10 Tips to Keep Termites Out of Your Home

Termites are responsible for billions of dollars worth of damage annually, and thus, people need to protect their homes from these pests.  There are several things homeowners can do to keep their houses termites free.  Follow these steps so you can protect your home.

1. Termites need water to survive.  Thus, you need to repair all leaks, and also look for places that water pools in and around your home.  Keep your gutters free and clean of water and eliminate all sources of moisture in and around your house.
2. If possible, grade the soil away from the home’s foundation. This will make the water drain away from the house, which means moisture will not build up around the home’s foundation after a rain.
3. Keep firewood away from your home.  Firewood attracts termites.  You should keep the area around your house free from firewood and building materials that contain cellulose.  Don’t even set these materials around your home for a few days.  Bad habits can lead to a termite infestation.
4. Use pine straw instead of mulch.  Mulch attracts termites, so you could end up with an infestation when you just want to beatify your yard.
5. Check your home’s foundations for cracks and seal them up.  Cracks provide an entrance point for termites.  Thus, you need to inspect your home frequently and seal up cracks as soon as you see them.
6. Keep your bushes and your shrubs trimmed, especially if they are near the foundation of your home.
7. Use a vapor barrier in your crawl space.  Crawl spaces are typically poorly ventilated, and that can lead to excess moisture. Since termites are attracted to moisture, your crawlspace could end up being a breeding ground for termites.
8. Keep wooden parts of the house away from the soil. Ideally, all wooden parts should be at least six inches above the soil. If wood to soil contact is necessary, use treated wood. Treated wood will not always work, but it will fight off an infestation for a period of time.  However, you should not expect it to keep your home termite free forever. 
9. Make sure you have a view of the home’s foundation.  Keep items moved away from the house so you can keep an eye on your home’s foundation.  Then, inspect it frequently.
10. Lastly, you need to have a yearly termite inspection.  Catch the problem before it is too late.  Contact Connors Pest Control today and find out how you can keep termites out of your home.

Follow these ten simple steps so you will be on top of termites.  You should not invite termites into your home, and you should not ignore these pests if you have a problem.  Stay on the lookout for termites, and be ready to spring into action on the first sighting.  Make Connors Pest Control the first call if you spot a termite. We will eliminate the pests and give you back your home.