Any pest removal pros out there??

[mjn]

OK....before someone says it...although I most definitley can be a pest...I am not looking for ways to get rid of myself..

I think we have termites in our house... Found a little pile of sawdust near a door frame this morning....picked it all up and found a couple of bugs in it. After looking on the net, I have deduced that they are, indeed, termites.

I am looking for an honest, unbiased opinion as to the best way to exterminate them....someone who does not anticipate to profit from my unfortunate situation..

I called a local company that professes to specialize in termite extermination. The news did not sound good for my wallet. ie; about a dollar per square foot of house.

He is talking about putting some chemical down in the ground..under all the concrete..in all the crawl spaces etc....

Here are some facts;
-House is 30 yrs old.
-Never seen any bugs like this before. (been here 7 yrs)
-the joices under the area (front door) seems free of any bugs.
-there are several area's downstairs where I can see the "underfloor"...no sign.
-house is old-style stucco..heavy, thick stuff..not what they do today.

My other question..I am on a well. the well is 10' from the house...if the only answer is to do the chemicals in the ground....will it taint my well water? (125' deep)

Hope some of my buds here can give me the real story.. I know some of you live in the south where termites are much more prevalent.

Thanks in advance..

 

[BusaWhipped]

Unfortuneatly, if you have termites, you need to have professional extermination, or you will have problems if you ever try to sell it. (Don't ask me how I know).

 

[schroetf]

put a couple bugs in a plastic bag and take them to a do it yourself pest control store - they will fix you up----

 

[straightshooter_la]

Dynamite


Or a combination of spikes in the ground and a spray on already affected wood should work. Both available from Lowes. Down here we have a layer of clay between the water table and the top soil so we don't worry so much about growing a third eye, but if you're in a rocky area I'm sure the stuff over the shelf will warn you if it's dangerous.

 

[PACIFICBUSA]

Maybe this?

 

[PACIFICBUSA]

This may work too.

 

[bigdr]

Good one Pac...Pesky bugs..that'll learn 'em..

 

[PACIFICBUSA]

I know, I know...collateral damage, right? Jeez...take the fun outta everythin.

Alright, fine. Here...to limit collateral damage.

 

[PACIFICBUSA]

Good one Pac...Pesky bugs..that'll learn 'em..  

yup. Speak softly, but carry a BMS.

 

[mjn]

You guys are SO much freakin help!!!

Dynamite...thats the one I like the most...love big booms!

Seriously tho....with 13,000 some members...there has to be a "bug" guy....

 

[PACIFICBUSA]

well, we used to have a wee bit of a termite prob, but that don't happen too much anymore.

Man...I love carb cleaner. That stuff'll light up for a good 6 feet.

 

[adrenaline junkey]

we run into that all the time in the remodel business i would have a professional come in do the spraying they will drill holes anywhere the pesky little critters are suspected and spray in chemicals then they will carry it back to the hive to finish off the rest. make sure ya follow up a few months latter with another treatment

or use the do it your self methods above

 

[gwhunran]

lots of termites here in virginia beach. we had to have the house treated as you described. shooting chem under house. 1500 sq ft. cost about 750.00 two years ago, it worked good.
they come check house each spring (contract) and 100 each year.  they used big tank for chem mounted on truck powered by compressor, very long hose to spray chemical. guy went ahead of hose guy with big auger on drill putting holes below foundation, hose guy then sprayed chem till overflowing hole. then they went bck around plugging holes.
average guy couldn't do it so easily, it took them maybe an hour and a half.
couldn't really comment on ground water contamination issue.

richard



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[jessup]

You want to hire a professional company. A good company will drill your joists, concrete slabs, (Interior) spray exposed wood and crawls spaces.... Outside they will rod and trench the ground leaving the poison 2 ft down when rodding around the perimeter of your house. I strongly recommend getting it done by a professional. It will save you money in the long run! I have been in many homes that have had termite damage and it can be extensive before you know it... Call the epa for the well question they might be able to give you an informed answer. Although I don't think it will get to the well... I am not a Pest control person but I deal with a lot of people in that industry.

 

[tonyy1]

sorry mjn, but when the house I purchased had termites, the pest control service (for about 1200) came through and drilled holes about every foot through the conc about 2 feet deep to put poison down to handle those lil bastids. I had to go without firewood this winter to get rid of their major food source as well.
Hope things work out for you. and make sure that those are indeed termites and not ants, (they can have wings too) which can look just alike.
on a side note, pest control services won't remove squirrels that have chewed their way through a soffet into your house either. That was fun tearing up my walls to find where they had "come to rest"

 

[ks-waterbug]

In Ks you can't have a well within roughly 25' of the house for this very reason! I would get several estimates from the experts this isn't a do it yourself project given the outcome if treatment isn't sucessfull....... There are a lot of things that can contribute to termite infestations. Moisture in and around your homes foundation, Wood piles for fireplace, decoration (untreated wood structures, fences, mulch, etc), & a host of other things.

 

[Max Speed]

First off having something eat your house sucks.... Next I have to say you guys had me laughing my a$$ off with your post ideas how to get rid of the bugs... I set here laughing just thinking what the hell you guys would come up with for getting rid of the nats that are around here in the summer!

 

[mrninja9]

ok i used to work for a pest control place ok here is the skinny. yes termites. no it wont hurt your water sourse but ask them what kind of formula they are using to mix the chemicals. cause it is a concentrate usually. and you usually get charged by how much they use and the sq. feet my aunts 1800 square foot house and 4 car garage we used almost a 100 gallons she has a well but she got the relative discount. watch the contracts they can screw you on those also like they can say after 2 years on the contract that the prices may vary tell them no and make them put in it if there are any signs that the termited are still there in 3 months you want a refund

 

[mjn]

Thanks for the help everyone...except Pac (*sighs, shakes head*)

I appreciate the advice. Anyone else that has some experience in this field, feel free to chime in..

 

[PACIFICBUSA]

Thanks for the help everyone...except Pac (*sighs, shakes head*)

I appreciate the advice.  Anyone else that has some experience in this field, feel free to chime in..

Aww c'mon, now...ya asked me how to get rid of termites.

Really though....I did use the "gas and lighter" approach.