Tips for Keeping Your Home Termite Free
While termites are minuscule, the damage they cause is massive. Each year, they cause more than $5 billion in property damage.
What’s more, keeping your home termite free can be challenging as they destroy your home from the inside out. Many times, you will only start to notice their impact once significant damage has been done.
This is why being vigilant about termite control and extermination is so important for keeping your home termite free. Dealing with your termite problem as soon as possible will save you a lot of stress and money in the long haul. You can start by taking these proactive steps to help keep termites away.
Below is a guide that highlights the simple tips you can use to make your property less appealing to termites.
1. Control Excessive Moisture
Termites need moisture to survive. If your home or crawlspace is humid or is a consistent source of water, you risk attracting them to your property. Getting rid of excess moisture and water sources will help with keeping your home termite free.
You can start by fixing leaks. Whether it is small leaks in your shower, roof, attic, basement, or plumbing, ensure you have them fixed fast.
You also want to ensure that any standing water near your house is removed. This means you may need to adjust the landscape next to your foundation to ensure water runs away from the home. Additionally, if you have a crawlspace you can reduce conducive conditions by having a properly closed crawlspace.
2. Treat the Wood Around Your Home
Wood is a major building component that can be found anywhere in your home — from your doors and deck, to furniture. It is also a source of food for termites. Having a professional inspection annually can help spot those issues and provide treatment if necessary.
Once your wood is treated, it remains impervious to attacks from termites and other invasive wood-destroying insects and fungi. Today, pest control professionals use eco-friendly products that are non-toxic to mammals and the environment and are a great way to help with keeping your home termite free.
3. Seal Up All Entry Points
Small openings and cracks can serve as entry points for termites into your property. Typically, termites enter your home below or at ground level.
However, they can still build mud tubes upwards to enter your home through spaces that are close to the ground. Sealing these entryways can help keep them away.
While at it, don’t forget about the small gaps in your doors, windows, doorframes, deck posts, as well as porch steps or supports. To keep termites from coming underneath the door, install a door sweep. You can also apply a thin layer of caulk to seal the gap.
Also, ensure your windows fit properly into their frames. This is a popular entry point for not only termites but also small rodents like mice.
4. Properly Store Wood Piles and Cardboard
One of the reasons why you may have termite problems is due to the woodpiles and cardboard they find. Wood and cardboard have cellulose — a component they need in their body for them to survive.
If you don’t store your woodpiles or cardboard well, you may be attracting them to your property. If you have a woodpile for fires, try and keep them away from your house.
Apart from using wood for food, termites can use it as a way to get into your home. It’s ideal to store your woodpiles inside a shed or garage with a concrete foundation to help with keeping your home termite free. You can also keep them on a raised metal platform to keep them away from reach.
5. Maintain Your Lawn
Before termites come inside your house, they will start by infesting the exterior, and your lawn is at risk. If your lawn isn’t well taken care of, it can attract termites and give them the habitat they need to survive.
One pest control trick you can use to keep termites away from your lawn is by removing dead trees and decaying stumps. Termites often seek out rotting wood, so removing them can reduce the risk of a termite infestation.
Mulching with plant-based materials may also be inviting termites to your property. Instead of plant-based materials, opt for inorganic mulch to protect your lawn.
Also, don’t let bushes and trees touch your house. To prevent this, ensure you plant your greenery at least 3 feet away from your home. What’s more, trim your bushes regularly so they don’t grow close enough to your house.
6. Schedule Regular Termite Treatments
This is one of the best ways of keeping your home termite free. Hire qualified pest control services to plan regular treatments and inspections. Enable you to notice infestations early and destroy them before there is any serious damage.
As a result, you end up saving a lot of money on repairs in the long run. For termites, it’s recommended to have pest treatments at least once a year if you live in a high-risk area.
Book a Termite Inspection with Professionals Today
Got a termite problem? The best way to deal with this issue is to call a professional who is certified in wood-destroying insects such as termites.
At Pest Management Systems, we offer comprehensive termite treatment plans that can help with keeping your home termite free. We are experienced, skilled, and well-equipped to handle even the most extreme termite infestation.
Contact us today to learn more about our termite and pest services. While these steps will help reduce the likelihood of a termite infestation, there is no guarantee they will eliminate all risks.
