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Bakersfield has a perfect climate that attracts all kinds of pests, but especially termites. With an average temperature around 65 degrees and average precipitation of 5.5 inches, termites can thrive for decades as long as they have wood to feed off of. With extensive housing developments popping up around the city, there are now more and more homes (and wood) for termites to infest.
Before we go over the tips on prevention you should first understand what makes termites thrive. First off termites live in colonies that are organized into different social classes, forming a productive and destructive wood-eating team. They thrive in warm, moist, and dark environments; just like the structure of your home behind the walls. Because they work behind the walls where they aren’t visible, they can go undetected for long periods of time. Look for wood dust and small holes along the walls and in the windowsill, as these are common signs of a termite infestation.
So now that you know what environment termites thrive in and how to spot an infestation, how do you prevent them? Below we generated a list of 7 tips to prevent expensive termite problems in your Bakersfield home.
- Keep wood away from your home.
By keeping material like firewood and landscaping woodchips away from the structure of your home, you lessen the risk of an infestation.
- Keep soil and organic matter 8 inches away from the wooden structure of the home.
Termites can also thrive within soil, feeding off of the plants and organic matter within it. By keeping soil 8 inches away from wooden structures, you lessen your risk of an infestation.
- Fix leaking water pipes.
As stated before, termites thrive in moist environments. If you think you have a water pipe leaking, even if its small, you risk attracting termites into the structure of your home.
- Regularly inspect and replace weatherproofing materials.
Weatherproofing materials and loose mortar around the structure of your home can create cracks and openings that termites can easily find and enter through. Once inside walls, termites thrive and build massive colonies.
- Ensure that your house is properly ventilated.
Some homeowners don’t realize how important ventilation is. Attics and basements can build up moisture and heat that welcomes termites; proper ventilation solves this problem.
- Treat wooden structures around your home.
By treating wooden structures like fences, decks, and sheds with a termite-resistant coating you decrease the risk of attracting them towards your home.
- Have your home checked regularly.
Bakersfield’s climate is perfect for termites. Have a pest control expert check your home regularly so that they catch the problem before it becomes a costly mess.
Bakersfield is a beautiful city that is full of opportunity. Don’t let pests like termites ruin your dream home and cost you thousands of dollars in repair costs. By following the tips above, you can prevent the expensive cost of a structural fumigation and structural repairs that would be needed if your home becomes infested with termites.
