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Termites can cause expensive damage to your property. They can destroy wood. You can easily confuse them with army ants. However, they usually cause a lot more damage than simple ants. They can destroy your home or other wooden structures. Termites feed throughout the day, so they can do a lot of damage quickly. Fixing the damage caused by termites can be time-consuming and costly.
Every year, termites cause damages worth over $5 billion. Preventing termites from invading your property is easier than trying to get rid of them once they invade. There are some straightforward and cheap ways to prevent them.
Have Your Property Sprayed to Prevent Termites
One of the best ways to prevent termites is having your home sprayed with pesticides. The frequency of spraying depends on the type of pesticide used. Some brands of pesticides require you to spray your home once per year, while others might give you a significantly more extended period between sprayings. A pest control professional will spray the outside perimeter of your home (about 12 inches from the foundation). It is crucial that you do not remove or mess with any dirt in this area because you will be removing the pesticide. That increases the susceptibility of your home to termites.
Consider the Outside of Your Home When Preventing Termites
You should pay attention to what is outside your property when seeking to prevent termites. Ensure that any inorganic ground cover or mulch is not in contact with your home’s foundation. These things maintain moisture levels that will attract termites. You should place your siding at least six inches from the ground to prevent deterioration and decay that termites love.
When planting flowers or shrubs, ensure that you plant them at least 12 inches from your house. When choosing your shrubs, keep in mind that they might get bigger over time. That could increase the risk of termites invading your home. You need to regularly check your shrubs to ensure that the shrubs do not come too close to your house. Trim them regularly to prevent that.
You should also eliminate or reduce moisture around your home as it is needed for termites to thrive. Also, consider getting professional inspections once per year.
How to Get Rid of Termites
If termites have already invaded your home, consider calling in Terminix pest control professional. Termite control is not a do-it-yourself job. It is a challenging and tedious task. The damages are always hidden. So, unless you understand what to look for, it is very hard to notice. Sometimes, you cannot even tell there is damage — there might only be a little mud. A professional will thoroughly assess the extent of your problem and provide all the necessary treatment. They might use liquid termiticides around the foundation of your house or place termite baits.
In extreme situations, regardless of what you do, termites might invade your property. It is crucial to inspect your walls and baseboards regularly to identify termite damage. The sooner you start treatment, the better the outcome.
If you need termite treatment, ensure that you hire a licensed pest control expert who has an established track record of successfully getting rid of termites.