How To Get Rid Of Dampwood Termites
Getting rid of dampwood termites on your own can be challenging because these termites thrive in areas with excessive moisture, decaying wood, or water-damaged structures. However, homeowners and business owners can take several effective steps to reduce or eliminate small infestations and prevent them from coming back. Here’s how to get rid of dampwood termites:
Identify and Eliminate Moisture Sources
Dampwood termites require constant moisture to survive. Eliminating damp conditions is the most critical step.
Fix leaks: Repair leaky roofs, pipes, gutters, and air conditioning units immediately.
Improve ventilation: Use dehumidifiers or fans in basements, crawl spaces, and bathrooms to reduce humidity.
Redirect water: Ensure that downspouts and grading direct rainwater away from the foundation.
Remove standing water: Check for puddles or wet soil near wooden structures and eliminate them.
Remove and Replace Infested or Water-Damaged Wood
Since dampwood termites typically infest decaying or moist wood rather than dry, sound lumber:
Inspect all wooden areas such as crawl spaces, baseboards, window sills, and porches for soft or hollow wood.
Remove infested materials and replace them with pressure-treated or kiln-dried wood.
Treat the new wood with a borate-based wood preservative to make it termite-resistant.
Apply Borate Treatments
Borate products are one of the most effective DIY options for dampwood termites.
Use a liquid borate solution (such as Bora-Care or Tim-bor) to treat exposed wood.
Apply the solution to wood surfaces, joints, and entry points to create a long-lasting barrier.
Borates penetrate deeply into wood, killing termites that feed on or tunnel through it.
Borate treatments work best on unpainted, untreated wood surfaces.
Reduce Wood-to-Soil Contact
Dampwood termites often infest wood that’s in direct contact with soil.
Maintain at least 6 inches of clearance between the ground and wooden parts of the structure.
Replace wooden supports with concrete, metal, or composite materials when possible.
Keep firewood, mulch, and lumber stored well away from the building.
Use Termite Baits and Barrier Treatments (Supplemental Measures)
While dampwood termites are less likely to be drawn to baits than subterranean termites, bait stations can still help monitor activity.
Install bait stations around your property to detect early infestations.
For added protection, apply non-repellent termiticides like fipronil or imidacloprid in soil barriers along foundations or wooden structures if moisture persists.
Monitor and Inspect Regularly
After removing moisture and treating infested areas:
Inspect wood periodically for signs of new termite damage, including blistered wood, discarded wings, or frass (pellet-like droppings).
Continue moisture control to prevent re-infestation, as dampwood termites will return if humidity levels remain high.
If the infestation extends into structural timbers, inaccessible areas, or multiple points of the building, it’s best to call our licensed pest control professionals. Dampwood termites can spread deep inside walls, floors, and crawl spaces—areas difficult to reach with consumer treatments.
The Best Way To Get Rid Of Dampwood Termites
Our professional termite control is the best way to get rid of dampwood termites because these termites are often deeply entrenched within moist, decaying wood and hidden structural components—areas that are difficult for a home or business owner to access or treat effectively. Our licensed termite control specialists have the advanced tools, expertise, and treatment technologies required to completely eradicate infestations and prevent their return. Here’s why our professional termite control is the superior solution:
Accurate Identification and Targeted Treatment
Not all termites are the same, and effective control depends on identifying the correct species. Dampwood termites differ from subterranean termites and drywood termites in both habitat and behavior.
Our professionals identify the exact species using signs like moisture levels, frass type, and damage patterns.
This ensures the right treatment method is applied—one tailored to dampwood termites’ dependence on moisture and decaying wood.
DIY treatments often misdiagnose the problem or only address surface activity, leaving colonies alive deeper within the structure.
Advanced Moisture and Structural Inspection Tools
Dampwood termites thrive in areas of excess moisture—behind walls, under floors, in attics, or around plumbing leaks.
Our pest professionals use advanced methods to locate termite galleries and hidden moisture pockets.
This allows us to find the true source of the infestation, which homeowners usually can’t detect with the naked eye.
Once identified, we can treat both the termites and the underlying moisture issue, preventing re-infestation.
