How to Keep Termites From Eating Your House

For being a such a tiny little bug, termites can be pretty terrifying to a home owner. They can cause thousands of dollars worth of property damage, and even scarier, their destruction is not covered by most homeowners insurance.

So how do you keep these havoc-wreaking, wood-loving little creatures at bay?

• Invest in a monitoring service. This is hands-down one of the most effective ways to prevent termite damage. With termite monitoring, baiting stations are placed around your property and inspected twice a year by a professional exterminator, leaving an active barrier around your home to consistently target possible termite colonies.
• Trim branches away from the house. Overhanging branches that touch the home are direct pathways for these insects to march into your home. Keep them trimmed and off the house.
• Eliminate dead or dying trees and old tree stumps from the property. Dead wood is like a buffet for termites and provides them with all the nutrients their colonies need to grow and thrive.
• Reduce moisture levels around the house. Termite colonies thrive in moist environments so remove conducive conditions. Fix leaky pipes and drippy faucets. Redirect water drips from A/C units. Guide water away from the house by keeping gutters cleaned out, pointing downspouts out, and placing splash blocks at the bottom. If you store firewood, keep it at least 20 feet from the home.
• Keep an eye out for signs. Spotting termite evidence early can help prevent further damage.
  • Mud tubes little tunnels that the insects use to travel from the dirt to their wood food source
  • Droppings theyre gritty and hard
  • Paint or wallpaper ripples may resemble water damage
  • Wings check the floor or around windows for little, paper-like wings

What To Do If You Think Your Home Is Infested

Dont panic most homes can be saved. Start by calling a professional exterminator as soon as you find signs. Infestations often go unnoticed so by the time you find evidence there may already be significant damage. You may need to call a contractor as well to estimate repair costs to the home.

Are you struggling to find a good exterminator or contractor? The Rhoades Team cares about our home owners! Whether its buying or selling a home, help connecting with good resources or home maintenance advice, we can help! Give us a call at (713) 515-3463 or contact us here to let us know how we can help you.