I receive notifications from Nextdoor on a regular basis. Inevitably, someone posts asking for help with a termite problem. The responses range from home remedies to recommendations for some of the largest termite control companies in the country.

I often want to respond to some of these suggestions, but as the owner of a termite control company, I realize my advice might be viewed as biased. So, rather than jump into someone else’s conversation, here are a few things I’d like homeowners to consider before following the advice they receive online.

The Recommendation to Use Orange Oil

People recommending orange oil may not have experienced the downside of their decision yet. One of the problems with orange oil is that it primarily kills termites on contact. Termites can also detect and avoid treated areas, potentially driving surviving termites deeper into the wood or into areas that are more difficult to access.

Killing worker termites doesn’t necessarily eliminate a colony. Think of it like killing a trail of ants. If the queen survives, she can continue producing more ants. The same principle applies to termites: if the colony’s reproductive members survive, the colony can continue to produce more termites.

There’s another consideration with orange oil: it’s flammable. When orange oil is injected into wood, you’re introducing a flammable substance into your home. That’s worth considering before choosing it as a treatment.

The Recommendation to Do It Yourself

Big-box retailers sell products marketed for termite control, and the temptation to handle the problem yourself can be understandable. However, some of these products rely on contact activity and may not eliminate the colony.

Surviving termites will avoid treated areas, potentially moving farther into the wood or into inaccessible locations. A product that kills the termites you can reach isn’t necessarily a solution to the larger problem.

DIY treatment may seem like a way to save money, but before applying a product, make sure you understand what it can actually accomplish and whether it’s appropriate for the type of termites you have.

The Recommendation to Call a Large Termite Company

I’ve worked for some of the largest pest control companies in the country, and my experience left me with a different perspective on the industry.

As companies grow, their sales processes can become increasingly important to their business model. At one large company, I was required to offer four services to prospective customers, regardless of whether I believed they needed them. At another company, “end of month” was a major focus. Branch managers would often schedule more work than termite technicians could reasonably complete, leading to shortcuts and services being skipped to keep up with the workload.

Those experiences helped shape the way I wanted to run my own company.

If you choose a large termite control company, ask whether its inspectors have sales quotas, whether they’re expected to recommend a set number of services, and whether the recommendations are based on your home’s actual condition. Company size alone doesn’t determine the quality of service, but it’s worth understanding how the business operates before you hire it.

The Belief That Tenting Is the Only Solution

There are situations in which fumigation may be the only practical solution. We recently visited a home with no attic access and no exposed exterior wood where a termite swarm had emerged in the bathroom. Unless the homeowner wanted to open up a substantial portion of the ceiling to locate and address the infestation, fumigation was likely the most practical option.

But not every termite problem requires tenting.

The appropriate treatment depends on the type of termites, where they’re located, the extent of the infestation, and whether the affected areas can be effectively treated without fumigation.

If you’re finding termite droppings and are panicking because you don’t want to tent your home, don’t ignore the problem. Don’t simply tape over the hole where the droppings are emerging, clean up the evidence, and hope the termites go away. Contact a qualified termite professional who can inspect the property and explain your options.

The sooner you identify the problem, the better positioned you’ll be to make an informed decision.

What Should You Look for in a Termite Company?

Ideally, find a locally owned company that knows its customers by name, takes the time to conduct thorough inspections, and stands behind its work. Look for a company that offers ongoing inspections and will respond if you experience termite activity between scheduled visits.

That’s the kind of company I’ve tried to build with California Termite.

Our customers often remark on how thorough our inspections are. They’re pleased to learn that fumigation isn’t always necessary and appreciate having treatment options explained without feeling pressured to buy something they don’t need.

We also believe the little things matter. We call when we’re on our way. We wear shoe covers when entering homes, carry hand vacuums to clean up fallen debris from attics, and take care to leave the areas we inspect and treat as clean as possible.

These aren’t extraordinary measures. They’re simply part of treating someone’s home with the same care we’d want for our own.

At California Termite, our philosophy is simple: We’re here to help. That means providing honest recommendations, explaining the available options, and doing what’s right for the customer.

Don’t Let a Neighborhood Post Delay a Solution

Online neighborhood groups can be useful for finding recommendations and hearing about other people’s experiences. But termite problems aren’t always as straightforward as they appear in a post or comment. What worked for one homeowner may not be appropriate for another.

If you’re experiencing a termite problem, don’t spend days sorting through conflicting advice and hoping the right answer will appear in the comments.

Contact California Termite today. We’ll inspect your home, explain what we find, and help you understand your options. No pressure, no unnecessary services—just honest advice from a company that believes we’re here to help.