Termite Prevention

Termites are common throughout the United States, and to say that they are destructive is an understatement. These little home wreckers cause about five billion dollars of damage each year across the nation, wreaking havoc on homes and businesses. One of the worst things about termites is that they can be fairly well-entrenched before you ever notice termite activity. Once you do notice, significant damage may have already occurred, perhaps even threatening the structural integrity of your home, and you will need to call in a professional termite control company to eradicate these pests. Once the house has been treated, though, can you keep the termites from coming back? Yes, and no.

Infestation Prevention

Effective termite control requires a multi-prong approach. Your termite control company will use proactive measures like barrier treatments to keep termites from re-entering your house. Effective long-term protection, though, requires home maintenance measures on the part of the homeowner. How can you protect your home from termites?

Start by removing access points. Different types of termites enter your home in different ways. Dampwood termites may nest in mulch or damp wood, and if you allow that wood into your home or even onto your property, you are inviting an infestation. In fact, any wood-to-ground contact on your property risks allowing termites access to your home. This applies not only to dampwood termites, but to subterranean termites as well. To further reduce your risk of subterranean termite infestation, fix any plumbing or roof leaks, correct any existing moisture conditions, seal gaps, cracks, and openings around the foundation to prevent termites from entering the wooden elements of your home through mud tubes. Sealing around any exterior gas and water lines because these can be entry points as well. Sealing crevices, joints, and cracks can prevent drywood termites from entering your exterior wood, and so can painting wood surfaces. Bug screens, installed over vents in the foundation and attic, can also keep termites out of your home. Additionally, because all termite species send out swarmers to establish new colonies, and these swarmers are drawn to exterior lights. Keep lights outside your doors turned off when you don’t need them.
The next stop is to reduce food sources. Obviously, you can’t remove the framing from inside of your house. However, by removing decaying and damp wood, including dead trees, stumps, and logs, you can greatly reduce the termites’ food sources. This is another reason to avoid wood to ground contact, keeping mulch away from the foundation, storing firewood off the ground and away from the house, and making sure that siding is at least six inches off of the ground. Another food source that homeowners often miss is cellulose. Cellulose is wood pulp, and it is what termites are seeking when they eat wood, but they can also get plenty of delicious cellulose from cardboard, newspapers, old magazines, and other paper debris, so clearing that debris from your storage spaces will help keep termites at bay.
Depriving termites of a source of moisture is the next step in keeping them away from your house. Subterranean termites cannot survive without a damp, humid environment. That’s why they build mud tubes for traveling, because exposure to the outdoor air would be fatal. Dampwood termites, as their name suggests, enjoy damp, saturated and rotting. Repair or replace leaking faucets, AC units, plumbing, and anything else that is dripping. Clean your gutters and downspouts, keeping them in good condition. Properly ventilate crawl spaces and attics, to prevent excess humidity and moisture.

Be Vigilant

Look for signs of re-infestation, including bubbling or peeling paint, hollowed or damaged wood, blistered wood flooring, discarded wings from swarmers, termite droppings, or mud tubes. If you see any of these signs, contact your termite control company immediately, to deal with the situation before too much damage is done. The earlier termite activity is discovered, the easier it will be to evict these pests from your property.

Work with the Professionals

Even the most vigilant DIY measures are not foolproof, and it could be that termites return, despite your best efforts. Following the above tips will make a big difference, dramatically decreasing your risk of termite invasion, but the best approach is to combine preventive DIY strategies with treatment solutions from an experienced termite control professional. Annual inspections will detect signs of termite activity early, and your termite control company will work with you to find proactive, preventative solutions to keep termites out of your home.

Contact MightyMite Termite Services for Termite Control

When you need help in your efforts to protect your home against termite infestation, you can rely on the professionals at MightyMite Termite Services to defend your property. At MightyMite, we’ve earned a reputation as experts in California termite control. We perform termite inspections to ensure that your home is free of termites and work hard to help you keep it that way, using treatments that are naturally derived and have a low impact on the environment. We diagnose and treat infestations with the most effective methods and unmatched warranties, solving your termite problems the first time, with an industry best “no call-back rate.” That, combined with our experience and highly trained, licensed and professional staff, makes us the leading extermination company in the Bay Area. We understand that your home is your most important investment, so we work hard to provide excellent service, utilizing best practices to solve our customers’ termite problems. For more information, email Info@mightymitetermite.com, call us today at 408.335.7053, or contact us through our website.