Termites can be a huge problem for your home. What specifically puts your home at a higher risk for a wood-eating insect invasion? Moisture, cracks, short crawl spaces, and more. Here are a few things to keep in mind if you want to lower your chances of suffering through a serious termite infestation.
Termite Risk Factors
- Factor 1: Moisture too close to the foundation. Water near your home is a termite's dream come true. Things like your sprinkler system or your gutters could be causing your wood siding to get wet. In addition, if your home does not have gutters to prevent water from falling next to the house—your siding could be at risk of getting wet. Finally, gutters that are clogged, overflowing or don't discharge away from the home put your house in danger. The ground your house sits on provides shelter for termites and the wood in your home provides them with food. As a result, water within two feet of the foundation can lead to serious problems.
- Factor 2: Wood too close to the foundation. Wood is commonly found around the home— whether it's in the form of wood siding, wood framing, a wood porch post that sits within a couple feet of your home, wooden fence posts, mulch that meets a home’s foundation or even firewood. Because termites eat wood, you're providing them with a potential snack before they get to their main meal -- your home.
- Factor 3: A thin or short slab. Ideally, you want to have some clearance between the top of the soil around your home and the top of the slab your home is framed upon. If the slab is too thin, problems can arise. If cracks form, termites may be able to get through to your home as termites can squeeze through a gap as small as 1/32".
- Factor 4: Cracks, crevices and service entrances. Wherever there is a space in your foundation, termites can find a way in and start infesting your home. Make sure these cracks are sealed with caulk or spray foam. Then, termites will be unable to get in around pipes and electrical conduit.
- Factor 5: Short crawl spaces. Because these spaces are difficult to inspect thoroughly, a short crawl space can lead to disaster in your home. If you can't inspect regularly, have a pest control company inspect on a regular basis (and use cameras if necessary).
Keep these factors and potential hot spots in mind to minimize your risk of a termite. If you're worried about a potential invasion or have a colony that needs to be treated, request a consultation with us today.
