Five Things You Can Do To Prevent Termites From Penetrating Your Home Underground
One of the places where termites are most likely to penetrate a home is underground. Termites often live in the soil surrounding a home, and their population can build up in the soil if it provides an ideal living environment for them.
Fortunately, you can prevent termites from entering your home underground with the following five helpful tips:
Don't put mulch right up against your home's exterior
Mulch tends to attract termites because it is made up of small wood pieces that they can easily eat. If you use mulch in your landscaping, avoid putting excessive amounts of it right up against your home's exterior.
As an added precaution, you may also want to avoid piling firewood near your home's perimeter.
Don't allow standing water to accumulate around your home's exterior
Proper drainage around your home's exterior is important for preventing termite infestations. Moisture attracts termites and a variety of other pests. If you notice puddles or overflowing gutter pools depositing water close to or right up against your home's exterior, you need to put some thought into the drainage.
You can improve drainage in your yard in a variety of ways. Some possibilities include creating a drainage trench, putting gravel down, and raising the elevation of the area right around your home and creating a gentle downhill slope.
Clean up any rotting wood immediately and move it far away from your home's perimeter
One of the most attractive items for termites is rotting wood. There are a lot of possible sources of rotting wood around a home's exterior including deteriorating fence posts, landscaping features, yard furniture, fallen trees, and vegetation, and construction components.
If you notice any rotting wood, make sure that you immediately clean it up and move it far away from your home's exterior to keep termites away.
Seal up any cracks in your home's exterior walls or foundation
Cracks can develop in building components including foundations, siding, or brickwork. You need to stay on top of developing cracks and have them filled quickly to keep termites from penetrating your home and being attracted to wooden building components like wood studs behind your interior walls.
Have dehumidifiers placed in rooms located in the basement or on lower floors
Putting dehumidifiers in rooms on lower floors of your home will cut back on moisture. Moisture attracts termites. If you're concerned about termites, dehumidifiers are a good idea and can prevent termite infestations while also keeping your home's interiors more comfortable in terms of climate.
Contact a pest control service for more information and assistance.