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The Best Termite Foams

With their insatiable appetite for timber and other wood-containing structures, termites are one of the most destructive insects known to man, possessing the potential to cause thousands of dollars in damage to your property. Fortunately for you, there are plenty of anti-termite treatment and preventative measures out there that ensure your home will remain a termite-free zone. One of the most popular pest control method out there today is termite foams. Read on as we give you the complete low-down on termite foams, including the best individual examples of this product currently available on the market today.

With their insatiable appetite for timber and other wood-containing structures, termites are one of the most destructive insects known to man, possessing the potential to cause thousands of dollars in damage to your property. Fortunately for you, there are plenty of anti-termite treatment and preventative measures out there that ensure your home will remain a termite-free zone. One of the most popular pest control method out there today is termite foams. Read on as we give you the complete low-down on termite foams, including the best individual examples of this product currently available on the market today.

BEST OVERALL

Termidor Foam

This bottle of powerful termite killer foam is the best product in this category because of fas-acting, easy to applying and residual effect.

BEST FOR VARIOUS PEST

BASF PT Alpine Foam

If the termites, carpenter ants and other wood destroying pests are bothering you, this bottle of fast-acting foam can help kill them.

EASY TO APPLY

Bayer Premise Foam

With this termite foam you can easy kill the pests that are living between wooden structures, into the voids, attics and much more places.

1

Termidor’s Termidor Foam

BEST OVERALL

What we like:

What we don't like:

  • Perhaps not the most eco-friendly termite foam out there
  • Only effective as a treatment against a pre-existing termite problem, not as a preventative measure
  • A little bit on the expensive side also compared to some products out there, although you get what you pay for

Termidor’s Termidor Foam Review

First off, though, let’s take a look at the very best that the market currently has to offer in the way of termite foams. There are some really good foams available in this category of products, but in our opinion, the one that takes the cake – or gold medal of termite foams – is Termidor’s Termidor Foam. Containing Fipronil 0.5% as it’s active ingredient (one of the most powerful and potent insecticides out there), this termite foam can be used in and around all indoor wooden structures – including in homes, apartments, restaurants, offices, hospitals, hotels, and many more – and is also suitable for outdoor spot treatments. That’s not all though: after eliminating all termites from your home, the Termidor foam for drywood termites also offers extremely long lasting residual protection against future insect incursions.

The fipronil insecticide is contained in an aerosol foam which you simply spray into all crevices and termite holes where these pests are known to inhabit and cause their mischief. When done, simply replace the finger-pad cover – and when the termite foam can is empty, replace with a new one. This powerful formula is effective not only against termites but also other common pests like ants and stink bugs.

2

BASF PT Alpine Foam

BEST FOR VARIOUS PEST

What we like:

What we don't like:

  • Again, not the most environmentally friendly insecticide out there on the market
  • A bit on the expensive side also compared to other products out there

BASF PT Alpine Foam Review

Next, we have the PT Alpine Roam Ready-to-Use insecticide from BASF. Whether you have termite problems inside your house or out; in the home, hotels restaurants, offices, warehouse, hospitals, schools, transport equipment like ships, boats, trains and planes, warehouses, and all other possible industrial and commercial locations – then this product will deliver a solution. Containing the powerful insecticide Dinotefuran 0.025 percent as its active ingredient, this insecticide comes in the form of an aerosol foam that you spray out of a can – it’s that simple! A very user-friendly pest control product. It is effective against not only termites but other common pests like stink bugs and ants as well.

At the first sign of a termite infestation in or around your property, simply spray the PT Alpine Foam into the affected areas, and within a couple of weeks, your termite problems will be more or less resolved! Not only that – but after the initial termite invasion has been repelled, this termite foam treatment product will also deliver exceptionally long-lasting residual protection against those ravenous, subterranean pests. This is one termite foam product that’s extremely fast acting and ideal for spot treatments. The alpine ant and termite foam makes a great complement to Termidor termiticides/insecticides and is well and truly recommended.

