Termite Prevention is the Best Medicine
Is your home infested? While some people complain of ants and others
of rodents, no other infestation is as bad for your home as termites.
This is why termite prevention as well as extermination is so important.
These insects will eat your home twenty four hours a day, they just
don’t stop. And it is most likely not just one colony of termites but
several. However, most people do not really know just how bad these
little insects can be to a home. Here is some information about
understanding termites so that you can effectively prevent an
infestation.
Understanding Termites
Did you know that one colony of termites can eat just over 2 feet of
wood a year? Can you imagine having five or more colonies in your home?
The results are devastating. This makes termite control one of your
primary concerns if you own a home that is infested. The reason why they
can become so infested so quickly though is due to the fact that just
one termite queen lays several thousands of eggs each day. And if that
was not bad enough, each queen has a life span of 30 to 50 years. But
which termite treatment works the best at prevention as well as
extermination?
What attracts them?
The three main ingredients in a happy termite’s life are soil, wood,
and water.
Soil
The majority of termites out there are classified as subterranean
termites. These insects make their nests under your feet in the dirt.
They make their tunnels and nests and then come to your home when it is
time to eat. Wood
If your home has any materials that contain cellulose then it is one
great big buffet to a termite. Wood contains a lot of cellulose. And
when they get to their dinner they have huge appetites.
Water
Termites need water to survive. They get their water source from the
dew on the ground and from leaky pipes in your home. So the moister your
home is the better the accommodations to a termite.
Prevention
Now with so many openings it is not just about killing termites but
also about keeping your home free of what they love most. And while you
cannot dig up all the dirt around your home or take the wood out there
are many cost effective ways to go about termite pest control on your
own. Here are some prevention tips to get you started.
- Ensure that all pipes are leak free. This is very important as
one leaky pipe will keep many colonies happy to stay in your home
for years to come as they don’t have to continuously go outside the
home for their water.
- Keep clear any brush around the home. These types of plants and
leftovers promote moist areas around the home which are perfect for
a colony.
- Try not to have pools of water that are just standing. While
bird baths and ponds are great to look at, if you live in an area
ripe with termites you will need to sacrifice those things in order
to get rid of termites.
- One of the best ways to promote termite control is by not
keeping mulch around the home. So if you can why not replace that
mulch in your flower beds with crushed stone and save yourself a lot
of aggravation.
- Use a good treatment source like Termidor. This product does not
repel termites but allows the chemical to be spread to the colony
before killing them.
These are just a few suggestions on how to prevent a termite
infestation. However, if you have been unable to prevent them up
until now you will want to call in a professional to assess your
problem. |
