Termites have been known to cause more harm to homes in the course of a year than flood or fire. The threat that termites pose to houses is one of the main reasons why you don’t see an insurance policy that provides termite protection.
Termite Prevention Tips to Protect Your Home
To help you avoid costly damage from termites, we’ve provided a variety of useful tips for preventing termite damage to safeguard your property from harmful insects.
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Schedule An Annual Inspection for Termites
Regular examinations of termites are an accurate defense against the danger of termites!
Occupational pest experts, like ours, can help identify problem areas and ensure that any indication of a termite infestation is caught early before there’s any major or costly damage to fix.
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Don’t Build Gardens Up Against Your House
When vegetation is pushed close to a house, it is a good idea to have it fully or partially covered by weep holes.
This allows termites to gain an easy route through the garden, through the weep hole, and into the house’s framework.
The gardens can also block you from seeing the foundations of your house and make it difficult to identify evidence of an infestation by termites.
Finally, flooding is the primary cause of an infestation of termites! Thus, keeping moisture and plants away from your home is essential.
If you have a garden close to your home’s foundation, you must be cautious when watering your plants to keep any moisture or water away from the walls of your house.
If you’re planning to build gardens within your home, make sure you maintain an inspection area. It is important to be able to reach the edges of your home so you can check for termite trails.
You should have at least 50 centimeters between any plant and the wall that faces the outside of your house.
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Do Not Block Weep Holes Using Plants or Mulch
As mentioned previously, blocking weep holes may allow termites to gain entry into your home. They also deliver airflow and benefit from maintaining your home’s interior walls dry.
Because termites like moisture and water, making sure to keep your weep holes clear of debris and vegetation is essential to avoid an infestation of termites.
Be sure not to cover the weep holes within your brickwork overly. Maintain a clean inspection zone that begins just below the weep hole and look for any signs of termite lead.
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Avoid Trees and Plants That Have Huge Root Systems
One accurate method of avoiding the spread of termites is to create a barrier against them within your home. Unfortunately, tree roots could break through the barrier, giving termites a way into your home.
The dead trees, as well as the roots, can also be troublesome. Termites are particularly attracted by dead wood, and dead trees anywhere within your property could be a source of roots that reach the outside of your house.
The termite problem can begin within the dead stump and move along the root system until it reaches your home.
Be aware of plants or trees with large root systems. Don’t plant trees near your home. Take care to eliminate stumps that have died from your property. The cost and effort involved in this will be lower in comparison to the damages caused by a termite invasion!
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Keep Your Yard Clean!
As we have mentioned, dead wood is an excellent source of food for termites. If dead wood is discovered close to the outside of your house, it could also provide an ideal access point.
Get rid of any sticks, debris, and twigs, then cut and rake your grass frequently. Make sure that the mulch is at least four inches from your house.
Be cautious about the kind of mulch you choose to use.
Certain types made of mulch can be naturally resistant to termites (pine needles, pea gravel, pea gravel, or other sources that are not organic), While others can act as a magnet for insects as sources of food or as a nesting spot (untreated wood chips and hardwood mulch).
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Be On Guard To Avoid Excessive Moisture Around and in Your Home
Termites require a humid environment to flourish, which is why limiting the excess moisture surrounding your house is among the most crucial elements of termite prevention.
Check for any pooling liquid or leaking that may cause water damage or attract termites to your house.
Common trouble spots around your home that you should be looking for are:
- Hot water systems that leak.
- Air conditioners -Make sure your outflow pipe or drip pipe is located far from your home.
- Downpipes damaged
- Blockage of drains
- Dripping faucets and hoses
Be on the lookout for these problems in your home:
- A leaky showerhead, toilet, or tap
- A damaged exhaust fan in laundries, bathrooms, and kitchens
- A damaged sealant has been applied around baths and showers
- Internal plumbing has been damaged
- The swelling or blistering of ceilings, walls, and skirting boards
We homeowners are prone to saying, “If it’s not flooding, it’s fine. ” However, all of these factors create inviting environments for termites.
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Be Cautious About the Location Where You Put the Outdoor Spa Bath as Well as the Method of Mounting It.
Spa baths produce moisture, and they attract termites; therefore, it’s not a surprise that spas are a problem when trying to stop the spread of termites.
If you own an outdoor spa or plan to build one, try to avoid putting it on a deck constructed of wood. In the event that you do, you’ll end up creating an attractive dark, humid, dark space with food sources for termites that can thrive.
It is also recommended to avoid putting your spa right up against the home and be mindful about the kind of mulch that you put near the spa.
Whatever way you approach it, spas remain dangerous since they benefit from adding moisture to the soil beneath them, which could attract termites.
Our perfect termite prevention advice is to speak with an expert pest control technician prior to creating a structure around or in your spa bath to be sure you’re taking the necessary precautions.