Access to Industrial-Grade Termiticides and Treatments
Our licensed termite specialists can use professional-grade termiticides and borate treatments that penetrate wood more deeply and remain effective for years.
Products like Bora-Care, Termidor, and Altriset offer long-lasting control and residual protection.
These products are not available in over-the-counter formulations at hardware stores and require certified application for safety and efficacy.
Our professionals can apply these materials through injection, drilling, or foaming methods, ensuring they reach termites in inaccessible wood.
Comprehensive Structural Protection
Dampwood termites often infest multiple moisture-damaged areas within a property, making localized DIY treatments insufficient.
Our professional termite control team performs whole-structure treatments that address all possible infestation points.
They also provide preventive barriers and moisture management solutions, ensuring the environment is no longer suitable for future colonies.
This comprehensive approach protects not just the visible wood but also hidden support beams, subflooring, and framing.
Long-Term Monitoring and Warranty Protection
Even after a successful treatment, ongoing monitoring is critical to ensure dampwood termites don’t return.
Our professionals install monitoring stations and schedule regular inspections to detect early signs of reactivity.
We provide additional treatments at no extra cost if termites reappear.
This peace of mind is invaluable compared to the uncertainty of DIY efforts.
Prevention Through Expert Knowledge
Our termite specialists don’t just eliminate the current infestation—we help prevent future problems.
We identify conducive conditions such as plumbing leaks, poor ventilation, or wood-to-soil contact.
Our professionals can recommend or even perform repairs and moisture control solutions to make your property less attractive to termites in the long run.
Our expertise ensures your property is protected structurally, environmentally, and financially.
Safety and Property Preservation
Improper use of termiticides or moisture-control products can cause health or environmental hazards.
Our professional applicators are trained and licensed to apply treatments safely and precisely.
We protect humans, pets, and landscaping from chemical exposure while effectively eradicating the colony.
More importantly, timely professional intervention can prevent expensive structural repairs caused by hidden termite damage.
While DIY measures can offer temporary relief, our professional termite control provides complete, lasting protection. Dampwood termite infestations are often deeper and more destructive than they appear, and without our expert identification, advanced tools, and industrial-grade treatments, homeowners risk incomplete eradication and ongoing damage. Hiring our certified termite control professionals ensures the infestation is handled efficiently, safely, and permanently—protecting your property investment for years to come.
Get Rid Of Dampwood Termites With Miche Pest Control
Hiring our team of professionals at Miche Pest Control is an investment in long-term protection, expertise, and peace of mind. Here’s why:
- Personalized Service and Local Expertise: We know the specific pest pressures in the area—such as seasonal rodent activity, regional ant species, or local termite threats. Our technicians understand the environment, climate, and building types common to the area, allowing them to provide targeted, effective treatments.
- High-Quality, Comprehensive Solutions: As a full-service provider, we doe’t just treat surface problems; we address the root causes. From inspections and prevention to exclusion and ongoing maintenance, we deliver complete, integrated pest management (IPM) programs designed to both eliminate infestations and prevent future ones.
- Accountability and Reliability: We live and die by our reputation. We rely on trust, referrals, and repeat business, meaning we're committed to doing the job right the first time and providing exceptional customer care.
- Faster Response Times: We respond quickly to emergencies and schedule services sooner than large, national chains. Especially when you’re dealing with urgent pest issues like rodents or wasps, that speed matters.
- Customized Treatment Plans: We tailor our services to your property’s specific needs instead of using one-size-fits-all chemical treatments. This results in safer, more effective pest control that minimizes environmental impact and reduces unnecessary pesticide use.
- Highly Trained, Experienced Technicians: We invest in training, certification, and continuing education for our technicians. We stay current on the latest pest biology, control techniques, and safety standards.
- Long-Term Prevention and Value: Our focus on providing quality service means fewer callbacks, longer-lasting protection, and better value over time. Instead of repeated, temporary fixes, you get strategic solutions that protect your home or business for the long run and provide better peace of mind.
Hiring our team means you get expertise you can trust, faster service, safer and more effective treatments, and long-term results that protect both your property and your peace of mind. Contact us today!