’ve had a termite problem for years. I’ve tried everything to get rid of them. I got a cat, but they just ate the cat food and ignored the cat. I put down poison, but they ate the poison and laughed at me. I even went so far as to set fire to my house, but they rebuilt it overnight, right next door! I can’t take this anymore! Somebody help me!

I wish I’d found this blog a couple of months ago! Very informative and helpful.

I’ve seen termites flying around my yard, but didn’t think much of it until they started swarming inside my house. They were in the bathroom, the kitchen, and even in my bedroom — there must have been hundreds of them. I sprayed them with insect spray, but there are still a ton of them crawling all over the walls and windows. I’m scared to sleep in my own house because I don’t want to get bitten. Should I call an exterminator?

Well, this is embarrassing. I’m a home inspector and termites are the bane of my existence. I prefer not to write about them, so this will be short.

If you have termites, you need to get rid of them fast. The best way to do that is to call an exterminator. Termite extermination is a job for a professional, but here are some ways you can make it easier on yourself:

1. Know what type of termites you have! Subterranean termites build mazes of tunnels underground that connect their nests to your house. They like wet wood and are usually found in damp areas. Drywood termites usually nest above ground in dry wood and don’t require contact with soil moisture. Do they look like flying ants? Winged swarmer termites often look like flying ants and are the reproductive offspring of a mature colony. If you see these guys outside, you don’t need to worry; they travel away from the nest in order to mate and start new colonies. But if you see them inside your house, it may mean there’s a colony somewhere inside your walls as well!

2. For subterranean termite infestations, check the soil

So you have a termite problem, huh? Well don’t worry because you’re not alone. Every year in the United States, termites cause over $5 billion in damages. Termites can be very destructive and if you don’t catch them early enough, they can be very hard to get rid of. So what is it that makes termites so scary?

Well for starters, they are tiny. The average termite is about ¼ inch long which means they can easily crawl through small cracks and crevices. They are also great at hiding from humans and once they get inside your home, they will eat 24/7 until their colony matures. Fortunately there are ways that you can stop these critters before it’s too late. Most homeowners find out about termites after seeing flying termites or by discovering mud trails along the bottom of their walls or baseboards. Unfortunately by the time most people see this, it is already too late and the damage has already been done. So how do you know when to call an exterminator? That’s a great question!

If you want to get rid of termites, there are several options.

Fumigation is the process of completely sealing off a structure and filling it with toxic gas. This is effective and will kill all the termites inside. However, it’s expensive, requires that you leave your house for a few days, and leaves behind a lot of toxic gas residue.

The fact is, you do have a termite problem. But the problem is not termites. It’s the fact that they are eating your house, just as it’s your responsibility to feed your children when they’re hungry. So put away the mothballs and move on to more important issues.

Then write about them.

It was a typically damp night in Portland, Oregon. I was sitting at the dining room table with my laptop and a glass of wine when I heard it. A faint squeaking noise, coming from behind the wall somewhere. “Probably just the pipes,” I thought as I clicked through to my Twitter feed. But then I heard it again. This time louder and more distinct. “Surely not!” I said aloud as I jumped up and started pacing around the room.

I stopped in front of the wall, leaned in close and pressed my ear against it. There it was again! The sound of tiny feet scurrying away into the dark recesses of my wall cavity.

I was home alone that night but still decided to yell out “Get outta there you little bastards!” for good measure.