Termites The Silent Destroyers

The Circle of Life says that every living thing has and serves a purpose here on Earth, even the dreaded termite. These pests are known to some as the “silent destroyer” because they may secretly be living comfortably inside your home even though you do not see any visible damage. Termites require only four basic things to survive and thrive – moisture, food, shelter, and optimal temperatures.

Unfortunately, regardless of the construction materials used to build your home, all homes are susceptible to termite infestation. However, by eliminating moisture around the home, removing their food source and by having your home checked annually be a pest specialist, you can help your home stay pest free from the ever so annoying termite.

Eliminate Moisture problems throughout the home. Termites love warm, dark, damp places and they flock to them as if kids to a candy store. By keeping up with routine maintenance in your home such as, repairing leaking faucets, water pipes, a/c units, repair seals around any and all water lines, utility lines or pipes and cleaning up any standing water in cabinets. Around the outside of your home, you can divert water from heavy rains away from the foundation, point all down spouts and gutters away from the foundation, and get rid of any standing water on your roof.

Removing the temptation or food source from your home will also detour a termite attack. To detour them you may start by removing any excessive plant cover and wood mulch from around your foundation. Keep all firewood, lumber, or paper away from crawl spaces or vents, getting rid of any stumps or debris close to the foundation, and by checking to make sure that the wooden parts of your home structure never directly touch any soil. In addition, these are some of the best ways to keep your home from their menu.

It is hard to sympathize when exterminating a colony of termites when you learn the dollar figure of damage they have caused you and your home. In an average year, termites alone are responsible for over one to two billion dollars in property damage worldwide, and for this, we despise them. Nevertheless, by following the tips above and having your home checked by a pest specialist annually, you to can protect your home.

All creatures, even the annoying ones, have another living thing dependent on their very existence, even termites. In other words, you may hate them, and you may want to relocate them away from your home, but we still need have to live with them, and that is the Circle of Life.