Finding out that your home is infested with termites can be disheartening. Termites have the ability to wreak havoc on your home by damaging the structural stability of the home itself. Preventing a termite infestation is something that should be at the top of every homeowners list of priorities.
Here are three simple tips that you can use to help keep termites at bay and protect your home from serious damage in the future.
1. Eliminate excess moisture from your home.
Since termites are living creatures, they need access to water in order to survive. If you want to prevent termites from infesting your home, then eliminating any water sources by addressing excess moisture can be beneficial.
Conduct routine inspections to check for leaking pipes or faucets, and repair torn or missing shingles to prevent water from leaking into your home and soaking the wood used to build your home's frame. You should also ensure that your rain gutters and downspouts are working properly to prevent excess moisture from serving as a water source for thirsty termites.
2. Keep soil away from your wood.
Another easy thing that you can do to prevent termites from becoming a serious problem in your home is take the time to keep soil away from any wood elements in your home's exterior. By ensuring that your soil line remains below the line where your home's concrete foundation begins, you can make it more difficult for termites to take up residence in your home.
Since the termites can't easily travel from the soil to your home's wood, they are more likely to find a food source that is easier to access. Keeping soil away from your home's wood is critical when it comes to preventing a termite infestation.
3. Address any signs of termite activity early.
You should be conducting regular inspections of your home's exterior to check for signs of termite activity. If you see mud tubes (which are pathways used by termites to access a food source), bubbling paint, or hear a hollow sound when tapping the wood on your home's exterior, these are all signs that termites could be affecting your property.
Contact an experienced termite control exterminator to eliminate these termites before they have the chance to establish a large colony that could cause serious destruction within your home.
Being able to deter termite activity through moisture elimination, reduced soil contact, and constant vigilance for signs of termite activity can help you reduce the likelihood that your home will become infested by termites in the future.
