Termite colonies have powerful jaws with protruding points that they use to bite and chew at the wood inside and outside your home. Structures such as walls, ceilings, and floors can collapse due to deterioration over a short time.
Today’s homeowners have various tools at their disposal for early termite protection of their homes and families. Here are a few quick termite facts you should be aware of:
- Termites eat wood nonstop for 24 hours a day.
- Subterranean termites live in the soil that is buried.
- The queen of a termite colony lives for 5 to 10 years and can lay up to 160,000 eggs a year.
- A colony has 95% worker termites and 5% soldier termites.
- Termites build mud tubes out of the soil and their waste so they can move around.
5 Ways To Stop Termite Infestation At Your Home
If you don’t want termite infestation in your home, you need to follow the below-mentioned tips:
Never Store Firewood, Or Wood Debris Near Foundation Or Crawlspace
Firewood, cardboard boxes, lumber, newspapers, and other items attract termites. When placed against foundations, they create a secret entrance and may allow termites to bypass treated soil. Avoid vines, ivy, and other dense house-touching vegetation. Remove stumps and dead roots, and form boards from buildings.
Fix Drainage Issues & Reduce Moisture Near The Foundation
Termites are drawn to moisture, so damp soil near the foundation is an attractive target for infestation. To prevent this, divert water away from the house with working gutters, downspouts, and splash blocks.
Repair any leaky faucets, pipes, or air conditioning units, and ensure that the ground slopes away from the foundation to facilitate surface water drainage. For homes with poor drainage, installing tiles or drains may be necessary. Also, ensure lawn sprinklers and irrigation systems are positioned to avoid water puddling near the foundation.
Clear Mulch & Keep It Away From Your Home
While landscape mulch benefits plants and aesthetics, it should be used cautiously, especially if you already have termites or conducive conditions. Mulch’s moisture-retaining properties and insulation against temperature extremes can attract termites.
Although mulch is not an ideal food source, moisture is the attractant. Any mulch can attract termites, including crushed stone or pea gravel, which also retain water. When using mulch, it should be applied sparingly, no more than a couple of inches, and never come into contact with wood siding or framing of doors or windows.
Prune Back Overgrown Bushes And Tree Limbs
Tree limbs extending over your rooftop and overgrown shrubs can provide pests, including termites, easy access to your home. Trees that droop over a home will also drop leaves on the roof and downspouts, leading to moisture issues that could facilitate an aerial termite infestation.
Call Termite Control Experts Regularly To Inspect & Treat Your Home
Hire a reliable pest control company. Most termites enter buildings through concealed natural holes. The preceding steps will deter termites, but termiticide is the best approach to avoid infestation. Preventative termite treatment is recommended, especially if the home has never been treated. Maintain the warranty by paying the yearly renewal fee if a pest control company treats the premises. Even if the treatment were successful, the professionals would return and cure the area for free if termites reappeared.
Endnote
A skilled eye is required to detect hidden termite infestations. Pest management firms often provide free termite control quote and will notify homeowners of any situations that are favourable to termite infestation.
