What's the fastest way to get rid of termites?

The fastest way to get rid of termites is to hire a professional pest control company for a liquid termiticide barrier treatment or direct chemical treatment, because over-the-counter products rarely eliminate entire colonies that can have millions of members underground. For subterranean termites which cause most structural damage in the US, the fastest method is a liquid barrier using non-repellent termiticides containing fipronil or imidacloprid, where technicians trench around the foundation, drill through concrete slabs and porches, and apply termiticide to create a continuous treated zone in the soil that termites contact and carry back to the colony, killing within days to weeks, with visible reduction in activity often within a week but full colony elimination taking 30 to 90 days. For drywood termites that live inside wood, the fastest way is direct wood injection or fumigation where the entire structure is tented and fumigated with gas, killing all termites within 24 to 72 hours but requiring vacating the home for 2 to 3 days and costing $1,000 to $3,000. Spot treatments with foams containing fipronil injected into infested wood can kill on contact within hours but may not reach entire colonies. Fastest DIY methods like orange oil or boric acid have limited reach. To speed up results, combine chemical treatment with fixing moisture issues, removing wood-to-soil contact, and clearing wood debris. Professional treatment is fastest because technicians have commercial-grade products, equipment, and expertise to locate nests and ensure complete coverage, and many offer guarantees with follow-up inspections.