9 Tips To Keep Your House Termite Free

How to keep your house termite-free

1. Avoid buying wooden furniture as much as possible
2. Keep wood away from moisture
3. Get a regular termite check-up
4. Store wooden items and cardboard boxes properly
5. Correct and fix cracks
6. Get your garden re-tread
7. Use non-cellulose material as much as possible
8. Use boric acid on furniture
9. Clean your home on a regular basis

Pests are big inconveniences to a home. They pose health risks (spreading unwanted diseases), safety hazards (causing property damage), physical and emotional distress (the thought of these tiny critters is enough to send chills down your spine), and also bank account damage (you have to spend for repairs and control services).

One such pest commonly found in homes is the termite. Colonies of termites invade wooden structures, burrow through them in order to build a new nest, as well as use it for their food source. Unlike rodents, whose damages can be easily repaired, dealing with termites can be a difficult ordeal as they cause destruction from the inside out. Only when you suddenly see holes in wooden structures with creepy crawlies coming and going can you prove you have a termite infestation.

If you’ve tackled a termite problem before and it has left you tired, here are 9 termite control tips to keep your house termite free.

1. Avoid Buying Any Wooden Furniture as Much as Possible

Termites reside in or near anything wooden. Some species burrow inside them and create nests there and also use it as their food source. Lessen the number of wooden furniture you have. Get metal or plastic chairs, tables, and other furnishings as much as possible to prevent termite invasions.

If you already have wooden furniture, use a hammer to tap the surface. If it sounds hollow, it might have termites already. Also, another indicator of termites being present in your home is to listen for a sudden creaking sound in any wooden piece of furniture you have.

If you notice any of these signs, immediately call your pest control service for termite control. They might have spread to your other furniture already.

2. Keep Wood Away from Moisture

If you can’t totally eliminate wood from your household, then make sure you keep it 6 inches from the ground, says Richard Gilbride of the 23rd Civil Engineering Squadron. “Termites are attracted to moisture in wood structures,” Gilbride adds. “If you keep them dry, you’ll lessen the risk of termite attacks in your home.”

While moisture is essential for anyone anywhere, this notion certainly does not apply to any wooden surface around. For this, just make sure that any wood around is kept at a reasonable distance away from water. The less moisture wood is exposed to, the less likely that termites will invade your home and wreak havoc on anything they can see.

 

3. Get a Regular Termite Check-up

Sources from Exopest, a pest control service provider, recommend regular inspection for termites, “At least once a year.” The group Brisbane Pest Controllers adds that inspection, “Prevents further property damage from happening or worsening.”

Also, when you get your home inspected on a regular basis, you get to learn other ways to get rid of other pests. That way, you won’t have to worry about those other tiny nightmares invading your home.

 

4. Store Wooden Items and Cardboard Boxes Properly

Gilbride continues to say that wooden items improperly stored near wall cracks attract termites. The same goes for disposing cardboard boxes. He says that these “…are tasty havens for termites.” The engineer prescribes creating storage spaces for them in garage cabinets to keep them out of reach.

This is one of the easiest tasks that can be accomplished to ensure maximum home protection from termites. All you’ll have to do is utilize a proper storage space for items such as cardboard boxes and anything with a wooden build. This will also prevent you from suffering any discomfort brought on by these critters.

5. Correct Cracks

Cracks or small openings anywhere in your home are pathways for termites to enter. When you see these, immediately seal them, don’t give pests an opportunity to build a nesting ground in your house.

For this, there’s nothing that sealant can’t fix. If the problem persists, it’s time to take the highest measure as possible. Grab your tools and get to work.

6. Get Your Garden Re-treated

A newly landscaped home has lost its chemical protection. It is important to get it re-treated, says Gilbride, or else your home will be left vulnerable to infestation.

While your garden can serve as your personal masterpiece of the outdoors, it can also serve as the dwelling place of termites and other pests alike. By getting your garden re-treated, you’ll not only be protecting your garden from pests like termites, but you’ll also be protecting your home from them and saving yourself the burden of having to spend extra amounts of cash to get rid of them.

 

7. Use Non-Cellulose Material as Much as Possible

Professional pest exterminators give this advice, as cellulose is part of a termite’s diet. The less cellulose items in your home, the fewer chances you’ll have a termite infection.

8. Use Boric Acid on Furniture

When dealing with termites that are already in your home, there are a variety of pesticides you can use for your extermination project. One concoction that is certain to kill these pests is none other than Boric Acid.

Spraying this substance over anything with a wooden surface can certainly get rid of these tiny creatures in due time. Just be sure to know where exactly you’re spraying on and how much of the substance you plan on using.

9. Clean Your Home on a Regular Basis

This tip is one of the easiest ones to accomplish. As with other pests, they are usually attracted towards an area with a certain amount dirt around. The more dirt around an area in your home, the more your home is prone to infestations of termites and other pests.

By cleaning your home regularly, you’ll be able to keep these critters at bay for as long as you can. After all, cleanliness will always remain a key virtue in keeping your home as safe and secure as possible.

Key Takeaway

Termites, no matter how hard they may be noticed, will always fall prey to any tactic you choose in getting rid of them. As long as you put any of these tips into action, you’ll never have to worry about any pest around.