What is the difference between subterranean and drywood termites?
Subterranean termites nest in soil and reach a Smyrna home through tubes and cracks, and they need moisture. Drywood termites live entirely inside dry wood with no soil contact. Subterranean colonies are far larger and cause most of the damage in Smyrna, Georgia, but drywood infestations are harder to reach.
Is termite treatment safe for kids and pets?
Modern termiticides applied by a licensed Smyrna provider are placed in soil, wall voids, or sealed bait stations, not on living surfaces. Follow the label about staying off treated soil until it dries. Fumigation requires everyone, including pets and plants, to leave the Smyrna home until clearance.
Will termites come back after treatment?
Treatment ends the current infestation, but termites remain in the soil around Smyrna, Georgia neighborhoods. Keeping mulch and wood away from the foundation, fixing leaks, and keeping the renewal contract current are how Smyrna homeowners stay protected long term.
Does fumigation kill subterranean termites too?
Tenting is a drywood tool. The gas reaches every gallery in the wood of a Smyrna, Georgia house but not the ground beneath it. If mud tubes are present, the Smyrna provider will pair fumigation with a liquid or bait treatment around the foundation.
Do I need a termite inspection when buying a house?
a termite inspection belongs in every Smyrna home purchase, especially for homes with crawl spaces, slabs on grade, or wood siding. The report shows active termites, past damage, and conducive conditions. Ask a licensed Smyrna provider for a report dated close to closing.
Can I treat termites myself instead of hiring a professional?
Few homeowners want to. What the research adds for Smyrna: Unlike ants or flies, termites are a pest most people would rather not tackle alone: just 16% of U.S. homeowners in National Pest Management Association (NPMA) and Harris Poll research released March 24, 2026, preferred DIY, a stated preference rather than measured purchasing. Providers serving Smyrna should be able to explain how their recommendation fits what they actually found on your property.
Can I pay for termite monitoring without a full treatment?
Sometimes, but not every company sells it. One figure Smyrna homeowners tend to underestimate: about 42% of pest-control company locations offered inspection- or monitoring-only termite services, per Pest Control Technology (PCT) magazine's 2025 termite market report, a BASF-sponsored Readex survey of roughly 145 professionals covering 2024 operations; the share describes companies, not the number of homes monitored or infested. Smyrna homeowners comparing quotes should ask each provider which of these patterns they see locally and why.