Being a homeowner requires long-term commitment because you have to regularly check the condition of your property to ensure that it’ll stand for the longest time possible. For one, you need to pay attention to every detail of your home, assess if there are any damages, and hire professionals to repair them as soon as possible.
Preventing termites from infesting your home is one of the most important and challenging tasks you’ll have as a homeowner. Termites might be small to the naked eye, but leaving them unaddressed for long periods can eventually cause permanent damage to your home and valuables, even to the point where your home becomes uninhabitable.
Here’s how you can prevent termites from infesting your home:
1. Get Rid Of Moisture
Termites only need warm spaces and moisture in order to thrive. If your home has the following characteristics, termites will be encouraged to live and breed under your roof.
Getting rid of moisture in your home is an easy yet effective termite control measure. This simple trick can be done with minimal tools and is effective in preventing termites from entering your home. You can achieve this goal by investing in a humidifier or switching on your air conditioner in order to maintain the cool temperature of your home.
2. Fix Leaks
Regardless of how expensive the materials used to build your home, it’ll never be immune to leaks. This is a common problem faced by countless homeowners around the world; when left untreated, it can become the reason why termites will start infesting your home.
As another termite treatment, check every nook and cranny of your home and repair leaks and other decays. A decaying roof should be repaired or replaced as soon as possible because its moisture-laden walls can become the perfect entryway for termites.
Don’t forget to assess the condition of your home’s basement as well. This area is closer to the ground and prone to flooding, making it very easy for termites to attack and breed in the spot.
3. Declutter Your Home
Decluttering your home comes with a lot of benefits. Although tedious and time-consuming, decluttering your home can actually help you open up your space and make your home look more spacious and inviting. But, are you aware that decluttering your home can also help prevent termite infestation?
Removing any possible areas where termites can thrive is another way to ensure that they won’t damage your home. Get rid of useless papers, old magazines, cardboards, and newspapers in your home. Letting these collect dust in one area of your home will not only take valuable space; it can also attract termites.
Moreover, if you have furniture that has been damaged by termites, don’t take the piece to other areas of the house as this will only allow the termites to spread and multiply. It’s best if you properly dispose of the furniture and remove it from your property to prevent termites from thriving in other rooms of your house.
4. Maintain A Distance Between Soil And Wood
Gardening is a great activity because it can help reduce stress, improve your mood, and decrease your risk of dementia. Spending time outdoors can also increase your vitamin D levels and improve your hand strength. Although beneficial, you should pay attention to how close your garden is to your home because soil can also become the entryway of termites.
Ideally, your garden should have at least an 18-inch distance from your home. If you don’t have any way to move your flower beds away, make use of stones or cement to separate the soil from your home’s foundation. You can also use the same trick in your patios.
5. Trim Overhanging Tree Limbs And Overgrown Bushes
Plants can add a pop of color to any property and boost its curb appeal. This is especially true if your house is situated in a row or neighborhood with similar-looking properties. Trees and shrubs can also increase the value of your property, giving you the opportunity to sell it at a higher price in the future.
However, keeping overhanging tree limbs and overgrown bushes in your property won’t do any good. Aside from being a safety hazard, overhanging tree limbs and overgrown bushes can also cause moisture build-up, create shelter areas, and provide entryways to termites. Untrimmed trees can also drop leaves on your roof and gutters, causing extreme moisture problems in the long run.
Prevent your trees and bushes from causing this much damage by pruning or trimming them regularly. If you can’t do this by yourself, have professionals do it for you. Not only will these pruning services keep your property look well-maintained, but these will also ensure that your home stays free from termites.
6. Regularly Inspect Wooden Floors And Furniture
Termites require cellulose in order to live, and this compound is common among different types of wood. This is one of the reasons why termites love to feast on wooden structures and furniture in your home.
Another way to prevent termites from infesting your home is to regularly check all of your wooden floors and furniture. Pay close attention to the joints and beams of any wooden structure in your home. Once you see any signs of termite infestation, opt to have your wooden floors professionally repaired or throw away any wooden furniture.
Regular inspections will make it easy for you to check the presence of termites in your home and prevent them from multiplying and causing more damage.
Work With Pros
The process of eliminating termites from your home before they cause irreparable, expensive damages starts with early detection. The sooner you can determine that termites are already present in your home, the faster you can get rid of them.
If you suspect that termites have started to damage your home, call pros as soon as possible. They have the essential experience and equipment to help you determine the location of the termites, prevent them from multiplying, and ensure that your home stays termite-free for years.
