Termites are a common concern for homeowners. The US Environmental Protection Agency estimates that termites cause billions of dollars in structural damage each year. If left unchecked, termites can cost homeowners thousands of dollars in repairs and treatment. To help protect your investment, follow these simple tips to help prevent termites in the home.
Can You Prevent Termites In the Home Without Pesticides?
There are a number of pesticide treatment options that can help prevent termites in the home: applying termiticide to the soil, treating your home’s wood, and using termite baits and traps. Many pest extermination professionals also recommend using a termiticide barrier treatment to help keep the termites away from your home.
Nonetheless, you can work to prevent termites without resorting to pesticides simply by making a few changes in and around your home and yard.
Tips for Keeping Termites Out of the Home
Diligence is one of the keys to preventing a termite infestation. No termite prevention method is entirely guaranteed and many of the steps must be repeated regularly to keep an effective barrier against termites and other wood-destroying pests. Following these simple steps will give you some extra protection against termites.
1. Have Your Home Professionally Inspected Regularly
Pesticides may be necessary if you learn that your home already has termites. The first step should be to have a professional conduct a termite inspection to make sure you’re not already dealing with an infestation and possible structural damage. If the inspection does reveal termite damage, you’ll need to have the infestation and damage taken care of before moving on to the preventative measures listed below.
2. Eliminate Any Excess Moisture In and Around Your Home
Termites are attracted to moist or damp wood, so you’ll want to prevent this type of environment around your home. Make sure your landscaping, gutters, and downspouts are designed to divert water away from your foundation. Quickly repair any leaking faucets, air conditioners, and pipes. Anything you can do to prevent moisture in and around your home will help support your efforts.
3. Make Sure All Entry Points Are Sealed
Another important step in preventing termites is to seal up any entry points that the termites can use to gain access to your foundation, basement, or crawl space. Confirm that the areas around your water lines and utility lines are fully sealed and airtight.
4. Keep Wood and Vegetation Away From the Home and Off the Ground
Finally, it is important to keep all vegetation trimmed back away from the home. Wood piles should be kept a safe distance from the home and off the ground if possible. If you have bushes and trees around your home, trim them back to keep them from touching the house.
Having your house regularly inspected and following these basic steps will help you prevent termites in the home.
Manning Home Inspections provides termites inspections with general home inspections at no extra cost, or they can be ordered separately. Contact us to book an inspection in the Palm Beach area.