Termite prevention should be taken seriously by every homeowner, and it can also help you avoid very expensive damage to your houses. People should take precautionary measures before it actually happens to them, and they definitely should not have the misconception that they won’t be struck by the wrath of termites. Whether you have moved into a new home, or have been living in the same home for a while now there are some things that you need to exercise for the safety of you and your family.
Keep away any kind of wood
A very common thing to do especially in the winter is to keep piles of wood stacked against your house for increased accessibility. Not only is this food for termites to munch on but you are also providing them easy access to your house. You should prevent this by making sure no type of firewood or lumber is against any type of crawl spaces, and it should be stored far away from your house.
Minimize moisture in the house
A very big signs of termites is moist conditions and inadequate drainage systems that enable these pests to thrive. Your faucets and AC pipelines should not drip around your house and get clogged up with dirt and debris. Gutters that are blocked can result in moisture being collected by leaf debris which will start to decay.
Keep away the mulch
Mulch is a very nice way to make your home look aesthetically appealing but if you are using it too much it can enable ideal conditions for termite inhabitation. Your mulch should be kept and raked away at least 5-6 inches away from your house’s foundation to make sure that it does not come in contact with the doors and windows, providing them access to inside of the home.
Trim your garden
Limbs and branches of trees that hang over your house, and bushes that are over grown around your house can also cause moisture to build up which will provide easy access for termites and many other pests. Trees hanging over your roof will cause the leaves to drop in the gutter which will cause blockage, creating moisture problems and potentially causing aerial termite infestation.
Regular inspection
The steps mentioned above will help you prevent termites but it still wise to make sure that your home is inspected by pest control profession at regular intervals. Homeowners should make it a point to do this twice a year to be on the safe side. If you haven’t done that already, you should contact an exterminator before you start seeing signs of termites. Sometimes termite inspections are not as easy to conduct, and can only be done properly by trained professionals that have all the necessary equipment. For example, you will not be able to protect every type of crawl space or other types of entries to your house and you will only be able to do so much.
