What preemptive measures can you take to prevent termite damage to your house? Termite elimination is a two-part process: preventing termites from entering your home and treating known termite populations.
In this article we are discussing some key strategies to help prevent termites from ravaging your home.
Receiving scheduled, normally annual, termite inspections from a certified expert is important.
Work with your pest control professional to correct conditions around your home that are conducive to termite habitation, such as excess moisture and wood-to-ground contact.
Decide what preventative termite treatments, direct treatment, bait and monitoring programs, etc. will be most efficient. Base these on your home’s construction and signs of habitation around your home and the surrounding area.
How Can You Help Deter Subterranean Termite Infestations?
Block Access
Close gaps around utility lines where they enter your home to help reduce entry points.
Wood-to-ground contact is a common ingress point for subterranean termites seeking access into your home. Where applicable, try to eliminate wood-to-ground contact. In addition to removing this pathway into your house, you also can treat wood with termiticide to make it unappealing to termites.
Remove Food Sources
Dispose of excess cellulose materials around your house, such as in crawl spaces. Use cellulose-free alternatives to mulch or maintain it at least six inches from your foundation.
Ensure wooden siding is a minimum of six inches above the ground.
Minimize Moisture
Eliminate standing or any other water around the foundation of your house and on your roof.
Correct moisture problems in the basement and crawl space areas.
Fix faulty plumbing, leaky gutters, and air conditioner condensation ducts that may be dripping.
Survey for Activity and Utilize the Appropriate Prevention Techniques
Inspect lumber: give extra attention to used lumber and railroad ties for indications of termites before utilizing it in home or garden projects.
Consult your pest management professional to recommend prevention strategies around your house, which may include monitoring stations, liquid treatment or direct wood treatment. Monitoring stations are the least invasive option because they serve as an alarm system for activity; however, they do not provide any deterrent against infestations. Proactive treatment can help protect your house against future infestations.
How Can You Help Mitigate Drywood Termite Infestations?
Prevent Access
Drywood termites can access your house through small cracks in the exterior wood. Block all cracks, crevices, and joints to stop termites from entering.
Two easy ways to minimize access include the application of a fresh coat of paint, which can seal the tiniest crevices in wood, and installing mesh screens over attic and foundation vents.
Minimize Food Sources
Clear dead trees, firewood and any other dead wood that can be inhabited by dry wood termites.
Survey for Activity and Institute Prevention Techniques
You’ll want to inspect used lumber and railroad ties for termite activity before using it in the home or garden.
Wood shingles create convenient access for dry wood termites. Be aware of dry wood termite activity signs near areas with wood shingles. Ask your termite subject matter expert about proactive treatment strategies that can help protect your house.
Final Thoughts
Termites provide a potentially dangerous and destructive risk to your home. If you find termites be sure to give us a call at Consolidated Pest Solutions.
