Have you had a previous termite invasion and want to prevent a reinfestation? Want to be proactive about preventing termites in the first place? If so, you can incorporate several methods to better prevent termites from entering and destroying your home. This blog post will highlight three ways to avoid termite damage.
1. Mind Your Moisture
As moisture is a big lure for termites, any sign of it can be a potential threat to your home. So, instead of shrugging off signs of moisture, diminish it so that termites won’t be tempted to invade. Moisture can exist in a lot of places, so examine your home thoroughly for any signs of water. Once you have identified all the likely areas that moisture can exist, eliminate or fix the sources of moisture.
What can you do to mitigate moisture? You can:
- Fix up leaks from pipes, faucets, toilets, or HVAC systems
- Replace or insulate pipes that sweat a little too much
- Inspect your gutter system and replace it if necessary
- Invest in better ventilation or a dehumidifier
- Put in a vapor barrier in a crawl space or basement
- Eliminate any standing water in or around your home
- Ensure your sprinkler system stays on only your grass
- Keep mulch away from the foundation
Without moisture, termites will not have a ready water source. As they rely on water to survive, they will more often than not stay away from your home.
2. Keep the Wood Away
Besides water, termites depend on wood to live. Therefore, excess wood around your home can be an open invitation to hungry termites. In that case, the best way to discourage termites is to not have any unnecessary wood.
This unnecessary wood encompasses many things. Consider vegetation around your home for instance. While much of it is green plants, some of it is wood, which will, of course, always be a termite attraction. Trees, for example, can be a great aid to termites. Not only living trees but also stumps and tree debris can help termites in their quest for food and shelter. Unnecessary wood also includes woodpiles.
However, don’t think that eliminating this unnecessary wood means getting rid of all your trees or wood stockpiles. The key here is placement. As long as the wood doesn’t touch the foundation or scrape against the sides of the home, your chances for a termite infestation are fewer.
3. Treat Your Wood
Besides moving wood away or removing unnecessary wood, you can also treat your wood. While you can’t likely treat your current home’s wood, you can treat any new wood you bring onto your property. For example, this could be lumber for a new deck or patio. The treated wood would have chemicals that repel termites. Therefore, you can still enjoy wooden structures without the risk of wood-destroying pests.
Contact the Termite Experts
If you find yourself in a situation of having termites in your house, call the experts at Guardian Pest Control who have over 30 years’ experience treating for termites. Our work is guaranteed! And for homeowners buying – selling or re-financing homes Guardian Pest Control can provide the inspection reports that may be required.