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How to Deter Termites from Living in Your Home

In the first part of this two-part series, we discussed ways you can successfully identify the presence of termites in your home. Sadly, most homeowners do not realize they have a termite problem until they have already eaten their way through thousands of dollars of damage. Handler Homes does not want that to be the case with you. In this article we will discuss preemptive measures you can take to make your home as uninviting to termites as possible.

Keep Wood Piles Neat

Termites are naturally drawn to two things: moisture and wood. So, if you keep piles of wood around your property for fires or other purposes, make sure to inspect their quality regularly. Termites prefer soft woods to healthier pieces since they are easier to chew through. For this reason, be diligent about discarding any decaying or rotten wood you may have lying around. Another wise action you can take is to avoid storing wood near the foundation of your home or in dark, damp areas of your home, such as the crawlspace.

Take Care of Your Foundation

Having a sound foundation is ideal in general, but especially when touching about termites. This is because the soil around a home’s foundation tends to be quite soft, and termites are drawn to soft soil since it is easy to maneuver through. You do not want termites anywhere near your foundation, so be sure to be swift about fixing and leaky pipes that happen to be near your foundation. In addition to this, make sure that you have the proper water diversion elements in place, like gutters.

Make Nematodes Your Cavalry

Whether you have noticed termites around the outskirts of your property, or you just want to take every preemptive measure you can, another thing you can use to your advantage are nematodes. These are beneficial parasitic insects that once released, hunt and eat termites until the entire population is wiped out. You can find them easily online or at your local garden nursery. Just sprinkle them into the soil surrounding your foundation and let them work their magic.

With these tips, hopefully you will never have to deal with these dreaded foes! Even still, there is no substitute for the eye of a trained professional. It is recommended that you have a professional termite inspection every 1-3 years.

If you are currently in search of your forever home, be sure to give our expertly planned and crafted homes a look! We would love to help you find yours.

By Handler Homes 9-28-2020