Certain regions have the right conditions for termites, and if these insects get a foothold in your home, you could be facing serious financial problems.
Termites can be eating away and destroying the wood in your home for years without you even realizing it.
There are a number of things that can be done to keep them away from your property.
This article will discuss a number of them.
There are different categories of termites, and a couple common ones found in various regions of the U.
S.
are subterranean and drywood termites.
Termites are not ominous looking as individual insects, but problems arise because they can be so destructive as a colony.
They normally are about 3/8 to ½ inch in length as a maximum.
Their colonies can be easily in the thousands of individuals, however, and they work together with maximum efficiency to sustain the colony.
So what specifically can you do to keep termites from invading and destroying your property? One of the first things to be wary of is mulch, which many people like to use for landscaping purposes.
Since mulch holds moisture, termites are attracted by it.
Using mulch in the garden is fine, but don't let it touch up against the house itself.
In addition, plants in your garden should not be touching your house.
When new plants are planted there should be enough space left between them and the building such that they do not provide a pathway directly to the house.
If they grow so much that they are touching the home, they should be trimmed.
Another consideration is any siding that you may have on your house, especially siding that is wood based.
This siding should not be lower than about six or seven inches from the ground.
If it is lower than that and is touched by wet ground, it could begin to decay, and this would be an attraction for termites.
Periodically make a visual inspection around your home and look for any telltale signs of termites.
Sometimes you could see what looks like digging around your foundation.
You may also see tracks made out of mud at the base of your exterior foundation.
This would be a signal to contact an exterminator for a more thorough inspection.
On the inside of your home, be aware of the appearance of any small piles of sawdust looking material on window sills or moldings.
You might also tap on walls at the location of some wooden studs.
If you hear a hollow sound where it should be solid material behind the wall, this is suspicious and it would be wise to have an exterminator come and take a closer look.
Exterminators have ways of checking for termites inside of walls without knocking the walls down.
If you live in a region where there is a lot of termite activity, careful awareness is your best defense.
To be on the safe side many people will also have a thorough termite inspection done by a professional about once a year.
Termites can be eating away and destroying the wood in your home for years without you even realizing it.
There are a number of things that can be done to keep them away from your property.
This article will discuss a number of them.
There are different categories of termites, and a couple common ones found in various regions of the U.
S.
are subterranean and drywood termites.
Termites are not ominous looking as individual insects, but problems arise because they can be so destructive as a colony.
They normally are about 3/8 to ½ inch in length as a maximum.
Their colonies can be easily in the thousands of individuals, however, and they work together with maximum efficiency to sustain the colony.
So what specifically can you do to keep termites from invading and destroying your property? One of the first things to be wary of is mulch, which many people like to use for landscaping purposes.
Since mulch holds moisture, termites are attracted by it.
Using mulch in the garden is fine, but don't let it touch up against the house itself.
In addition, plants in your garden should not be touching your house.
When new plants are planted there should be enough space left between them and the building such that they do not provide a pathway directly to the house.
If they grow so much that they are touching the home, they should be trimmed.
Another consideration is any siding that you may have on your house, especially siding that is wood based.
This siding should not be lower than about six or seven inches from the ground.
If it is lower than that and is touched by wet ground, it could begin to decay, and this would be an attraction for termites.
Periodically make a visual inspection around your home and look for any telltale signs of termites.
Sometimes you could see what looks like digging around your foundation.
You may also see tracks made out of mud at the base of your exterior foundation.
This would be a signal to contact an exterminator for a more thorough inspection.
On the inside of your home, be aware of the appearance of any small piles of sawdust looking material on window sills or moldings.
You might also tap on walls at the location of some wooden studs.
If you hear a hollow sound where it should be solid material behind the wall, this is suspicious and it would be wise to have an exterminator come and take a closer look.
Exterminators have ways of checking for termites inside of walls without knocking the walls down.
If you live in a region where there is a lot of termite activity, careful awareness is your best defense.
To be on the safe side many people will also have a thorough termite inspection done by a professional about once a year.