1. Stack Firewood, Lumber and Other Cellulose Products Away From Your Home
Keeping your woodpile stacked up against your house for easy access in the winter is convenient, but not only can it provide a great source of food for termites, it can also give them a safe passage into your home avoiding any termite treatment that may be present. To minimize this risk don’t store any wood based products in your crawlspace, stack your woodpiles several feet away from your home and keep the wood elevated off the ground if possible.
2. Fix Improper Drainage and Minimize Moisture Around the Foundation
Termites must have moisture to survive and improper drainage around your home could be creating ideal conditions for them to thrive. Make sure your downspouts are diverting water away from your home and that your faucets and A/C drip lines are not causing water to pool around your foundation. Another often overlooked cause of termite infestations are clogged gutters and leaf debris collecting on your roof. Clogged gutters can cause water to backup and leaf debris collects moisture and begins to decay. These conditions are ideal conditions for an aerial termite infestation, especially in areas with formosan termites.
3. Clear Mulch Away From the Foundation
Wood mulch is a great way to make your home look nice but when used excessively it can create ideal moisture and temperature conditions for termite activity. Keep mulch raked back at least four inches from the foundation and never let the mulch come in contact with siding or framing of doors or windows.
4. Trim Back Overhanging Tree Limbs and Overgrown Bushes
Tree limbs hanging over your roof and overgrown bushes can create shelter areas, cause moisture build up, and provide easy paths into your home for many pests, including termites. Trees hanging over the house will also drop leaves on your roof and in your gutters that can create moisture problems that could be conducive to an aerial termite infestation.
5. Have Your Home Treated and Inspected Regularly By a Trained Termite Control Professional
The above steps will help make your home less appealing to termites but the best way to prevent termites is to have a trained professional inspect your home every year and treat your home with a termiticide like Termidor HE. In many areas in the Southeast, it is not a question of IF you get termites, but a question of WHEN! Contact us today for a free inspection and quote to place your home under a lifetime warranty.
For more information about preventing termites in your home you can follow the links below.
- Clemson University: Subterranean Termite Control
- Palmetto Exterminators: Winged Ant or Termite Swarmer?
- Allstate: Is Termite Damage Covered by Homeowners Insurance?
- University of Kentucky: Protecting Your Home Against Termites
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