Termite season is right around the corner, and, if you think your home is safe from them, think again. 1 in every 5 homes is likely to suffer a termite attack this season, from our experience. What’s worse, is that insurance companies don’t usually cover termite damage, so you should prepare as best as you can. Below we have a checklist for you: 10 things you should do before termite season. Professional help is the best step you can take, but you can also play a huge role in lowering the chance of a termite infestation.
1. Get rid of moisture.
Termites love moisture, especially on wood. Along with this, termites thrive in moist environments, as they’re highly-dependent on water. Check and make sure there are no faulty or leaky pipes anywhere inside and outside the house to ensure you’re not providing termites with the perfect home.
2. Don’t let wood and soil meet.
While termites do each wood, it usually isn’t how they enter homes. Termites have very elaborate tunnels they build within the soil. The moisture from the ground is perfect for them, and often their tunnels will lead into homes. To avoid this, create some space between where your yeard ends and home begins.
3. Close any openings!
Termites can get into your home through the soil, yes, but they can also take advantage of any openings outside the home. Just like most rodents and other pests, termites will always look for a way in, whether that be a crack in the foundation or a hole in an outside wall. Find them and seal them!
4. Say no to mulch.
It’s not uncommon to have a garden in front of your home. Most of the time, mulch is placed in those gardens. While it may look nice, it’s an excellent source of food for termites. On top of this, it connects the soil and your home, which is no good.
5. Be careful with plants.
You may be noticing a trend at this point, all revolving around keeping plants, soil, and moisture away from your home. This is the best method to lower the chance of an infestation because it destroys paths for termites to get in. This also applies to plants and shrubbery around your home. They are filled with moisture, which will attract termites.
6. Don’t store wood in the yard.
Just like you don’t keep food outside for rodents or other wildlife, you don’t want to keep wood outside for termites. They love eating it, and, if they smell it, they will come for it. Either place it in a shed or some enclosed location.
7. Use termite-resistant wood.
Maybe you want plants close to your house. Maybe you need to plant mulch and have shrubbery around your home. We understand that removing these things can sometimes be an impossible task. If that’s the case, consider using termite-treated wood, as this reduces the chance of an infestation.
8. Have proper ventilation in your home.
Here in the south, we know a lot about humidity. Air conditioning is a godsend during the summer, and proper ventilation is a must! For comfort and practicality, correct ventilation is needed. Without it, the humidity will create a build-up of moisture and, if you’ve been following along, that’s a big draw for termites.
9. Remove any stagnant water.
Gutters, pipes, drainage – standing water inside and outside the home is a big no-no for termite prevention. Eliminate any obstructions to these to ensure there is not and will not be any stagnant water.
10. Get regular inspections.
As we said in the beginning, the best thing to do to prevent a termite infestation is to call a professional. With regular inspections, we can ensure your home is entirely protected from these destructive pests.
It’s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to termites. The amount of money and time you’ll spend fixing everything they destroy is not worth it in the long run. Keep this checklist on hand to help lower your chance of an infestation. However, if you’d like to drop your chances down to zero, call us today!
