Termites—those little buggers with small, pale soft bodies that typically live within a mound of cemented earth—are troublemakers. Many kinds feed on wood and can be highly destructive to trees, timber, and more importantly, your NYC home. How do you know you have them? What can you do to prevent them? To help you avoid the damage and expense of repair that termites can cause, here are seven rules of termite extermination:
Rule #1
The obvious rule is to prevent having termites at all, but how can you accomplish this? One common culprit is mulch. If you have too much piled up along the side of your house, you may have inadvertently created an environment that termites love.
Related: Signs of Termites: How to Know If You Need Termite Extermination in Your Nassau County, NY, Home
So, be sure that mulch is kept an inch or two away from the foundation of your home. Tree branches and shrubs that are close to your house should be trimmed, and any piles of wood that can be a breeding spot need to be removed. Even old cardboard boxes or wood scraps should be cleared away.
Rule #2
Since moisture is necessary for termites to thrive, you will want to keep water away from the crawl space and foundation of your home. This can be achieved through proper drainage. Be sure to keep the gutters and downspouts clear so that the water drains away from your home. Inspect for leaks and fix them quickly.
Rule #3
Any cracks in the base of your foundation should be sealed with a foam spray or caulk. The areas around the windows should be checked for cracks, too, as well as spots where the air conditioning unit and utilities enter the house.
Rule #4
Keep your yard clean. Fallen tree limbs and dead shrubs should be carted away. Never leave trash in your yard, and make a point of having the area under your porch and deck checked of old wood and rotting leaves.
Rule #5
Since termites love damp wood, using treated wood for any decking, railing, and outdoor rooms aids in the prevention of infestation. Treated wood has a chemical preservative forced into it that inhibits insect infestation and decay, reducing the chance of there being an environment in your home where termites could live.
Related: What Kind of Pesticides Does an Exterminator Use to Get Rid of Termites in Huntington, NY?
Rule #6
At least once a year, the crawl space, foundation, and surrounding landscape should be looked at carefully for indications of termite infestation. Mud tunnels are a sign to look for—termites build them to travel from the soil to the wood of a home. Winged termites can be found around the window sills and in damaged wood along floorboards.
Rule #7
If you think you have a termite problem, call a professional exterminator who is licensed in your area. A reputable company often offers a guarantee for a certain period of time following treatment.
Professional exterminators can ensure that your home is treated for termites correctly and with no side effects or danger to your family. Biotech Termite & Pest Control has been serving Long Island, New York City, Westchester, and New Jersey since 1991. With the revolutionary termite control product Advance Termite Bait System, termites don’t stand a chance.