How to Prevent a Termite Infestation in Your Home

Did you know that over 600,000 homes each year experience a termite infestation?

The last thing you want is to be one of those homes with signs of termites. If you’re trying to prevent that from happening in your home, this article is for you!

Keep reading to learn about how to prevent termites in your home!

Keep It Dry

Termites are lovers of moist environments. The more humid and moist it is inside your home, the more likely termites are to infest it.

While fall and winter are not the seasons you have to worry about, you should take extra precautions during spring and summer. One thing you should do is get a dehumidifier. Place this in your bathrooms, laundry room, basement, and any other place you believe holds a little extra moisture.

The dehumidifiers will help keep the environment dry and clear of any signs of termites!

Get Rid of Old Newspaper and Other Paper Products

Termites are also lovers of newspapers and anything that resembles paper. If you are hoarding some extra cardboard boxes to use down the road, you’re giving termites something they love.

If that sounds like you, it’s time to get rid of the old boxes! You should also sort through any books you have in your home. If they’re old and you no longer need them, consider donating them!

Use Termite Repellant on Wood Furniture

While you can take all sorts of natural steps like keeping it dry in your home and getting rid of paper products, you may still want to take the step to use termite repellant.

Borax powder mixed with water is great to spray on your wood furniture. However, if you do not like using unnatural products or chemicals in your home, you can also try tea tree oil, garlic oil, or cinnamon oil as natural repellants.

Keep Plants Away From Your Home

If you have plants that surround the outside of your home, it’s best to keep them trimmed. Plants not only allow easy access to the walls of your home for termites, but they can also hide the signs of termites from your own eyes as you walk around your home.

In addition to keeping plants away from the exterior walls of your home, consider using pine needles or gravel instead of wood mulch. Termites love wood mulch so it can attract them to come closer to your home.

Fix Leaks and Seal Gaps

Just like any pest control would tell you to do for all types of pests, sealing gaps and fixing leaks is vital to keep away termites.

Any gap that is created over time gives termites access into the sides of your home. Even if it starts with one, it can easily become a termite infestation over time.

If you notice any rotting wood, it may be beneficial to replace it with materials that termites don’t like, like steel or metal of some sort.

Use a Termite Infestation Company to Prevent Termites

Taking all the necessary steps on your own is a great start to prevent termites in your home, but you may also want to consider calling a termite infestation company to treat your home as well. This could give you extra peace of mind! You should have them come for regular termite inspections to make sure your home is termite-free!

If you want to go that route and reach out to a termite infestation company, click here.

Keep Soil Away From Wood Furniture

If you have an outdoor yard or patio, be sure that the wood furniture is not near the soil. Termites are also lovers of soil, so this is an easy way for them to reach your furniture and infest it.

You should also use a doormat to place in front of your door so that soil does not get tracked into the house on someone’s shoes and bring an unwanted guest with it!

Be Aware of Flying Termites

Yes, you read that right. There is such thing as flying termites, and they tend to swarm different areas during the spring. If you want to prevent that from happening near your home, here are a few tips to avoid a swarm of termites:

  • Turn off all outdoor lights at night since they attract flying termites
  • Call a professional to check your roof and have any leaks or gaps on the roof replaced right away, as well as any rotting or mold on the roof
  • Check that all window screens are in good condition with no holes

Flying termites are an entirely different ball game from regular termites, as they can reach places that others may not. Because of this, it is beneficial to check all parts of your home on a regular basis to be sure that you are preventing a termite infestation on all levels.

Prevent a Termite Infestation

The last thing you want to deal with is a termite infestation. The cost of the infestation, the mess, the chemicals, and the uprooting of your entire living situation is not ideal.

By following these tips and keeping your home clear of moisture, plants, moldy wood, old boxes or paper, and having regular checks with a termite inspection company, you’ll be preventing termites to the best of your ability.

If you enjoyed reading these tips about termite prevention, check out more tips on our blog! We have a ton of home tips that may be of use to you!