9 Strategies to Brace Your Home for Termite Season

Termite season is upon us. If you haven’t noticed the swarms of insects or the tiny wings or feces they leave behind, you may soon. Termites go deep during the winter to keep warm, and they emerge to mate and build new colonies in the spring. They are also likely to be more on the move now that the temperatures are warmer. That means that they may end up in your home looking for hospitable new digs.

Taking action now can prevent your home from becoming infested by termites. You need to call a Mesa termite control company to inspect the property and treat it for any current infestations, as well as to apply a preventive treatment against any potential new pests. Plus, you can take these nine additional steps to keep your property protected:

1. Create a Barrier

Termites travel via tunnels they create in the soil. They travel until they find food and water. They may end up inside your home without even meaning to if their tunnels take them there before they find food and water. To keep termites out of your home, you should create some kind of barrier between your home and the soil around it. Work with a pest control expert to learn about the best strategies for creating this barrier.

2. Seal Cracks

Though termites usually travel through the soil, they can also arrive at the outside of your home via the soil and then enter your home through cracks in the foundation or other areas of the exterior. Carefully examine the exterior of your home near the base and repair any holes and seal up any cracks. Remember that termites can get inside very tiny spaces, so don’t overlook any openings.

3. Keep Mulch Away

Termites eat wood and other cellulose. Putting mulch in your yard is like setting out an all-you-can-eat buffet for these pests. If that mulch is next to your home, the termites may finish their feast and then eat their way right into your house. Just keep mulch away from your home to eliminate the risk of the termites wandering inside.

4. Keep Plants Away

Mulch isn’t the only wood that will draw termites closer to your home. Plants, shrubs, and even tree branches can do the same. Make it a point not to put any new plants near your home. If plants are already there and you don’t want to remove them, make sure you trim back the branches regularly so that they are not touching your home.

5. Eliminate Moisture

Food isn’t the only thing that termites travel to find. They are also on the search for water. If your home has a leaky crawl space or leaky plumbing, it could be creating a moisture-rich environment that is perfect for termites. Check your plumbing regularly for signs of any leaks, and repair them immediately. Also, make sure that your crawl space has been properly sealed.

6. Ensure Proper Ventilation

Poor ventilation can also cause moisture to build up in your home, which will attract termites. Arizona doesn’t suffer from too much humidity, but poor ventilation can certainly create it in your home. Have a professional inspect your crawl space and other areas of your home to ensure that you are getting proper ventilation.

7. Eliminate Standing Water

Pools of standing water are just as tempting to termites as a buffet of mulch. You can make your property less attractive to termites by eliminating any standing water around your property. Work with a landscaper to identify drainage issues and correct them. Make sure that gutters divert water away from the house. Don’t let buckets or other items to collect water near the house either.

8. Store Wood Away from the Home

Piles of wood around your home will also attract termites closer. Don’t keep piles of firewood near your home. Put them in a stack as far away as possible. If you are handy and like to do projects at home, you should be careful not to keep lumber near your house either. Put it in a shed or another place far from your home.

9. Use Treated Wood

If you do work on any projects involving wood, make sure you always use treated lumber. That goes for wood you use to build tree houses, dog houses, garden beds, or any other structures. You should be extra cautious if you are building onto your house, such as when building a deck or a porch.

When you take all of these steps together in conjunction with working with a Mesa termite control company, you will keep these destructive pests out of your home. You will also be protecting the overall health of your home, which will help you save quite a lot of money in the long run. Call a Mesa termite and pest control company to schedule an inspection and to set up a maintenance plan to protect your home.

Varsity Termite and Pest Control offers affordable termite control options in Mesa and the surrounding area. Our exterminators are experts in pest control, and they can implement solutions to eradicate a current infestation or to prevent future issues. We’ll start with a thorough inspection of your property to ensure that you don’t have a colony currently in your home. Our goal is to keep your home termite-free, both now and far in the future. Call us today to talk with a Mesa termite control expert or to schedule your inspection.

Published By:

Varsity Termite and Pest Control – Gary Dobert
6056 E Baseline Rd #122
Mesa, AZ85206

Office: 602-757-8252
Website: https://staging.varsitytermiteandpestcontrol.com