What Can You Do To Prevent Termites?

Termites eat day and night, without stopping, leaving behind more than $5 billion in damages each year! Even worse, the damaged cause is not covered by most homeowner insurance plans.

So, you were coming home from work the other day and noticed the house down the street was tented for termites and to make things worse, the majority of your house is constructed from wood. Don’t panic; your house isn’t getting eaten by termites just yet. Here is what you can do to prevent termites.

Understanding How A Termite Infestation Starts

If you have a grasp of how a termite infestation starts, you can better defend against them. Some of the things that can start a termite infestation are:

  • Moisture from clogged gutters, leaky pipes, or standing water on the foundation of your house.
  • Wood and wooden structures that are too close to your home and create a highway for termites to enter your home. Examples are old lumber leaning against the house or a dead tree whose limbs brush up against your house.
  • Cracks in your foundation where termites can enter.
  • Homes built on damp soil, such as in Southern Alabama, are more likely to experience a termite infestation.

How Do I Keep Termites At Bay?

Keep Bushes And Trees Pruned

If the bushes around your home are kept neatly trimmed, and there is at least a foot of space between the bushes and the house, termites won’t be able to reach your home. The same stands true for trees. If a tree is dead and is touching your home, it creates a path for termites to get into the cracks and crevasses of your house. Prune back or completely cut back tree limbs touching your house to keep termites from inviting themselves inside.

Get Rid Of Mulch

Mulch might as well be known as “termite chow” because they love it so much. Piles of appetizing mulch are often heaped up against the foundation of your house and its walls. This act is one of the most common ways, if not the most common way; termites end up in a house.

Keep Your Crawlspace Dry

If your home has a crawlspace, be sure that it has both good ventilation and a vapor barrier. As we stated before, termites love damp, dark, musty places if your crawlspace fits that bill, it’s time to make some changes.

Seal Up Cracks

Termites can only get in if you let them. Having cracks around your house and especially on the foundation is like putting out the welcome mat for termites. Be sure to seal up all visible cracks, or have a professional seal them up if they are numerous.

Move Old Wood

Woodpiles such as firewood leaning against your home are perfect for termite infestations. After they are done with the wood, they are going to move on to your home. Never leave old wood of any sort against the exterior of your house. Next to mulch, this is the most common way termites infest a home.

Dry It Out

If your home is unusually damp, you are at a higher risk of termites as well as other unpleasant insects. Take out things that could be causing dampness such as houseplants. If your home is damp because of location and construction, then consider purchasing one or more dehumidifiers to make it unpleasant for termites.

How Can You Be Sure You Don’t Have Termites?

If you have any of these signs it’s time to call us at Advanced Pest Control of Alabama.

  • Clicking or scraping sounds in the wall.
  • When you known on a piece of wood in your home, it sounds hollow.
  • Windows and doors become difficult to open.
  • The paint in your home has small bubbles in it, even though it is dry.

If you have any signs in your home of an infestation, let Advanced Pest Control of Alabama take care of them for you. Call us right away or fill out our simple contact us form. We will contact you to discuss your termite infestation problems and give you all the information you need to have peace of mind.

Don’t wait until termites do too much damage, call us now!