Termites can live between two and five years. This gives these insects plenty of time to eat away at your home. Termites are one of the most destructive insects on Earth. 

There have been cases of walls and ceilings collapsing due to termite damage. The damage can sometimes be so severe that the affected house has to be knocked down. This is not only inconvenient but also a huge waste of money. 

But what can you do to prevent termites? Keep reading and learn more about it below.

Keep Timber Away from the Ground

Your house is more likely to be affected by termites if there is timber in contact with the ground. Many homes have timber boards touching the ground. The timber may seem sealed and secure, but it likely isn’t. 

Termites have ways of getting into the tightest of spaces. If there is a tiny crack in the timber, there is a good chance that termites will crawl inside and enter your home. They will then make themselves at home inside your walls, floors, and ceilings. 

Many homeowners don’t know that their house is infested by termites until it is too late. Termites may live inside your house for months at a time. This gives them plenty of time to eat away at the supports inside your house.

This can cost you thousands of dollars in repairs. It might make living inside your home a health hazard too. Keeping timber away from the ground is an easy way to keep this from happening.

The Details

Any timber attached to your house that touches the ground creates a perfect pathway for termites. You can fix this problem by removing this timber. You can do this by replacing it with a different materials such as metal, fiber board or tiles.

You could also just cut the timber shorter so it doesn’t touch the ground.

Timber stairs touching the ground may be a problem too. Termites can enter your house through the stairs and crawl under the floor or porch. Don’t be fooled by pressure-treated timber either. 

While this timber is more durable, it isn’t resistant to termites. Termites can still eat their way through it, creating tunnels that make it easy for the insects to access the deeper structures of your house. 

This is where they can wreak havoc and create serious damage. 

Reduce Moisture and Clutter

Termites love moisture as much as they love timber. It is important to keep moisture away from your home’s foundation. Excess moisture around this area will act as a magnet for termites. 

Moisture may seep into the deeper structures of your house as well. This will make it more likely for the termites to enter your home. Moisture may accumulate near your windows too. 

This is especially true if your windows are made of timber. Rain and humidity may latch onto and stay there. The termites will then have an easy way to enter your home. 

You can fix this problem by making sure your home has good drainage. Any water or moisture should be directed away fro your home and not left to sit around the base of your house. 

You need to be careful with sprinklers too. Do not use sprinklers so much that water begins to pool around your house. This moisture may penetrate any crawl spaces, floors, and windows around your home. 

What You Need to Know

Clutter around your house can cause the same problem, for example stored logs. These logs will hold moisture and also attract termites to the area. 

This makes it easy for termites to set up camp around your home. Other materials like cardboard will cause the same problem. They attract moisture along with termites. 

Be careful with piles of leaves and other natural debris, including inside the roof gutters. As these materials decay, they will produce more moisture which makes your house more vulnerable to termite attack. 

The best thing to do is to keep the area around your house and roof gutters clear at all times. Take out the rake and brush away leaves and twigs if you need to. This will keep your house dry and less attractive to termites. 

Consider Hiring a Professional

DIY termite prevention can only do so much. There is a point when hiring pest prevention and pest control services is a better option. Professional termite pest control services have years of experience in this field. 

They know all about the most common signs of termites and what to look for. They can tell if your house has termites and how severe the damage is. They can also clear out any termites that may be living in your house. 

This makes your life easier since you won’t have to do any of the heavy lifting. The professionals can help keep your house free of termites in the future. They might give you some tips on how to keep termites at bay too. 

Having regular pest inspections is a good way to keep your house free of insects. 

How to Prevent Termites

Learning how to prevent termites isn’t hard, but there are several things to consider. Termites love moisture, so it is important to make sure the area surrounding your house is dry. You also should not have any timber on your home coming in contact with the soil.

Professional pest control services can help you with whatever termite problem you have. To learn more about it, check out our services.