3

Bayer Premise Foam

EASY TO APPLY

What we like:

What we don't like:

  • Again, the Imidacloprid insecticide is not the most eco-friendly one out there on the market
  • A little on the expensive side also

Bayer Premise Foam Review

Finally, we have the Bayer Premise Foam Insecticide. Available in an aerosol foam that weighs in at 18 fluid ounces, this insecticide contains as it’s active ingredient the powerful chemical Imidacloprid (with a concentration of 0.5 percent). It can be used in and around all termite galleries, and in any other cracks, crevices, and crawlspaces where these creatures are known to dwell. You can spray it on and into your deck, attic, siding, fencing, as well as the foundations of your house. Use it in the home, office, hospitals, schools, nursing homes, warehouses, restaurants, transport equipment (like buses and trains), and in all other commercial and industrial facilities. The Bayer termite foam is effective against termites (both dry wood and subterranean) as well as other wood-infesting critters like ants, carpenter bees, wood-infesting beetles and more.

Apply at the first sign of an infestation, and you will be sure to see quick and effective results every time: this premise foam termiticide is undetectable by termites, and it also expands at a 30:1 ratio ensuring it will make it into even the hardest-to-reach areas like wall voids, floor joists, and the inner sanctum of termite galleries. Overall, it’s one of the best termite foams out there today, and well and truly worth the investment of your time and money. A close runner-up to the preceding two products.

Other products to consider

Spectracide Terminate Foam

There are a lot of other good termite foams out there as well. Whilst they may not quite reach the standards of the preceding three products, they are still a very good option if you are looking to rid your home of these destructive pests. For example, the Spectracide Terminate Foam is a termite foam guaranteed to kill both drywood and subterranean termites (as well as other pests like carpenter bees) on contact, and all simply by spraying a special expanding, insecticide-containing foam from a Spectracide terminate aerosol can into hard to reach cracks and crevices where these pests are known to dwell. Whilst not as potent as the products reviewed above, the Spectracide terminate termite killing foam is still a very good product.

BioAdvanced Killer Foam

Likewise with the BioAdvanced Killer Foam, another potent termite foam that not only disposes of termites but also carpenter bees, ants, wood-infesting beetles and more. It contains 0.05 percent Imidacloprid as it’s active ingredient; against, whilst powerful, it is not as potent as some of the other insecticides reviewed here.

D-Foam Residual Foam

Another very good termite foam is the D-Foam Residual Foam with Deltamethrin. Containing 0.06 percent Deltammethrin as it’s an active ingredient, it is effective against termites and other subterranean pests and can be used in domestic and commercial, indoor and outdoor settings alike. It’s a little bit on the expensive side, though, and is not quite as powerful as the ‘top three’ termite foams, as handpicked by us. It’s still a very good termite foam though, highly recommended.

Control Solutions Fuse Foam

Finally, in our ‘best of the rest’ list of termite foams, we have the Control Solutions Fuse Foam. It too contains Fipronil (0.005 percent) as it’s active ingredient, it provides comprehensive treatment against termites, carpenter bees, ants and other subterranean pests. This tentless termite treatment comes in an easy to use aerosol can, however unlike our ‘top three’ termite foams, it doesn’t expand as much once sprayed into cracks and crevices, therefore probably won’t reach the hardest to reach places where termites might be dwelling.

About termite foams

A quick breakdown of termite foams

As we have seen, termite foams are an insecticide-containing foam that you spray out of the nozzle of an aerosol can into the cracks and crevices of the wood and timber structures in your home where termites are known to be dwelling. The foam expands to fill the entire area of those places so that no termite can escape. Those termites who come into contact with the termite foam treatment are killed on contact – generally, the foam is odorless and undetectable by the insects so that they can make no efforts to avoid it. In addition to being easy to use and delivering quick results, termite foams also deliver long-lasting residual protection against these pests, transforming your home or business into a termite-free one for months to come.

Indeed, these foams are suitable for use in your home as well as in commercial and industrial locations, in schools, hospitals, nursing homes and a whole lot more.

Termite foams are one of the simplest, most economical, and comprehensive pest control products out there on the market today.

What type of users are termite foams intended for?

Termite foams are an exceptionally versatile pest control product, that can be used both indoors and outside of your home; and in domestic and commercial settings alike. Whether it’s your home, business, warehouse, hospital, classroom, nursing home, bus, train or any other location which has a termite problem – a termite killing foam will provide an answer to your problems. Easy to operate, your termite foam can be used both by the home-owner with no special expertise or knowledge and by the pest control specialist alike. (generally speaking, though, the latter don’t use a ready-made foam in a pressurized container; they have their own foamers, which they use to convert their liquid termiticides into a foam that can penetrate the hard-to-reach termite galleries).

