No one wants termites in their home. It immediately conjures thoughts of expensive repairs, right? If you think you might have termites, or you want to prevent them from moving into your home, you may want to look into termite prevention or termite control. Start by asking yourself these three questions.
What attracts termites?
To know if you have termites or not, start by looking around your house for the things that attract termites the most. These things include:
- Wood piles, specifically firewood bunches
- Moisture
- Mulch
- Trees
If wood piles, mulch and tree limbs are too close to your home’s foundation or roof, it can lead to unwanted termites in your home. Clogged gutters can also be home to sitting water and moisture – another favorite for termites.
What can you do to help prevent termites?
If you read the list above and realized you have all of those things crowding around your yard, don’t worry. Here are some ways that you can help prevent termites by changing your surroundings.
Wood piles: Try to keep firewood piles at least 20 feet away from your home, and try to keep it raised at least five inches from the ground.
Moisture: If you notice that your gutters are clogged with leaves, dirt and debris, clean them out to ensure that there is no sitting moisture. Moisture in your gutters can make your insulation and foundation more susceptible to termites.
Mulch: While mulch can add to the aesthetic of your outdoor landscape, make sure to keep it at least 15 inches away from the foundation of your home. Mulch can be dangerous because of the amount of moisture that it absorbs.
Trees: Keep the limbs of your trees off and away from your roof. When the limbs are in contact with your roof, it becomes an automatic pathway for the termites.
How can pest control prevent termites from invading?
Termite prevention may seem as simple as just moving things around in your yard, but it takes more than that. Ideally, you should have your foundation checked and inspected regularly by a professional and a termite inspection once a year.
If you want to take a deeper look into termite control and prevention, contact Dustin Pest Control today.