As a homeowner, you have many responsibilities. You want your home to stand the test of time and to last. This involves putting your best foot forward to avoid pests that can cause damage to you or your house. Termites are formidable foes when it comes to the integrity of your foundation, and the best course of action is really to avoid them altogether. Depending on where you live, this can be a difficult task.
Termites can cause severe damage that is hard to repair. There are things that you can do to prevent these pests from taking up residence in your home. By implementing some key lifestyle changes, you can help keep your home safe from the damage done by termites.
Types of Termite Problems
Damage to structures:The biggest problem termites can cause is structural damage to your house, garage and other structures on your property. This can be extensive and expensive to repair.
Allergic reactions:Allergic reactions can be caused by the presence of termites in your home. They are nontoxic, but these symptoms can be problematic.
Lifestyle Changes to Prevent Termites
Maintain the moist areas around your home: Many homes have spots that call to termites. These moist areas of soil or mulch need to be carefully maintained. Keep excess ground cover and mulch away from the foundation. These areas are very attractive to termites.
Set up a schedule of cleaning your gutters and down-spouts:Another important aspect of being a homeowner is making sure that you keep up with outside maintenance. This is not just in reference to your yard. Gutters and down-spouts can become easily clogged. This causes a variety of problems, which is why it's important to clean these out. They also provide areas where termites can thrive. Make sure to clean these out on a regular basis as part of your home maintenance.
Keep some materials away from your crawl space or foundation: Materials such as lumber, firewood and paper should be kept away from your foundation or crawl space. These materials are very attractive to termites. You don't want to help them access your house.
Regularly look for damageAs part of your house maintenance, make sure to inspect your property. Look for damage on decks and wooden fences regularly. This will help you identify problem areas and catch problems early on.
Set up a schedule with a professional:It can be hard to catch every sign of infestation on your own. Schedule a regular inspection with a professional to make sure that you avoid a termite infestation.
It's important to take a proactive approach when it comes to pest control. It's better to avoid problems than to need to fix them. Contact Midwestern Pest Control today for a professional evaluation.
