Termites are small insects that can be so damaging to properties. Their invasion might be characterized by structural damage to properties that may not have undergone treatment. They burrow into wood, weakening the structural integrity of wooden components in homes and buildings. If the termite infestation is allowed to continue untreated for a long time, the wood will turn soft and brittle, which could lead to collapses.
Notably, while professional termite control services are most effective, various preventive measures and do-it-yourself methods also exist for the homeowner to control and mitigate the risk of termite infestation.
Proactive Measures Termite Control Measures
1. Prevention
The best defense against the attack of termites includes preventive measures. You can consider several practical steps, including discouraging termites, which makes your home less attractive for them. These are as follows:
- Eliminate Moisture: Termites infest a property mainly because it’s a moist environment. Therefore, as a property owner, you can discourage their presence by lessening moisture around the property. This would involve fixing leaky pipes, cleaning clogged gutters, and ensuring proper drainage around the foundation.
- Provide Ventilation: Good ventilation is one of the best ways to keep basements and attics dry or at least low in humidity. Termites will be less attracted to properly ventilated spaces.
- Termite-Resistant Wood: Termite-resistant wood should be an appropriate alternative during construction or even the re-construction phase. A few types of wood, like cedar and redwood, naturally do not attract termites. Alternatively, ensure the wood you use for building undergoes chemical treatment to kill such bugs.
- Seal Cracks and Gaps: Gaps in the foundation or walls provide termites with easy access. Sealing any cracks where termites enter your home will be an appropriate step in preventing termites.
2. Inspect and check for signs of termite invasion regularly
Regular inspection is one effective method in the early detection of termites before they have caused severe damage. Generally, early detection allows you to turn a potentially small problem into a less costly repair.
Common signs of termite activity to check out for during inspection include:
- Mud Tubes: Quite often, termites construct mud tubes for their passage. Most of the time, you find these on the foundation or exterior walls of the house.
- Hollow-sounding wood: Termites burrow into wood, creating a hollowed interior. When tapped, wood may sound hollow, which could be one sign of termite damage.
- Termite swarmers: Winged termites can fly around your home during warm weather. This is how you can know that the termites are active in your neighborhood and, quite probably, infesting your house.
3. DIY Termite Control
For minor outbreaks, you may try several DIY termite control methods. These measures prevent the further spread of an epidemic before it gets out of hand. However, if the problem persists and is severe, you must seek professional help.
Some of the DIY termite control methods you can try include:
1. Diatomaceous Earth: This natural product is harmless to humans and pets yet toxic to termites and insects because of its dehydrating action upon contact.
2. Boric Acid: Due to its noted toxicity against termites, boric acid can be mixed with water and sprayed at the sites of termite activity. It should prove to a certain degree effective in cases of minor infection.
3. Baits: These you install at intervals around the home and impregnate them with a slow-acting toxicant that termites ingest. Over time, this toxicant kills the termites.
When to Call a Professional
While small-termite problems can be dealt with using over-the-counter solutions, the larger-scale ones are very involving and they require professional intervention. They must be entrusted to specialists from a professional termite control company. If the area of infection is too large, or there is huge structural damage, or if you feel do-it-yourself measures are not working to contain the termite infection, a professional service can offer more pervasive treatment to ensure a complete solution.
Final Words
To keep your house termite-free without costly repairs, pay regular attention to any signs of invasion and take appropriate treatment action when necessary. This will help you identify and address any invasion before it gets out of hand.
Lastly, never hesitate to call a professional pest control company if the infestation is vast or DIY termite control treatments are insufficient.
