Termite Prevention: Is Doing It Yourself Possible?

If you know anything about pests, you probably know that termites are some of the worst you can get. The tiny insects have the power to make any homeowners life a living nightmare with all the structural damage they can cause. In fact, they cause five billion dollars in property damage a year. The tricky question about termites is how much prevention is enough prevention. Is doing it yourself possible? It is to an extent. There are certainly measures you can take to lower your chances of getting termites.

One of them is to fix all water leaks. Whether it’s a leaky sink pipe or a drippy shower head, you need to make sure that there is nothing causing excess water puddles to be formed in or around your house. By eliminating excess water, you’re eliminating an essential resource that termite colonies need to survive. This will help keep them out of your house.

Removing brush is also a helpful tactic for preventing termites. Brush and various plants tend to have a lot of water and moisture in and surrounding them. Termites need water to survive, so taking away anything that might produce or have water is a good way to keep them at bay. This includes wood piles. Although they may be dry, they still offer safe harbor for termites outside your home. Stacks of wood are dream habitats for termite colonies, and when you put them up against your house, you’re providing a convenient transition from outside your home to inside your home. Keep all wood you need to store away from your home.

You’ll also want to stay away from mulch. Termites love to use soil as a home for their colonies, and mulch is prime real estate. It has both food and water for the termites, so using mulch around your home provides a fruitful habitat for them to survive in as they try to form mud tunnels into the foundation of your home. Seal any cracks or holes

Cracks or holes around the outside of your house provide easy access for termites. They basically make their job a lot easier. Sealing any cracks or holes that arise in your home is a good step toward termite prevention.

As you can see, there is plenty you can do to prevent termites. Whether or not the little guys are able to overcome all of these prevention measures will vary by case. If you find that they’re not working, you may want to consider calling professional pest control.