Termites are notorious for their wood-eating habits. However, there are many other reasons why termites might infest a property. These pesky pests require water and food to survive, which they find abundantly in wood or cellulose materials like cardboard boxes, newspapers, old books, and other paper products left around the home.
Other factors that may contribute to termite infestation include leaky plumbing, faulty drainage, or cracks and holes in walls. Failing to address these home repairs could explain why you have a termite issue on your hands.
In this post, we’ll delve into the primary causes and possible ways to prevent or eliminate termites from your property.
Moisture area
In situations where there’s a leaky pipe, you’re more likely to encounter a subterranean termite colony. These pests are drawn to water, and while a leaking pipe may not pose a significant plumbing issue for you, it creates an ideal environment for termite infestation. If left untreated, this plumbing issue could lead to nearby wood rotting, providing a food source for these unwanted guests.
Additionally, it’s crucial to inspect the foundation of your home. Proper air circulation is essential to prevent high humidity, as termites are attracted to moist, secluded areas. For slab homes, the surroundings of the foundation are often the culprit, particularly if there is extensive landscaping in its perimeter.
Improper drainage
Another factor that can create excess moisture at the foundation’s perimeter is a leak pipe or faucet. It’s best to channel any excess water from your foundation to splash blocks, downspouts, gutters, etc. This ensures your home does not become the perfect area for termites to forage. Also, consider utilizing an irrigation system, such as lawn sprinklers, to distribute moisture evenly around your home rather than concentrating it in one area close to the foundation. By maintaining proper drainage and moisture control, you can minimize the risk of termite infestation and protect your property.
Wood structures near your foundation
Even with Prime Termite & Pest Control Las Vegas treating your soil, wood structures in the soil near or touching your home can spell troubles. In most cases, they are the point of entry for these little pesky creatures. They are more likely to seek more food above the ground, despite having wood structures in the soil to feed on.
To prevent termites from infesting your home, it’s best to remove trellises, mulch, vines, firewood, and slumps stacked close to the foundation of your home. Another thing to note is your roof can be another point of entry for subterranean termites. So, ensure tree limbs are not touching or resting on your window framing, roof, or eaves.
Cracks and holes in your wall, roof, and foundation
While foraging, termites are great opportunity takers, using the breach in the structural integrity of your home to their advantage. They are known to use cracks in concrete foundations to gather essential materials they need to build mud tubes.
So, it’s crucial to inspect the integrity of the home periodically. You should check the windows and doors for holes and cracks and reapply caulk to seal any breach subterranean termites could take advantage of.
Not only that, you want to reseal any gaps around your home’s plumbing lines or electrical conduit. Also, you should include the eaves, fascia boards, and shingles during your periodic inspection. If you notice any damage, it’s best to fix it immediately to create a more effective defense against termine infiltration.
Mulch
Termites love feeding on mulch. It’s a landscaping element made from organic matter such as bark, wood, etc. Hence, it’s a rich source of water and food for subterranean termites. Having this landscaping element close to your home’s foundation could be the reason you are dealing with termite infestation, as it doubles as an entry point for these unwanted guests.
While there are many benefits of using mulch for landscaping, it’s important to ensure there’s no point of contact with your foundation. The recommended distance between mulch and the foundation of your home is 6 inches. Also, you can avoid the possibility of termite infiltration by opting for rocks and pebbles instead of mulch.
Location
Where you live matters when it comes to termite infestation. Regions or states with wetter and warmer weather conditions are more prone to termite attack. Places on the Gulf Coast tend to deal with more frequent termite invasions. So, it’s important to check out the United States Forest Service for a map showing the TIP (Termite Infestation Probability) zones. This would help you determine your chances of dealing with termites and their frequency. While termites are found in most states in the United States except Alaska, some areas have an overwhelming presence of termites.
When to seek professional help?
Getting rid of termites is more challenging than roaches and other household pests. Subterranean termites feed your home’s wooden structure 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If left unaddressed can lead to costly repairs, as they will continually eat and destroy the timber in your house.
Unfortunately, fighting termite infiltration with insecticides is not effective and the right way to go. Similarly, relying on traditional termite control methods, which often involve the use of hazardous chemicals, tends to leave hard to remove stains on furnishings and walls. On top of that, these chemicals pose serious health risks and can contaminate the soil around your home. As a result, using such archaic methods to eradicate termites can come at a significant cost to both your property and well-being.
While there are several effective DIY methods you can employ to make your home less attractive to termites, it’s best to seek professional help. Therefore, you should be vigilant for the following signs of termite infestation: hollow-sounding wood, a tapping sound emanating from wooden furniture, stiff doors and windows, wooden galleries and walls, a musty odor, and spongy wood. Additionally, professional pest control services can provide comprehensive inspections and treatments to ensure thorough termite prevention and eradication.