The most common terms you should know explained

Several times in this article you will have seen referred to a distinction between ‘drywood’ and ‘subterranean’ termites. They look different, have different feeding habits, and leave different sorts of evidence behind of their ongoing existence. But the main difference between them is in their nesting habits. Drywood termites, simply put, are those who burrow into the wood and timber of your home and build their colonies there. Subterranean termites, on the other hand, live underground. For that reason, termite foams are most suitable for treating a drywood termite invasion. Before buying one of these termite wall foamer products – first, work out what sort of termites are present on your property!

Drywood termites damage

Inthanil/Shutterstock.com

How do termite foams work?

The concept behind termite foams is actually exceptionally simple. Take a liquid, insecticide-containing termiticide, transform it into a pressurized foam, and hey presto! Your pesticide product can easily reach right into the core of the termite colony (something liquid pesticides can’t do, no matter how skillfully they are operated). That’s what termite foams do. Contained in a pressurized aerosol can, you simply spray your product of choice into the tiny holes that lead down into the subterranean galleries where these elusive pests hide. The foam then expands by up to 30 times its initial size, filling every corridor and other areas of the nest so that no termite can escape.

As termite foams are odorless, non-repellent products, termites cannot detect them and consequently take steps to avoid them; they go on eating the now poisoned wood in your home, and the termiticide contained in the foam slowly but surely kills them.

Most of these termite killing foam products have a delayed action effect, which promises better results then those that kill on contact – the reason is that they infected termites can carry poisoned food back to the Queen; eliminating the latter cuts of the termite problem at the roots. As well as delivering quick results and turning your home into a termite-free zone, the action of termite foams also creates a residual chemical barrier that will deter termite from re-colonizing your home for several months to come.

All termite foams work in much the same way. Ready to go straight from the box (you may have to shake the can a bit before spraying), you simply squeeze the nozzle on your aerosol can and inject the pressurized foam into holes that lead to the core of the termite colony. The main sense in which individual termite foams differ from each other is in the insecticide used in the termite foam.

The main insecticides used in termite foams are Spectracide, Termidor (Fipronil based), Fipronil, Deltamethrin, Imidacloprid – all strong, powerful insecticides. Spectracide is considered to be the most eco-friendly of these pesticides. Though its use is limited to very small, localized infestations. Termidor is a very famous insecticide as well, however, it is quite toxic and thus should be used in low dosages and preferably indoors only so that it doesn’t wash away into public waterways. In some states, you actually require a special pest control license to use this pesticide.

Imidalcloprid is less toxic than Fipronil, but is not 100 percent eco-friendly either (it can be poisonous to honeybees and some other useful insects).

A termite pest control foam also comes in different sizes, and they also vary when it comes to the extent to which they expand when injected into the termite galleries (30 times the original size is the normal rate).

What products can termite foams replace?

Termite foams are a suitable replacement for all liquid termiticides when these are used against termites, carpenter bees and ants. In particular, termite foams are the product to use if you have an infestation of drywood termites. The reason is that these termites dwell within the wood and timber of your home itself; in fact, their nests are situated right beneath the holes they use to burrow into the wood, and the frass (termite excrement) that they leave lying around. Those holes thus make a perfect place to inject termite foams. In addition, termite foams are most suitable as a spot treatment measure, and drywood termites tend to create colonies that are localized to the one or few pieces of wood or furniture that they have burrowed into. It is a different matter with subterranean termites – termites that live underground, and for whom the main nest site in many cases cannot be found. In the case of a subterranean termite infestation, termite foams can be used as a complementary measure to other termite treatment means like chemical soil treatments (liquid insecticides, dust, and termite traps/bait) – but never exclusively.

If termite foam doesn’t suit my needs, is there any other product I should be looking at?

Termites can be treated – and prevented – by any number of means. Treatment measures include termite growth-regulating dust, termite traps, bait stations, and liquid insecticides. As mentioned, if you know your home is infested by termites but you are not able to find the main nesting site, then spray foam insulation and termites products won’t be effective. At best it can be used to complement these other treatment measures.

Did you know?

Termites foams are not effective at preventing your home from being infested by termites, only at treating a termite invasion that is already underway.

For the former, you will need to employ means that create a – physical or chemical – barrier between your property and the termites looking to overrun it.

Termite foam buying guide

There are a wealth of different pest control foam products out there on the market today, and they vary widely in terms of their various features – and their quality. Here are the things you need to consider in making sure you get the best termite foam for your situation.

  • Active ingredients – there are a number of different insecticides used in termite foams.

