Often, homeowners are torn between carrying out spot treatments and tenting. Here, it’s evident that multiple treatment methods exist.
However, you want to figure out which will serve your needs best. The outcomes in terms of quality may differ from one treatment type to the other.
This article will critically compare two termite treatment techniques; spot treatment and tenting. If you’re at a loss on which to go, you should be able to make better decisions by the end of this article.
So, without further delay, let’s get into details.
About Spot Treatment and Tenting for Termites
To better understand the different treatment options, you’ll need to consider the meaning of each.
As the names imply, termite spot treatment involves the application of termiticide to a specific area believed to harbor these pests.
It’s a much more restricted type of treatment compared to tenting. Here, holes are drilled around infested areas of your yard, and the termiticide is injected into the soil.
This technique has a lot of drawbacks because the extent of termite spread is unknown. It’s done with the hope that termites will all be killed.
On the other hand, Tenting tends to be all-encompassing because the entire structure is tented or tarped, and an appropriate fumigant is pumped into the system.
The gases penetrate the tiniest of spaces to deliver the deadly pesticide to these termites.
Spot Treatment vs. Tenting for Termites
In this section, we go into detail on both treatment approaches. Each technique is discussed, with clear advantages and disadvantages highlighted.
Based on such comparisons, you get to make an informed choice of which best serves your need.
i. Spot Treatment for Termites
As stated earlier, spot treatments are mainly applicable to restricted areas.
In other words, they’re more ideal for situations where termite presence isn’t widespread. Here, these pests may affect a section of your yard or home. Spot treatment is used when the problem is considered mild.
So, are there any advantages and disadvantages to the spot treatment process? There are. These are included below for a more comprehensive understanding of the comparisons made.
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Advantages of Spot Treatment for Termites
One clear advantage of spotting treatments for termites is that it’s less expensive than the tenting method of termite control. That is because treatment is applied to a limited area which means the termiticide needed won’t be much.
Spot treatments are ideal for mild termite infestations. Here, the termite colony is small, with few access points used to apply the treatment.
Spot treatments are of different kinds, including unique termiticide products, cold therapies, microwaving, and electrocution techniques.
Sometimes, spot treatments can be very effective, while targeted termite colonies continue to expand at other times. This can be frustrating if you’re hoping to resolve the problem once and for all.
This takes us to the disadvantages associated with spot treatments.
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Disadvantages of Spot Treatment for Termites
With spot treatment, you’re operating blindly. In other words, you have no definite knowledge of what goes on below the ground as you have no idea of the actual extent of the problem.
That is why it’s common to find spot treatments not giving desired results.
It will be challenging to exterminate an entire termite colony using this technique. The reason is simple; termite colonies can stretch far below the ground beyond what’s being observed at the surface.
Certain types of termites like drywood may be out of reach for spot treatments to have any effect.
Accessibility issues go beyond certain wood types, which could harbor drywood termites. For complex termite infestations such as those within walls and other parts of the structure, the spot type of treatment will do little in resolving the problem.
Sometimes, spot treatments may help eliminate a significant part of the termite colony but may not kill all. If the queen survives, the territory will be replenished within a short period.
So, it won’t be long before the problem resurfaces. Sometimes, this can be worse than the initial time.
Holes will need to be drilled around your home to apply specific spot treatments. The appearance of such holes at different points will be unsightly.
With this said, let’s look at the tenting method of termite treatment.
ii. Tenting Treatment for Termites
We earlier said that tenting treatment for termites requires covering the entire structure. Your entire home needs to be covered by a tent. This treatment method is necessary because fumigants will be used.
The tent serves to provide a controlled treatment environment.
As fumigants are pumped into the structure, it becomes concentrated, and the tent holds it for longer to help penetrate termite-infested sections of the building.
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Advantages of Tenting Treatments for Termite
Drywood termites are known to operate in tiny spaces or sections of wood. Reaching these feeding galleries using the spot treatment technique is almost impossible.
Through tenting, this problem is resolved. Pesticide gases pumped during fumigation permeate every space within the building.
This includes the tiny holes in wood. The tenting technique is more likely to serve your needs than spot treatment. In other words, termites are likely to be comprehensively eliminated compared to any different process.
Tenting treatments solve the problem of multiple termite colonies. Here, the issue of safety is paramount. No human or animal is supposed to be around during treatment.
It would be best if you evacuated the building before treatment began.
Unlike spot treatments for termites, tenting leaves no residue behind. After treatment is completed, fumigants are safely dissipated without a problem.
Areas, where spot treatments were applied have residues of the termiticide used.
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Disadvantages of Tenting Treatments for Termite
One of the main disadvantages of the tenting method of termite control is the high cost of treatment. Compared to spot treatments, tenting treatment costs tend to be significantly higher.
This is due to the process and equipment involved. Plus, you’ll need to make alternative lodging preparations that could cost more.
Having compared both termite spot treatments and tenting, you can decide what works best. Ultimately, we recommend you discuss your options with a licensed pest technician.