Brief Guide to Decreasing the Risk of a Termite Infestation in Your Home

Living in some parts of Australia makes your residence more likely to be attacked by termites than others. Considering that the damage termites have the potential of causing can be quite extensive, it is crucial to ensure that you hire termite control specialists once in a while to inspect your property. These inspections help in determining any potential risk and arresting it before the termites cause property loss. Nonetheless, investigations are not the only measure that you can take. Below is a brief guide on how homeowners can decrease the risk of a termite infestation on their property.

Keep moisture at bay

Termites need moisture to survive and thrive. Thus, the first thing to do to keep termites from taking up residence in your property would be to make sure that the below ground drainage is flowing away from your home. The slope of your property could have an increase in the risk of an infestation as the improper drainage means there will always be moisture under your house that the termites can utilise.

Secondly, ensure that there is no garden bed near your structure. Routine watering of this soil will eventually lead to moisture seeping into your home, which would inadvertently attract termites.

Lastly, ensure that your gutters and downspouts are in good working order. Faulty gutters or damaged downspouts can cause moisture to start collecting in the foundation of your home, which would make this a prime breeding ground for termites.

Clear the surrounding perimeter of your home

Another important measure to take if you would like to reduce the potential of a termite infestation is ensuring that there are no storage items and other forms of clutter at the perimeter of your home. Discarded pots, old storage containers and more will not only provide a great home for termites, but they also will be ideal for a host of other pests. It is recommended to thoroughly clean your surroundings on a scheduled basis and eliminate all waste materials from your property.

Do not provide food sources for the termites

The primary food that termites scavenge for is cellulose. This cellulose can be found in organic fibres as well as wood. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that termites will gravitate toward premises that provide this food source in plenty. If you have old boxes that are no longer in use, you would be better off disposing of them rather than holding on to them and providing a steady supply of food to the termites. Homeowners who have timber on their premises in the form of firewood or other types of wood should have the timber stored in a dry environment, above ground, possibly in a locked, metallic receptacle.