In many ways we want our homes to be friendly. If you have a baby you want your home to be baby-friendly. If you have pets, you might have to make a few adjustments so your home is pet-friendly. If you happen to like termites, there are also things you can do to make your home termite-friendly. Of course, this probably isn’t the case. If you do not like termites and are looking for ways to keep them out of your Longview home, here are some ways you can make it less termite-friendly.
What Are Termites
Most people know that termites are wood-destroying pests. Here are some things you probably didn’t know.
- Termites are social creatures that live in colonies consisting of workers, soldiers, and reproductives.
- Termites live in colonies deep underground, and only tunnel into wood to gather food.
- A termite colony can range from only having a couple of termites to having over a million.
- One structure of wood, such as your home, can have multiple colonies of termites all eating it.
- Termites never sleep allowing them to destroy wood 24/7.
- Termites are very hygienic and spend a good amount of their time grooming and keeping each other clean.
- Termites use vibrations to communicate and to identify edible sources of food.
Termite Swarmers
One special breed of termites is called termite swarmers. These are winged reproductive termites created from fully mature colonies tasked with the job of establishing new nests. The presence of swarmers inside your home can be a clear indication of an existing termite infestation while seeing them outside only indicates that your home could soon be at risk. As termite season starts here in Longview, termite swarmers will become more common. If seen around your home, we recommend seeking professional help immediately.
Prevention Tips For Termites
There are a number of ways you can make your home less attractive to termites. Before we get into our termite prevention tips, you should know that if your home currently has a termite problem, these tips will not solve your issues, they are only designed to make your home less attractive to termites. That being said, here are some things we recommend you do to keep your home termite-free.
- Avoid using wood-based mulches near your home’s exterior.
- Remove sticks, leaf piles, and other organic debris from your yard.
- Be careful not to leave wood-based products like cardboard outside your home.
- Store woodpiles and lumber at least 30 feet from your home’s exterior.
- Trim back bushes and tree branches to allow sunlight to shine on your home’s foundation.
- Fix leaks around your home
- Repair broken gutters.
- Use dehumidifiers to keep your home dry.
- Repair or replace water damaged, rotting, or decaying structural wood inside your home.
- Make sure your home has a non-wood barrier between exterior soil and it’s structural wood.
How To Get Rid Of An Active Termite Infestation
There are many suggestions on the internet on how to get rid of a termite infestation. Some suggest treating infested wood with vinegar, others suggest spraying potentially chemical-based products around your home. We have found these methods to be ineffective and even potentially dangerous. Instead of trying to deal with termites on your own, we recommend turning to the professionals here at Pest-Pro Services, Inc. We have the reliable treatments and termite prevention plans you can trust to keep your home termite-free year-round. No extra hassle, no unneeded stress, just results.
Don’t let termites eat you out of house and home Give us a call today to discuss your options or to schedule a quality inspection for your Longview home. Our team is here to help.