6 Simple Measures to Prevent Termite Problem in Your Home

A home is where people can rest their tired heads, feel comfort and peace. Even the thought of compromising on it gets people to jump out of their chairs. Unfortunately, some are letting it happen, allowing notorious tiny creatures to invade their homes and cause nuisance everywhere.

Do you ever come home and found piles of wood dust under the sofa or bed? This is obviously the cause of termite infestation. When they enter a home and start feeding on its foundations or expensive furniture items, it becomes extremely tough to get rid of them, their infinitesimal size being the main reason.

If you have discovered a termite problem in your home, you need to take some preventive measures immediately. Here’s a list of certain effective things that you can do for preventing termites from spreading in your home:

1. Remove Extra Moisture

Moisture is one of the primary reasons that cause all kinds of pest problems including termites in a home. Removing excess moisture will help to keep termites at bay. If your home is in a humid place, a dehumidifier can save you a lot of trouble. During summers, you can periodically switch on the air conditioner to maintain a moderate temperature in the home and remove excess moisture from indoor air.

2. Fix Leaks

Pay close attention to any possible leak or decay in your home. Decayed walls and moisture-laden roofs serve as ideal hosts for pests like termites. Fix the leaks immediately and conduct frequent inspections for potential problems in basements and dingy corners of your home. These places generally get overlooked and are perfect to attract pests. Basement leaks can be particularly inviting as it is closer to the ground, which makes it more convenient for termites to attack.

3. Declutter Your Home

For successfully treating the termite problem, it is crucial to perform a decluttering activity in your home. Pay undivided attention to useless papers, old magazines, newspapers, and cardboards, as these offer a hospitable environment for termites to thrive. If you encounter termites in any of your rooms, ensure to never shift anything from that room to other places of your home. Termites spread very quickly, and you would not want to face a bigger problem.

4. Maintain Some Distance Between Wood and Soil

If your home has green spaces, ensure to have some distance between the wood and soil. An 18-inch distance is generally ideal as well as important. This will deny any attack of termites on your home’s foundation and furniture. Use cement or stones for separating soil from the wooded area, mainly in your gardens, patios, etc. for creating a barrier for termites.

5. Use Borate Before Priming and Painting

Among termite repellents, Borate is one of the most effective ones. You can spray it on the wood before priming or painting. It gets absorbed by the wood and prevents termites from munching on it. When the spray dries out, then you can go ahead with priming and painting. The borate spray is really strong and can repel termites for several decades.

6. Place Infected Items Under the Sun

If you have detected a piece of furniture being damaged by the termites, place it under the scorching heat of the sun for at least 3 days. This strategy can be very effective during summers as termites can’t tolerate extreme heat. Keeping infected furniture under the sun will kill the termites and remove moisture from it, which will prevent the chances of re-infection. You can also consider doing this activity for unaffected furniture items to ensure they stay termite-free.

Conclusion

These measures are really effective in getting rid of termites and other pests. However, if the situation goes out of hand, calling professional help will be a wise choice. Pest Off services carry out a thorough inspection of your home and then start with the treatment to ensure complete removal of pests.

Sarah K, a professional writer who share interests in different creative niches. Her ideas and tips towards such niches have contributed to the online community.