Termites are an annoying and costly pest. According to Realty Times, American property owners shell out roughly $5 billion for termite damage repairs each year. While a termite removal company can help you get rid of infestations, you can help lower the risk of this problem occurring in the first place with a few simple preventative measures.
1. Keep Moisture Down in or Around Your Home
Keeping your moisture levels low involves regularly checking items like faucets, water pipes, and AC units for leaks. Make sure that you divert water away from your home correctly with high-quality gutters. In addition to making your home less habitable for termites, this can also help prevent mold from building up in spaces like your attic and your basement.
2. Store Firewood Away From Your Home
Yes, firewood is important for having roaring fires on those cold winter nights. However, it's also a prime food source for termites. You want to keep those termites a good distance from your home, which means putting the firewood at least 20 feet away. A little extra exercise to get the firewood never hurt, right?
3. Check Your Foundation and Any Wood Parts of Your Home
Termites go through more than just wood. They can also create mud tubes in the foundation of your home to get to the wood they want to eat. See if you notice things like uneven or bubbling paint. Knock on the wood and see if you hear a hollow sound. Check to see if your windows, doorframes, and skirting boards show any noticeable changes.
4. Schedule Regular Inspections
The best thing you can do to avoid termite infestations is to have a termite removal company do a regular inspection each year. Termites may move slowly, but they can do a lot of damage over the years. Don't let them get too much of a foothold in your home. Having regular inspections will help to minimize damage if not outright prevent it. A little bit of repair work is a lot better than having to pay for costly structural repairs. That will really eat into both your home's wood and your savings.
Do you need help getting rid of termites or want to schedule an inspection to help avoid future infestations? Contact Essential Pest Control today to learn more about our services. We look forward to assisting you in keeping your home termite-free!