As a homeowner, you have probably been warned about termite infestations or heard horror stories from other homeowners. You never really know just how much damage termites can do until it happens to you. Trust us, you don’t want to know. You certainly don’t want to underestimate their potential for destruction. In fact, it is estimated that termites are responsible for over
5 billion dollars worth of damages to homes across the U.S. each year. While termites prefer to invade wood that has been damaged by water, they aren’t afraid to chew on undamaged wood and other cellulose products as well. This puts much of your home at risk. If you are not a pest management professional, termites are extremely hard to detect, and once detected it’s usually too late to prevent widespread damage.
Many homeowners do not know what sort of things attract termites to their homes and properties. To narrow it down, there are five main reasons why termites may find your home welcoming.
- Firewood and Woodpiles
The first reason is not properly taking care of firewood and woodpiles that are around the home. Termites are drawn to wet or previously wet wood, so it’s best to store wood in a relatively dry place. If woodpiles are outside, it’s recommended to distance them from the home by at least 20 feet.
- Proper Drainage
The second reason is improper drainage around the home. Excess areas of moisture are more likely to cause water damage. You’ll want to make sure that your gutters are not clogged and that they are directing water away from your home. In addition to this, fix leaky pipes or other interior and exterior fixtures.
- Yard Work
A third reason is not prioritizing yard work and keeping up with fallen trees or piles of natural debris around the property. It’s recommended to reduce the piles of leaves as well as to promptly remove any fallen trees.
- Home Maintenance
The fourth reason, and a particularly important one, is not keeping up with maintenance around the home, such as sealing cracks and crevices in your home’s foundation or exterior walls. Cracks and crevices act as easy entry points for termites to get inside past vinyl siding or other barriers.
- Soil
Lastly, the fifth reason is the overuse of mulch and soil on your property. When there is too much soil to wood contact, the soil and mulch act as moisture enhancers and expedite the process of wood rot.
These are all important things to be aware of. If you aren’t sure what to look for or you want to make sure your home isn’t a termite magnet, it’s best to contact your local pest control company. If you own a home in NJ, PA, MD or DE, Viking Pest Control is the place to call.
Viking Pest Control has the expertise to eliminate any termite problem. Our trained professionals will determine if you have termites, what you are doing to attract them, and then help you solve both of those problems. After the initial inspection, if termites have invaded your home, we will determine the best treatment plan. This may include the use of the Sentricon® System with Always Active™, one of the more popular ways to eliminate the termite queen and her entire colony as well as prevent new infestations. There is also the Termidor® termite protection system and the Termiscope System for proactive termite monitoring. Contact Viking Pest Control today if you want to avoid your own termite horror story.
Call Viking at 800-618-2847 to learn more about our termite control and extermination services, or get a fast, free quote online today!