No homeowner wants to have to deal with termites. Unfortunately, the pests do damage to more than 600,000 homes around the United States every year. They cause about $30 billion in damage to crops, home and other buildings all over the country every year. When homeowners find termites in their houses, the average price tag they pay to the local pest control company runs around $3,000.
To prevent a termite infestation, the local pest control company recommends the following tips:
- Repair water leaks. When you walk around your home do you see any leaks? You should make it a point to check your foundation, attic and roof for any leaks. These should be fixed as soon as you see them. When you find small leaks, they should be fixed when you see them so they cannot grow into big leaks that are more expensive to repair. Termites love wood that has been damaged by water. If there is water damage in your bathroom, they will find it and make themselves at home. One area you should always keep an eye on is your basement. Nearly 99% of all homeowners who have a basement will experience at least some level of water damage in that part of their home during the time they live there.
- Keep your downspouts and gutters clean and clear. This is not most homeowner’s favorite thing to think about but experts at the local pest control company say this important to keep the termites away. Clogged downspouts and gutters can lead to leaks in your roof and water damage to your house. You want to avoid this to make your home unappealing to termites.
- Make sure your downspouts and gutters are doing their job. The main role of your gutters and downspouts is to keep water away from your foundation. Make sure they are actually doing this. When it rains, check out your downspouts and make sure they are directing the rainwater away from your home. If you have an air conditioner drainage line, make sure it is not dumping water at your foundation. You can prevent soil erosion by using splash blocks.
- Do not plant an bushes, trees or put wood mulch near your foundation. Bushes, shrubs, trees and mulch are all places that termites love to hang out, say people at the local pest control company. These items are moist and can give termites a place to live. You should make sure your foliage is well pruned and kept a decent distance from your foundation. The minimum space you should leave is six inches.
- Keep an eye on your sprinklers. If you have automated sprinklers around your lawn, you need to make sure they are not spraying your foundation or the walls of your home. You need to water your lawn, not your house. Remember that termites love wet wood so limiting the amount of that you have at your home can be a great way to deter them.
- Your siding needs to be above the soil level. If you have vinyl siding or stucco on your home, you need to make sure it does not start until six inches above the soil line. Termites love to get into homes through stucco or vinyl siding.
- Check your foundation every spring. Many homeowners report seeing swarms of termites around parts of their home in the early spring. It is worth it to check your foundation during various times of the year for termites and cracks. If you see a swarm, you should call a pest control contractor right away to help with the problem.
- Look for mud tunnels. When you are walking around your home, keep your eyes open for tubes of mud that are about the size of a pencil. Termites create these to use to get to and from their food source and colony. You may see these inside your home or outside. If you see these, you should call a local pest control service.
It is never fun when you find that your home has become infested with termites or any kinds of insects. Termites can do a lot of damage but you can get rid of theme with help from the local pest control company.