Termite Prevention Services in San Jose, CA

The Five W’s Of Termite Prevention

It’s important to remember the five W’s of termite prevention, including:

• Wood – Any loose wood around your property is a welcome home to termites.
• Water – Standing water and water leaks are a termite’s best friend.
• Wildlife – Termites use trees and shrubbery as bridges into your home.
• Walls – Repairing all cracks and crevices keep termites out of your walls.
• Watch – Always keep an eye out of termite signs of infestations.

Never Stack Wood Against Your Home Or Office

Firewood stored against the foundation of your property or inside crawlspaces can be inviting to termites. Lumber, newspapers, cardboard boxes, and wood offer termites a source of food. When wood is stacked against a foundation, it offers a hidden entry into your home or office and helps termites bypass soil treatments. It’s best to remove any dead roots, stumps, or form boards around or beneath your property to keep termites away.

Don’t Let Moisture Accumulate Near Foundation

Termites are more likely to invade your space if the soil near your foundation is moist on a consistent basis. They’re attracted to water left by leaking pipes, air conditioning units, and faucets. It’s best to ensure water is diverted away from your foundation with downspouts and gutters. Irrigation systems should be built to minimize water puddling near your foundation.

Be Careful With Mulch

Mulch is a great way to benefit the look and health of your landscaping, but it can attract termites if not stored correctly. Due to its poor nutritional quality, termites don’t eat mulch, but they love its moisture-retaining and insulation properties. It’s best to apply mulch sparingly and never allow it to contact wood siding or the framing of your doors or windows.

Eliminate Wood Directly On Ground

When wood components of a building come in direct contact with soil, it presents a welcome opportunity for termites. Wood doors, siding, and window frames should be placed six inches above the ground level. If not, their wood properties help termites get access to shelter, food, and moisture. Placing wood elements higher than six inches might require pulling back mulch or soil from your foundation, cutting off the bottom of the wood latticework, or supporting posts on a concrete base. Pressure-treated wood should also be installed more than six inches because termites can enter the wood through cracks and build tunnels over the surface of the wood.

Keep Plants Away From Your Home

Sometimes plants provide a perfect pathway for termites to infest your property. It’s important to keep all shrubbery near your home trimmed to allow over 12 inches between the exterior wall of your home and your shrubbery. Keep grass raked and cut on a regular basis. Move plants away from your home to ensure you can visibly see if termites might come into contact with your wood siding or find cracks in your foundation.

Never Ignore Termite Warning Signs

If you notice any termite warning signs, don’t ignore them. Termite warning signs include:

• Mud-like tubes on the side of your home
• Sawdust around boards in your home
• Small holes in wood
• Hollowed-out wood
• Flying insects with equal-length wings in swarms
• Piles of wings

Termites will not go away on their own, so it’s important to call in a professional if you see any of these signs.

Keep Away Flying Termites

Termites tend to swarm in the early spring to create new colonies in a new home. You can deter them by:

• Turn off outdoor lights at night
• Close any gaps in your eaves or roof
• Patch holes in window screens
• Have a professional check your roof for signs of water damage

Remove Dead Wood And Shrubbery

Branches, dead trees, and old shrubbery are welcome places to termites. The wood attracts termites because they love to help in the decaying process. They’ll quickly take over the wood, eating it as they go. They’ll eventually make their way into your home.

Seal Your Home Yearly

Small openings and gaps provide easy access for termites. It’s important to repair cracks in your foundation and reseal doors and windows. Crawl space vents should also have bug screens for further prevention.

Reduce Moisture In Crawl Spaces

Humidity and moisture is common in crawl spaces. If your crawl space is equipped with a vapor barrier, the vent area can often be reduced to one square foot per 300 to 500 square feet of area. Vents should be kept free of any dirt, debris, and leaves.

Throw Away Termite Food Sources

Many people don’t realize they have things lurking around their homes that are perfect termite food sources. Besides dead trees and rooting wood, you should also remove any tree stumps around your home. Cardboard boxes and newspapers left for extended periods of time offer a large food source for termites.

Know Your Termites

Knowledge is power. In the San Jose, CA area, the two main species of termites are Drywood and Subterranean termites. These destructive creatures have a colony with a king, an egg-laying queen, worker, soldiers, and swarmers. When you notice a large amount of winged creatures leaving an area together, it usually means you have a termite infestation that includes little swarmers. Drywood termites are more prevalent in the summer and fall, while subterranean termites are more common in the spring. Subterranean termites usually prefer to live in the ground instead of wood. They have a large colony with thousands of pests and cause major damage in a short amount of time. Drywood termites actually live and eat in wood.

Contact Us For Regular Termite Inspection

It’s essential to contact MightyMite Termite Services for regular termite inspections every four to six years. Getting in front of a termite issue before it starts directly affects the outcome of damage to your structures. Termites are often unseen critters, eating on your wood as they burrow deep into your property. Our inspections ensure your home and business stay as safe as possible. Our technicians are trained in early detection, helping to stop the pests before they damage property. We’ll also assess your property to find potential weaknesses and provide customized treatments to help prevent future infestations.