How to Prevent Termite Infestation: 8 Tips

Are you looking to prevent termites in your home? 

Termites are small pests that can cause a lot of damage, so you must take steps to keep them out of your home. Termite damage costs U.S. homeowners around $5 billion per year, but the good news is that they can be prevented if you take some precautions. 

Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about how to prevent termite infestation. 

How to Prevent Termite Infestation

Preventing a termite infestation might sound complicated, but there are simple things you can do every day to keep your home safe. To help you get started, here are 

1. Maintain Proper Drainage Around Your Home 

Termites love moisture, and they need it to survive. If you keep the foundation of your home clean and dry at all times, termites won’t have an environment to live.

Make sure your home is appropriately draining water at all times. Keep your gutters clear of debris, so water doesn’t build up. 

2. Clear Excess Mulch 

Mulch creates a moist environment that termites love. Mulch is organic matter that termites feed on, so keep mulch away from the foundation of your home if possible. Experts recommend keeping your mulch pushed back at least four inches from your home. 

3. Use Pine Needles 

If you want to keep your flower beds happy but still prevent termites, you should consider using pine needles instead of mulch around your home. If you can’t find pine needles, try gravel or another nonorganic material that termites cannot eat. 

4. Keep Trees Trimmed 

Trimming your trees is an important step to keeping termites out. Make sure your trees are always well taken care of. It’s best to hire a professional landscaping company to make sure your trees are trimmed properly. 

5. Keep Bushes Trimmed 

Similar to trees, you need to make sure any bushes around your home or your property are always adequately trimmed. 

6. Ensure Proper Ventilation in Crawl Spaces 

Again, termites love cool, damp areas of your home. If you have a crawl space, make sure there is proper ventilation. Moisture build-up in your crawl space is an ideal setting for termites. 

7. Point Sprinklers Away From Home 

You may think that your home is dry and has proper ventilation, but your sprinklers could be creating unwanted moisture. Make sure all of your sprinkler heads point away from your home and don’t hit it with excess water. 

8. Have Regular Pest Control Visits 

Following all of the steps above is important, but one of the best things you can do to prevent termites is to seek professional help.

A termite control expert will come to your home and point out things you might have missed. They will also be able to spray for pests and catch termites in your home before the issue gets out of control. 

Learn More About Termite and Other Pest Control 

The best thing you can do for your home is to take care of it and follow the eight steps we outlined above to prevent a termite infestation.

If you’d like to learn more about how to fight termites and prevent other pests in your home, make sure you check out the rest of our website for some helpful tips and tricks.