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The steps below will help you prevent termites from becoming a problem in the first place, or help keep them from coming back after a Certified Professional has gotten rid of them for you.
Do not store wood on the ground near the house, particularly under the deck or porch. When one stores wood in these areas, they are setting the dinner table for termites. Trim all shrubs, bushes and other dense greenery away from the foundation of your home.
Move mulch away from the foundation as well.
Don't leave firewood near your home, it's a magnet for termites. If you do keep firewood outside your house during the winter, keep it raised off the ground.
Fix any leaky pipes and eliminate any standing water near your home.
Termites cannot live on wood alone. Keep gutters and downspouts free of accumulated leaves and debris. Clogs and obstructions can attract termites.
Seal all cracks and hole in your homes foundation, which may provide a handy access point for termites.
Eliminate any wood soil contact for house, fences or any structures.
Use mesh screens on all windows and doors, as well as ventilation openings for attics and crawl spaces.
Inspect the garage and house foundation for small mud tunnels going from the ground to the wood.
Make monthly inspections of house and foundation:
look for mud tubes leading from ground up to home
look for moisture build up, rotting or painting peeling
Termites cause nearly $2 billion in damage annually according to surveys. Unfortunately, without annual inspections, termites can go unnoticed for years while continuing to damage your home. In addition: Most homeowner policies do not cover termite damage. Termites cause damage in hidden areas, behind walls, in crawl spaces and basements.
Many pest management professionals offer annual inspection services and treatment warranties. The best solution to potentially avoid termite damage is a thorough annual inspection and a termite treatment to eliminate them around your home.
You may be at greater risk for termite damage depending on where you live. Termites constantly forage and evaluate the size and quality of food resources as they seek out cellulose, the primary component of wood.
Termites follow tree roots and construction conduits such as pipes and footers to gain entry into homes. Termites enter homes with an opening as small as 1/32. Termites can be in your home for several years with very few visible signs of activity. The application of a liquid pesticide, known as a termiticide, to the soil.
The goal is to create a continuous chemical barrier around and beneath the structure in order to block all potential routes of termite entry. Termites attempting to penetrate through the treated soil are either killed or repelled. A typical 'barrier' treatment may involve many gallons of dilute termiticide solution injected into the ground alongside the foundation, beneath concrete slabs, and within foundation walls. Getting the chemical where it had to be was quite an involved operation and required special tools, including powerful electric or gas-powered drills that could penetrate a foot or m ore of concrete, power pumps and tank, and a wide variety of rods, nozzles, and injectors to actually disperse the liquid. A complete, unbroken barrier was essential to effective control. To try to create a barrier beneath the home, additional liquid chemical may be injected through floors, porches and patios.
