Protecting your home from termites is crucial to maintaining the value of your property. Termites are known for being one of the most destructive pests in Malaysia, so it’s important to take preventive measures against them.
Here are some simple tips from Pro Termite Control that will help keep termites out of your house and away from all the valuables you have inside.
Remove Dead Wood From Your Property
Termites are crazy over wood. Whether it’s dead or not, they won’t think twice about consuming it because these materials still contain cellulose.
Cellulose is a main dietary requirement of termites, so deadwood is a delicacy to them. So if you have any dead trees or branches on your property, make sure they’re removed as soon as possible.
If you’ve got tree stumps in your property as well, it’s best to remove these too. Grind them to pieces and throw them out or use them as firewood.
Don’t pile them up in an area or even leave them standing because this just makes it easy for termites to access your property.
The same rule applies to firewood stacked up outside the house. If you don’t need it for now, then don’t keep it around for later use because that’ll only attract termites anyway.
However, if you do have some, it’s best to store it in a dry area away from the house. This way, it won’t contact moist soil, which termites love to feed off of.
Inspect Your House For Cracks
Termites can easily get into your home through cracks and crevices in your foundation. These little creatures are experts at squeezing through tight spaces, so it’s important to seal off any holes or gaps in your home.
There are some places you might not think about where termites could be entering, but this doesn’t mean they’re not there.
Check around the chimney and under the front steps for small holes that need to be filled up with caulk or other materials.
You can also look out for cracks in the cement around your foundation because these little cracks can get bigger over time. Plug any sizable holes you find with concrete that matches all the surrounding cement.
This will help keep termites away from your house and property by blocking off access points like crawlspaces and porches.
If cement doesn’t seem to be an option, you may try an adhesive such as epoxy or silicone. These are sturdy enough to keep termites at bay, but you can also paint them over, so they blend in with the cement on your house.
It’s also important to fix cracks in window frames, and doors since these are entry points as well.
Trim trees and Shrubs to Avoid Termites
Trees that are touching your roof can be a huge problem. Termites will be able to get onto your roof and into your attic if any limbs are touching it. This can be a very serious issue that needs to be addressed immediately.
It’s best to trim trees that are too close to your windows, doors, or foundation in order to keep them out of the way. If you don’t have enough room for this, call a professional landscaper who can re-arrange trees in hard-to-reach places so they won’t pose a problem anymore.
In addition, if shrubs are too close to your house, cut them back as well. This can stop termites from going under the foundation and crawling around the floor where they might get into cupboards or other places in your house.
You should also avoid planting vines near windows because these will give termites access points too. If you do have plants by your windows, keep them trimmed down, so they don’t grow past your windowsill over time.
Install Termite Bait Systems
Another effective way to kill termites and prevent them from coming into your property is by installing bait systems. This works by placing termite-killing bait in specific locations where termites will find them and take them back to their nests. There, the poison will kill off other members of the colony and put an end to them altogether.
You’ll only need a few of these around your property because once one is removed, another can be placed immediately without having to wait for days or weeks like most chemical treatments require.
Schedule a Regular Termite Inspection
It would be best if you also considered getting a professional termite inspector to check your house periodically. This can help catch infestations early on before they become unmanageable, and you have to spend thousands of dollars getting rid of them.
These inspectors know exactly where to look for signs of termites in your home, so it’s best not to try this yourself because that could end up costing you even more if you make costly mistakes while trying to remove them on your own.
The earlier you get an inspection, the better off you are since it’ll be easier to find out where they’re nestled in and what kind of damage they’ve caused already.
In a Nutshell
The tips for homeowners we’ve provided above to help prevent termites are very reasonable and easy to follow. However, if you have any other questions or would like more information about how our pest control services can work for your property, please contact us today!