Feeling Lucky Because You Don't Have Termites? A Few Tricks To Keep It That Way

Just because you do not have termites eating away at the wood in your home now doesn't mean it will stay that way. You are lucky, and should not attempt to push that luck. Before you find any of these destructive pests in you walls, take the time to follow these preventive measures so you never have to worry about needing costly termite damage repair.

Clean Your Gutters Regularly

Termites love wet wood. If you allow your gutters to fill, any precipitation is going to sit next to the wood of the roof. This is a great attraction to termites. They will crawl up the rainspout to find the wet wood and eat their way into your home.  Keeping your gutters free of leaves and debris not only keeps the water from sitting at the edge of the roof, but also prevents the termites from climbing up the spout. The flowing water will push the bugs out and crush or drown them.

Fix All Plumbing Leaks

A tiny, steady drip of water can attract termites. Not only do they need the water to survive, the drips will moisten the surrounding wood. This provides an excellent source of food for the pests. Be especially aware of any outdoor water. Make sure all hoses are shut off at the spigot and not just at the nozzle. They can smell the water and will travel the length of the hose to find a way to get to it.

Keep Mulch and Firewood Away from the House

As nice as mulch can make a flowerbed look, it is just asking for termites to come. Mulching a flowerbed keeps the moisture from evaporating. Termites love to live in the mulch bed where they have both food and water. A pile of firewood provides the same type of living environment for the bugs.

Use Bait Stations

Place bait stations around the perimeter of the house or yard. A good way to do this is with the small vials florists use to hold a single flower. Fill them with a solution of water and boric acid and then push them into the ground. The water will attract the termites. As they drink the water, they will also get some of it on their bodies. The boric acid will kill them after they ingest it and it will be carried back to the nests to kill others.

Do not wait to find signs of a termite infestation. If you can see signs of termites, you can be sure they are happily living in your walls. Take the necessary steps to prevent them from being attracted to your home and set up bait to kill any that may wander over to check things out. It is much easier to prevent an infestation than to get rid of one.