Termites thrive in areas where excess moisture is exposed to structural components of your home. We’ve outlined 5 easy steps below for you to reduce the amount of moisture in areas where we typically discover infestations.
- Keep exterior siding of your home dry: regularly trim shrubbery around the exterior of your home with the goal of keeping 12-18 inches of space between the shrubs and the house. This routine will create air flow and increase sunlight exposure allowing the typical damp areas to dry at a quicker pace.
- Utilize pine needles instead of traditional mulch: traditional mulch is very appetizing for subterranean termites to nest in along with various other insects. Pine needles or gravel hold less moisture than mulch and thus, will reduce the likelihood of infestations.
- Reduce exposure to sprinklers: sprinkler heads pointed at your home’s foundation with maintain moisture levels that are an ideal environment for termites
- Maintenance of home exteriors: as siding and windows age, the likelihood of water leaking behind your walls becomes more likely, creating an ideal environment for termites
- Crawl space maintenance: if there is a crawl space under your home, it is important to ensure it has proper ventilation and vapor barriers to protect against moisture exposure. Not only does moisture lead to termite and insect infestations, but it also can cause unpleasant odors to persist throughout your home.
Turn these 5 recommendations into regular habits of home maintenance and the likelihood of termite infestations will significantly decrease. Please do not hesitate to reach out to Deepdale if you have any questions.