Termite Prevention Tips

Tips on preventing Termite damage.

If there is one thing that every home owner fears, it is termites.  Termites are not just pests, they can literally eat your home from the inside out.  Termites can damage structure and wreak havoc if left to run free.  It is important to take preventive measures when it comes to termites because they literally do billions of dollars worth of damage to homes in the United States each year.  Do It Yourself emphasizes the importance of prevention in the fight against termites, “Termites are one of the biggest contributors to home destruction, costing a staggering $1 billion in damages each year. Thanks to the importing of the voracious Formosan termite from East Asia, that amount continues to skyrocket. Think about the following numbers for a moment. A termite colony consists of anywhere from 350,000 to well over a million workers, soldiers, and swarmers (termites with wings). A single termite queen can lay thousands of eggs per day and live between 30 and 50 years. That means a queen can recoup her losses and repopulate her colony even after tremendous devastation. The best way to fight this foe is to prevent them from ever touching your home.”

In the fight against termites, the most important thing to know is that they love moisture.  Knowing this will influence many of the preventive measures you will take to keep those pesky termites far away.  If you tend to store wood next to your home to use for building or for throwing in the fire to keep you warm, you need to move that wood away from your home.  Termites like wood and they like the moisture that will be trapped next to your home under the wood.  Wood should be stored at least 10 feet away from the perimeter of your home.  But, it is not just wood.  You should avoid storing anything right next to the perimeter of your home and should also keep plants and bushes trimmed and do not let them grow too close to the structure because moisture will be retained near the structure.  Also, avoid the use of wood mulch near your home because mulch retains water and with wood in the mulch, it is like an open invitation to termites.  As a rule of thumb, use mulch sparingly to avoid excessive moisture retention near your home.  Routinely check your plumbing to ensure you have no leaky pipes around the exterior and no leaky plumbing on the interior of your home.  Keep an eye on the foundation of your home and if you see any cracks or problem areas, immediately seal them to keep unwanted pests away from your home.  If you do find that you have termites, immediately contact your pest control service to come and treat your home.  Not only can you treat your home and remove the termites, but you can treat the soil around your home to help prevent termites from returning.  By following these tips, you can protect the structure of your home and keep it termite free.