Termites are a very dangerous pest to have to deal with. A colony of termites can cause significant damage to your home and surrounding property if they are not taken care of efficiently. Plus, if you come across signs of one termite colony, chances are there are more that you are not seeing at all. If you have a termite infestation, contact a professional pest control service to help you get rid of them and get back to a clean home. However, if you want to do some things to aide in termite prevention, there are some steps you can take.
Eliminate Excessive Moisture
Water is one of the things that termites value the most. Termites are constantly on the search for a reliable and constant water supply, so if your home turns into that location for them, it will be very difficult to get them to move out. Look for moisture areas around your home, including out-of-reach places like the attic and the crawl space. Leaks can occur in many different spots, so being aware of how your home is handling wet weather is a good thing. If termites cannot find a water supply, it is unlikely that they will linger for very long.
Vegetation
Thick brush and other plants around your property could also be gathering places for termites. These heavy vegetation areas are far more likely to retain moisture after rainfalls and regular watering. The termites, as stated above, are constantly looking for a reliable water source. Keeping your vegetation trimmed and under control throughout the different seasons is the best way to keep their populations away from your property. If they do not have an area to hide and set up the colony, they will be likely to move on to another place.
Wood Piles
If you have to have piles of wood or compost on your property, be sure that you locate it a fair distance away from the house. Termites will be drawn to these areas like a magnet, and it will not take much to migrate to your home if the piles are close by. If you have a smaller property and still need to have a wood pile or compost heap, insert a raised base to prevent easy access for termites who are looking for a quick bite to eat. A raised platform will also be less likely to acquire moisture.