When you find a termite infestation in your home, or even on your property if it’s close to your home, you need to get rid of them as soon as possible. Termites do a lot of damage, and they can do it quickly. Though you should look for signs of termites throughout the year, you should pay close attention in the spring and summer months, especially if you have an dead tree or any stumps close to your house. If you implement termite control and follow other termite prevention tips throughout the year, you can keep them from damaging the structure of your home.
How Termites Get Into Your Home
Termites can get into your home by digging tunnels under ground and into any wood that touches the ground. They can also tunnel through shrubs and other plants that are up against your home. And, some termites will build mud tubes from the ground, over the foundation, and into the wood in your home that is not touching the ground.
Termites can create underground tunnels that are over 150 feet long, which means that they can go from a rotted stump or other debris right to your house. And, you also have swarmers that look for places to build nest – they will fly right into your house. When you finally see termite damage, you already have an infestation, so it is imperative to implement termite prevention techniques before you see them.
How to Prevent Termites
One of the most important things you can do to prevent termites is to make sure you keep woody growth and plant debris away from the foundation of your house. If you are building a new house, make sure the foundation is concrete and that you have a ventilation space between any wood and the soil. Other ways to dissuade termites and help with termite control include:
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Make sure you have proper drainage around the house. You can achieve this by making sure the landscape slopes away from your house or by putting in a French drain.
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Fill cracks in cement foundations and block crawlspaces.
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Don’t let crawlspace vents get blocked, especially with plants and shrubs.
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Keep shrubs and other plants away from the house.
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Keep firewood and other wood debris away from the house.
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Treat the area around your house for pests, including termites.
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Spray the crawlspace under your home at least once every year. If the termites get into the floor joists, they will weaken the structural integrity of your home.
In addition to these prevention techniques, check the areas around the house for signs of termites. If you have old stumps and trees that are not healthy near your house, remove them. Always check for termites around any outbuildings on your property, even if they are quite a distance from your home.
Contact H&H Pest Control and Waterproofing
If you see signs of termites, you already have an infestation. In addition to the mud tunnels you might see, you might also see little piles of termite droppings near windows and door jambs. They look like dark sawdust. If you do not have a schedule for preventative spraying and you notice signs of termites, contact H&H Pest Control and Waterproofing to discuss the methods we have for eradicating these pests.
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