It is a scene that we all remember seeing at least once in our lives. You might have seen it in your local neighborhood or in an older shopping center. You know what is going on as soon as you see the tent-like structure. Unless you live somewhere near a circus, seeing one of these down the block can be a surprise. I am speaking of the tents erected around a building when it is being fumigated for an infestation of termites, or other organisms.

As a real estate team, one each transaction there is typically some termite work involved. This could be as simple as a termite inspection that turns up nothing, to a full blown repair project to treat $25,000 worth of work. As we have begun to hear about natural alternatives for termite repair work & also continued to read about the chemicals commonly used in the traditional methods, we have wondered about the pros and cons of each. The research for this piece was born out of that curiosity.

For many years, the chemicals used to treat a termite infestation tended to stay the same, mainly chlordane, heptachlor, and andaldrin. These chemicals first appeared for agricultural use but were brought into the home when deemed safe. In the late 60s and early 70s, these chemicals were looked at in a questionable light due to their toxicity when used multiple times within the same space or in high traffic areas. It also did not help that sulfuryl fluoride, another chemically based pesticide, was discovered to be a major greenhouse gas that lasts about 30 years in the atmosphere and may last up to 100 years.

As we moved into the late 70s and 80s, many of the older chemicals were traded out for new mixtures and dosage levels. These new chemicals were close to or as strong as the old ones but they also still brought up the same questions as the older ones. All of these products just couldn’t escape the shadow of history.

It was into this environment that new natural products emerged. It is very fascinating to hear some of the creative sources that were dreamed up to use. Mixtures of various oils and spices were brewed together to make something that could easily repel bugs away from your house and garden plants. For example, toss garlic, peppers, and onions into a food processor, let that stand in hot water for 24 hours, and strain for a spray that will work against thrips, aphids, grasshoppers. With the passage of time and improvements in distillation and chemistry, scientists were able to take an even more concentrated version of these enzymes and oils and use it to make a more powerful insecticide.

Originally used as a universal solvent and a fragrance additive for perfumes and taken from the rinds of the orange, a natural oil named Limonene was found to also be useful as a pesticide. The chemicals in the oil react with the central nervous system of the bug to kill them. The corpses left behind have oil residue on them which can continue treating any other infestations and the orange scent disrupts the pheromone chain which will lessen the chances of the bugs knowing where to return to. Along with many other naturally-sourced pesticides, orange oil was looked at as being something that would bring the same results as a chemical treatment without the problem of toxicity.

Even with all of the possible benefits that the natural pesticides like orange oil bring, they still have problems just like their chemical brothers. The naturally-based products are applied with nozzles and sprayers which lead to the need to use a lot of product to cover a large infestation or a worry that you will need to have several applications if the infestation has multiple access points into the structure. Orange oil also can be highly flammable when used in a heavy saturation so you need to be extra careful if you plan on treating a kitchen or similar area. One concern is that, since it is not a gas & not applied through fumigation, that problems throughout the entire structure may not be addressed.

Like its natural cousin, chemically based pesticides have their own host of application problems. With new modes of construction, the ways that the walls are built can hinder the fogged pesticide. Tightly sealed wall boards and ceilings stop the fog from reaching into the wall interior which means the infestation could avoid the treatment altogether. Unlike the natural pesticides that are administered directly, the fog method is a form of blanket coverage that still does not 100% guarantee that it will take care of the whole problem. However, older structures without tightly sealed wallboards won’t have this problem to the same extent.

We asked our regular termite inspector (who also helps us coordinate much of the termite repair work in our business) about orange oil as an alternative. He said often the orange oil companies will use some of the chemical pesticides in conjunction with the orange oil-so this would be a question to ask any of those companies, so that you can make a decision about what is best for you.

So to summarize a bit, you have traditional methods using chemicals that even through fumigation may not reach all crevasses of a structure. You have alternative orange oil treatment that must be applied locally and not as a whole-structure fumigation – again, possibly not treating all infected areas. And, you have the choice to use a combination of both – which may mitigate the overall usage of chemicals, but still may not cover all areas. With no clear guarantee of ridding the entire structure of infestation, it makes the choice difficult. But through discussing with your termite professional in the real estate transaction and querying your local orange oil provider, you can make your own educated decision. And, hopefully this article has provided enough information to know what questions to ask.

Author Bio: Kelsey Lane is a part of The Look Team, a professional team of Realtors that service the Silicon Valley. Kelsey manages The Look Team\’s online presence, helps sellers with getting their properties ready for the market & close their deals, and helps with pre move-in remodels for our buyers. For more information about the topic of this article as well as The Look Team, visit their blog at TheListingLook.com.

Category: Real Estate
Keywords: orange oil, pesticides, staging, house