How To Reduce The Risk Of Termite Damage To Your Home
Termites can damage your home when you don't even realize they're present. Your homeowner's insurance may not pay for termite damage, so keeping the pests out of your house is extremely important. Here are a few termite control tips that reduce the risk of damage to your home.
Hire a Termite Control Company
If you think you have termites, call a professional to assess the situation and provide treatments. Termites are too destructive to waste time figuring out how to eliminate them on your own. Even if you don't have termites currently, you can hire a termite control professional to set up monitoring stations so you can be alerted if termites move onto your property.
A termite company can use monitoring stations, bait, and sprays to get rid of termites and prevent another infestation. In severe cases, they may put a tent over your house to kill termites inside, but it's often only necessary to fight termites outside your home with sprays and baits.
Keep Your House Dry
Subterranean termites need moisture to live and thrive. If you have a dripping pipe under a sink, the dampness can attract termites. By keeping your house dry, you remove the moisture the pests need when they invade your home. Repair all leaks and drips, and also look for areas where condensation creates moisture or high humidity.
Keep Soil And Plants Away From Your House
Termites can build mud tunnels that allow them to move across a concrete foundation from the soil, so the goal is to keep the soil far enough from wood building materials so termites aren't enticed to find a way to reach your siding or deck. If you put in foundation plants, don't build up the soil too high. Also, keep mulch from touching the side of your house.
It may help to keep a border of gravel around your home as a reminder to keep plants and woodpiles away. Trim back your bushes and trees if they grow against the house so termites can't use them to gain access through a window or roof.
Watch For Signs Of Termites
Check your foundation regularly for mud tubes. When you see the tubes, call a termite control company and let them know because the termites may be inside your house. Listen for reports of termite activity near you since the pests often invade neighborhoods.
If your neighbors are battling termites, your home is probably under threat too. A pest control professional can advise you on the right way to proceed when termites are known to be active in your area so the pests stay outside and don't get in to destroy your house.