Termites are a  terrible problem to have.  Figuring out termite control can be equally confusing.  Traditional house tenting and using poisonous chemicals like sulfuryl fluoride – Vikane is now competing with using Orange Oil (XT-2000) which does not require tenting and moving out.  There are tradeoffs with each.

Orange Oil Treatment

Orange oil for termites contain the active ingredient, 95% pure d-limonene. D-limonene is extracted from the rinds of oranges. Boroscopes with fiber optic technology are used to see through walls looking for termites.  Orange oil treatment will only kill termites in the infested areas treated as it is a localized spot application. They will treat the area by drilling into the infested wood and injecting the Orange Oil into the termite galleries. It is effective for drywood termites, not subterranean termite infestations.

Orange Oil vs Vikane Tenting

There is an ongoing battle over the efficacy of orange oil for termite control. This article covers a UC Berkeley Dow Chemical funded study that fumigation companies are using to counter orange oil and push for toxic chemicals like Vikane against termites. If you have to use it, make sure you hire a professional cleaning crew to completely clean it home after fumigation. Chloropicrin is also used as a warning agent. This is a powerful teargas used to make sure house is empty of pets and people before the actual fumigation. Exposure to it have 119 ppm for 30 min. is lethal. Do you want your home filled with this kind of stuff?

Alternative like sodium borate are also available.  We found an old pocket of termite damage when we did remodelling and use Bora-Care on it.

Tenting vs Spot Treatment

Not every house needs to be fumigated. Determining factors will include areas of infestation, level of infestations, size and age of the colonies, type of termites.  A trained professional should take all these into account when doing termite control.

Dampwood termites have their entire company inside the wood, so spraying is ineffective. You need to solve the moisture problem first.

If you are considering using Orange Oil for termites be sure to locate a licensed and qualified termite control company that offers traditional treatments and fumigation as well as Orange Oil.  This way you can receive an unbiased analysis.

Be sure to read our articles Orange Oil Termite Pest Control – XT-2000 Orange Oil – Eco Friendly Green Pest Control