    Some of them are more powerful than others – on the other hand, some are relatively eco-friendly, whilst others are toxic to nature and humans alike.

    If you have an out-of-doors termite problem on your property, then you don’t want toxic chemicals to drain into waterways when it rains. You also don’t want your children to be exposed to harmful substances. So do your research, and choose wisely when it comes to the insecticide contained in your chosen termite foam.
  • The range of applications – can your termite foam be used indoors only, or both indoors and outside? Is it suitable both for localized spot treatments and large-scale pest control operations? Can it be used both by the DIY householder and the pest control specialist? Is you termite foam effective against subterranean termites as well as drywood termites? Check to see that the product you have your eyes on is suitable for the situation at hand.
  • Expansion rate – most termite foams expand to at least 30 times their initial size when injected into the termite holes. Anything below this will probably not be able to flush out all termites dwelling within the wood and timber structures of your home.
  • Repellent or non-repellent? Repellent insecticides don’t kill insects, just nauseate them. As a result, pests can learn to avoid and circumvent these substances. Non-repellent substances, on the other hand, kill them outright – and thus are a better option if you are looking to get the best results from your termite foam.
  • Delayed effect or not? Does your pest foam product kill on contact, or have a delayed action effect so that the poisoned termites can carry the insecticide back to the Queen? The latter gives you more chance of cutting off the future growth of the colony at the root.
  • Residual protection – check your preferred termite foam to see if, after the initial action, it offers any further residual protection against future termite invasions. Remember, a termite colony can easily and rapidly grow again after being decimated the first time.
  • Odors ­- read the product review of your chosen termite foam to see if it leaves any unwelcome odors. You don’t want to buy a product that makes your whole house smell.
  • Top brands – Termidor is the most reputable brand out there when it comes to termite foams and other termite control products. And indeed their Termidor Foam termite foam spray takes the cake as the best termite foam out there on the market today, in our book. Whilst there are many other fine termite foams around nowadays, Termidor is your go-to brand if you are looking for the best, most reliable foam for your needs. Spectracide is another very reputable and popular pest control brand, with a range of quality pest control products out there on the market.

Other useful information about termite foams

The name ‘termite foam’ can be a bit misleading. As we have seen, there are many different kinds of termites (drywood and subterranean termites are the two main categories here). Termite foam products are much more effective at tackling some varieties of termites than others: namely, the drywood termite variety. As we have seen, they can be effective at treating other pest problems – like carpenter bees and ants – as well, not only termites.

In some cases, termite foams are better used in tandem with other pest control products, than as a stand-alone treatment. For example couple the Spectracide termite foam with the Spectracide Terminate Termite Detection & Killing Stakes (a form of bait treatment for termites), and the Spectracide Terminate Termite & Carpenter Ant Killer (AccuShot Sprayer) (liquid pesticide).

Termite foam usage tips

Fortunately, termite foams are exceptionally easy to use (simply shake the can and spray into the holes where termites are known to dwell) and require no special maintenance, cleaning or repairs. When the can is empty, simply replace with another one. While not in use, and for safety purposes, keep well out of the reach of children and pets, and of open flame, when not in use.

If you do encounter problems with your product, then check the manufacturer’s policy on returns and refunds. For example, does your termite foam come with a warranty – how long is it, and what does it cover? Is there also a money-back guarantee – and again, how long is it and under what circumstances does it apply? Also, what percentage of the original purchase price can you get back?

Truth be told, though, you shouldn’t encounter any problems with these user-friendly, ready to go devices. Most are safe to use in human habitations, and around people and pets alike, and they are relatively eco-friendly also.

To conclude

In this article, we have explored the wonderful world of termite foams, one of the most effective, easy-to-use pest control products out there on the market today. Whether it’s your home, business, school, office, warehouse, nursing home, restaurant, sports stadium, or hospital that is Affected by termites – termite foams will provide an answer to your pest problems. They are suitable for use both indoors and outdoors; with their expanding foam mechanism, they will easily penetrate every nook and cranny where termites are dwelling in your home, no matter how inaccessible. And al you have to do is squeeze the nozzle of an aerosol foam. By choosing termite foams like the Termidor Foam, PT Alpine Roam Ready-to-Use foam, and the Bayer Premise Foam Insecticide – these three products take the mantle as the best termite foams out there today – you can turn your place into a termite-free zone, and do so in a manner which is simple, cost-effective, and good for the environment as well.

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