Tips To Protect Your Home Against Termites

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Americans spend over $1 billion a year on termite prevention and treatment. These small wood-eating insects love to burrow their way their homes, buildings and other wood structures, leaving a path of destruction in their wake. A termite colony might gradually eat their way through the supporting wood structures of a home, creating a dangerous scenario for anyone living inside.

As a home owner, you must take a proactive approach towards preventing termite infestations. Don’t wait until you see the signs of an infestation before taking action. Instead, take preventive measures to help reduce the chance of these wood-eating insects making their way into your home.

Remove Wood-To-Ground Contacts

Wood-to-ground contacts refers to any wooden material that’s directly touching the ground. The presence of wood resting on the ground naturally attracts termites, so you’ll want to remove any around your home. This includes firewood, old lumber, or any other type of wood.

Assuming there are no termites currently inside of it, you can the wood into a garage or shed. Alternatively, you can place a tarp underneath it so it’s not touching the ground.

Check The Crawl Space / Basement

Have you checked the crawl space or basement recently? If not, you should probably take this time to do so. Go into your home’s crawl space or basement to look for lumber or wooden material. Just a single piece of lumber left in a home’s crawl space can attract a massive colony of termites. The bottom line is that you want to keep your home’s crawl space or basement as clean as possible and without any lumber, firewood or other wooden materials.

Humidity

Termites, like many insects, are attracted to moisture. By keeping the humidity down inside your home, you’ll discourage these wood-eating insects from entering. If you believe your home is at risk for a termite invasion, place a dehumidifier inside the basement or crawlspace to protect your home.

Watch The Mulch

There’s nothing wrong with using mulch in your garden, but you should avoid using it directly against your home’s foundation. Try to give yourself a 12-inch barrier between your home’s foundation and the mulch. If termites happen to make their way to the mulch, they’ll still have a foot to go to reach your home.

Have you experienced a termite infestation in your home? Let us know in the comments section below!