Termidor SC - Questions & Answers

Per the Termidor SC label: French drains eliminate water at the footing along a foundation perimeter. They are common in hollow block foundation structures to drain water seeping from the exterior perimeter or underneath the foundation. Soil must be dry before applying to sites with French drains. DO NOT rod through the slab any closer than 24 inches to the French drain to prevent Termidor SC finished dilution seepage and/or damage to the drain or the tiles. DO NOT apply Termidor SC within 5 feet of the sump pump pit and pump. To prevent drainage/seepage from the block into the drain, DO NOT drill through hollow block foundations that border the French drain.

Once French drains have been identified and located, apply a 0.06%, 0.09%, or 0.125% Termidor SC finished dilution as follows:

1. Unplug the sump pump. Inspect sump pump pit for water. If no water is present, the treatment can be made provided the sump pump remains unplugged, or

2. if water is in the sump pump pit, unplug the sump pump and remove four cups of water from the sump pump pit. Mark the water level. Wait 10 minutes and check the water level in the sump pump pit again. If the water level has risen, there is too much seepage to perform the treatment at this time. If the water level does not rise, make the treatment provided the sump pump remains unplugged.

During application, check the sump pump pit every few minutes for the presence of Termidor SC finished dilution. If detected, stop treatment immediately and remove the contents of the sump pump pit before plugging in the sump pump again. Either apply the removed sump pump pit contents to a labeled site or dispose of the removed contents as directed by this label in the Pesticide Disposal section.

Note: For structures with French drains located adjacent to the outside of the foundation, refer to the Structures with Adjacent Wells/Cisterns and/or Other Water Bodies section of this label.

Termidor SC cannot be mixed with paint to deter termites.  It would be best applied in trench around the home for termite prevention.  We have a step by step guide that will walk you through how to do your own termite trenching treatment. You can see the guide by clicking on the link here.  For treating wood before you paint you would use something like Timbor or Boracare which penetrate into the wood and last for the life of the wood.  Once the surface is dry after application you can then paint.

When drilling holes for application of Termidor, you will need to come out 2-3 inches from the foundation and drill holes every 12" into the concrete along the foundation wall.

When appling Termidor SC into drilled holes in concrete, we would recommend using a 5 gallon bucket to mix 4 gallons of mixture (3.2 fl oz per 4 gallons of water/10 ft of drilled holes), and then using funnels for pouring in drilled holes (12” apart) evenly. 

Termidor SC is rainfast after 6 hours.  We would recommend waiting 24 hours before hosing off the concrete areas where it was applied to ensure maximum efficacy.  

Termidor SC is the # 1 choice for ant control around the outside of your home. Termidor SC is a non-repellent insecticide that also has a transfer effect. That means that ants cannot tell that the Termidor SC is there and will walk right over it and then pick the product up on their bodies and inadvertantly carry it back to the colony, then through normal social interaction the ants spread the Termidor SC and wipe out the colony. Termidor SC only needs to be applied two times per year and is effective for a wide variety of insects including ants, centipedes, roaches, spiders, silverfish, wasps and many other nuisance insects.

When it comes to indoor ants, there are many different types of ants, you can check out our Ant Control Guide for information on identifying the particular ants you're dealing with, along with information on treatment and prevention.  For treatment of most indoor ants, we would recommend our Indoor Ant Control Kit.

Termidor SC would only be applied inside if using to spot treat an active infestation per the product label.  It cannot be used for prevention inside.

Termidor SC is not labeled to be sprayed on rugs or carpets. We would recommend disposing of the rug. If you choose not to dispose of the rug, you may contact the manufacturer for information on how to clean it so it can be used indoors again.

Termidor SC contains an intentionally slower-acting active ingredient, so it may take several hours or longer for an insect to die after contacting a surface treated with this product. Exact timing will depend on the size and health of the insect as well as how much active ingredient it picked up. Please refer to our Carpenter Bee Treatment Guide for tips on how best to manage this pest.

When getting ready to treat with Termidor SC and digging a trench, you can use whatever equipment you have at your disposal as long as you're able to safely trench the perimeter of your home. Also, when trenching and if it rains, you could use a tarp to cover up the area to protect what's already been done.

Termidor SC is not labeled for use around poultry houses. 

Termidor SC would be applied as a foaming application only to directly spot treat active infestations.  This can be done anytime of year.

 Termidor SC, when used as directed, is safe to use with people inside the home and you do not have to evacuate anyone from the premises.  It should be perfectly safe for a pregnant woman since you will be treating outside.

Termidor is labeled to control roaches but it’s not labeled to be used indoors. Please take a look at our Roach Control Guide for information on how to control roaches. We also have Roach Kits that have the products you need to do a roach treatment indoors. 

If you are able to access the soil around the pipes, yes, it would be recommended to treat the top few inches with Termidor SC around them.    There is no harmful fumes released.

You definitely do not have to treat all at once.  A Termidor treatment can be spread out over a few weekends or whatever time frame you want to.  Please read our "How To Do A Termite Treatment" article if you have not already.  You are also welcome to call us with any specific treatment questions.  We are here to help.

You would handle this situation by either removing a good portion of the soil you treated with the over the counter product and replacing it like you had suggested, or by treating everywhere else but the area you treated.  If you are going to try to replace the soil, then make sure you dig down plenty deep and remove all of the soil that may have been contacted by the over the counter product.  Don't worry, many homeowners do the same thing and call us when they realize there are better alternatives.  It should be fine.

Termidor SC can be applied anytime through out the year, as long as it is not below freezing temperatures.  Termites are active all year round in many parts of the country so anytime is a good time.  As far as treatment goes, you should read our "How To Do A Termite Treatment" article which explains how a homeowner should do their own termite treatment just as good as the professionals.

You must find out how many lineal feet you have around the outside or your home. Unfortunately, the square footage just will not tell us how much you really have to treat. To find how many lineal you have, measure around the front, back and each side of your home. Add up the measurements and now you will have the total lineal feet. Use 4 gallons of finished solution per 10 lineal feet around the house. For Example: A home with 200 lineal feet around the foundation would require 4 bottles of Termidor SC. Most homes require at least 4 bottles. Spraying alone will not protect your home from termites. To protect your home from termite infestations, Termidor SC must be mixed with water and poured in a 6-inch deep trench that is dug around the foundation of the home. You can purchase Termidor SC on our website.

If you treated your home a year ago with Termidor SC, then you should have no worries.  Termidor SC is the best there is for a reason. There will always be termites in your yard and there is not really much you can do about it.  Most companies, and I concur, that what you should really worry about is your biggest investment, your house. Let the termites eat on the mulch. If they get close to the house the Termidor SC will do the job.