5 Tips to Prevent Termite Infestations

When it comes to pests that can damage your home, there are none quite as destructive as wood-destroying organisms. This broad category includes pests like wood-boring beetles, carpenter ants, and termites. Termite damage and repairs cost U.S. homeowners billions of dollars every year, and in the Pacific Northwest, the subterranean termite is the number one offender of termite damage. Do you know how to protect your home from termites?

PestLock, your Top Rated Local® pest control company in Portland, offers a few simple tips that can help you avoid termite infestation. Check them out below, then contact our team of exterminators at 503-342-8303 for your termite inspection today!

Termite Infestation Prevention Tips

Minimize the Amount of Mulch You Use

Mulch is a very popular landscaping material selected by homeowners because it provides outdoor spaces with a beautiful aesthetic and it can be beneficial for foliage. Unfortunately, part of what makes mulch a good landscaping material can also attract termites. They aren’t attracted to the mulch as a potential food source, but rather, they are attracted to it because the soil underneath is often fairly protected and moist. If you choose to use mulch in your landscaping, it is best to use it sparingly. You should also make sure that it does not come into contact with your home so as to prevent a bridge for termites from your yard to your home.

Control Moisture Near Your Foundation

If the soil near your foundation is consistently damp, then you could be attracting termites without even knowing it. When your home was constructed, the surrounding land was graded in a way to carry water away from your home. However, over time, your home may have settled and the land around it may have shifted, causing water to collect near your foundation. It is also possible that your gutters and downspouts may not be operating as effectively as they could be. If you discover that the soil near your home is damp, do some investigating to determine the source of the moisture and rectify the problem as soon as possible.

Avoid Wood Contact With the Ground

Just as mulch provides a highway for termites to enter your home, structural wood that has any contact with soil can do the same. Eliminating these conditions is essential to warding off termite infestations, and you can do a quick inspection of the exterior of your home to determine if this is an issue on your property. Your home’s siding, door and window frames, and other types of structural components made of wood should be at least 6 inches above the surface of the ground to make it more difficult for termites to enter your home. If there is insufficient space between the soil and these wood components, then steps should be taken to correct the situation.

Store Firewood Away From Your Home

Does your Portland-area home have a wood-burning indoor fireplace or an outdoor fire pit? If so, then you likely have a pile of firewood somewhere on your property. Stacking it against your house is certainly the most convenient way to store it, but beware — doing so could attract termites, treat them to a seemingly endless food source, and provide them with a path of entry right into your home. You can help avoid termite infestations by storing your firewood away from your home. It might be a pain to walk a little farther to fetch your firewood during the winter, but the inconvenience of the situation could save you thousands of dollars when everything is said and done.

Check Humidity Levels in Your Crawlspace

If you have a crawlspace beneath your home, it is a good idea to check the moisture levels down there on a regular basis. This subterranean space is a common entry point for termites, and if humidity levels are too high, this could increase your odds of a termite infestation. As you look around your crawlspace, check to be sure there is adequate ventilation. Also pay attention to the type and amount of vapor barrier that has been installed over the soil. A professional termite inspection can also help you determine this information, and crawlspace restoration services can make the space beneath your home less attractive to termites.

Request Your Termite Inspection in Portland Today!

Having routine, professional termite inspections completed is one of the best ways you can protect your home from an untimely termite infestation. The earlier termites are detected and exterminated, the less damage they can cause. If left undetected, termites can cause significant structural damage to your home. At PestLock, our experienced exterminators have the skill and knowledge needed to provide you with a quick, yet thorough, inspection to determine if your home has been targeted by termites. Contact us for your Portland termite inspection now!