Some pest infestations are more subtle than others – and that’s not a good thing. Termites, for instance, can toil within your walls for weeks or months without you noticing, causing structural damage and costing you thousands of dollars in repairs. Once formed, a colony can’t be eliminated with just any type of solution, either. Learning how to prevent termite colonies from forming, and how you can catch the early warning signs, could just save your property.
What You Need To Know About Termites
Termites are nature’s carpenters. These industrious insects form elaborate colonies and chew through wood and soil to create a vast network of tunnels above and below the ground. They share these traits with ants and even look similar in appearance. However, unlike common ant species, termites eat wood and stay well out of sight. While there’s no firm way to calculate how much damage termites cause every year. Insurance claims and losses reported by businesses tell us that termites wreak hundreds of millions of dollars of havoc annually.
How To Reduce What Attracts Them
The best way to not have to deal with a termite infestation is to take early preventative steps that lower your risk of invasion. The following factors will attract termites to your property, are important to limit:
Moisture
Whether you’re dealing with dampwood termites, which specifically target waterlogged woods, or subterranean termites that can easily carve through wet soil, it’s important to address any moisture issues both inside and outside of your structures.
Wood Storage
Since wood attracts termites, it stands to reason that wood debris or materials stored too close to a structure can attract termites inside.
Soil Contact
Termite colonies don’t form inside the walls and under the floorboards. Rather, they start outside, in the dirt, and encroach inside as their network of tunnels grows. Soil that runs right up wooden walls is simply providing easy access.
Pest Prevention For Your Property
While no at-home methods are fool-proof in terms of keeping termites away, there are steps you can take to put yourself ahead of an infestation:
Moisture Control
Since moisture attracts termites, it’s important to address any spills or leaks immediately. Proper pipe maintenance is important, as is lawn drainage and interior ventilation in damp rooms.
Crack Sealing
It’s a myth that termites can somehow chew through your concrete foundation. They don’t have to, as weather and time slowly wear down they form cracks or holes that these tiny bugs can easily squeeze through. Regularly checking the outside of any structures for these imperfections, fixing where necessary, will limit potential entry.
Inspections
The reason termites are so hard to spot is because they don’t tend to leave signs of their damage until a wall or roof is already collapsing. People often only spot a colony while making other repairs, meaning only thorough inspections by trained professionals can truly determine your level of risk.
Proper Protection From Romney
Termites aren’t a pest you want hanging around your property for long. Since they are seldom noticed until it’s too late, the best course of action for proper termite prevention is to turn to the professionals. At Romney Pest Control, our friendly staff can give you even more pointers on how to prevent termites and spot the signs of their activity. If a colony is already invading your property, trust our proven solutions to get rid of it, and make sure termites never come back. If you want to stay ahead of the problem, our technicians can install always-on bait systems that ensure your home never falls victim to invasive termites.
Don’t take a chance with hazardous termites, contact Romney Pest Control right away to learn more about our home pest control and commercial pest control offerings.
