Top ways to keep Termites away from House

The summer season has started here in Australia and so has the swarming of the termites. Termites are a nightmare for house owners as well as property owners because of the damage that they can cause in a short period of time. During the swarming season, they will try to force themselves into a target house through small cracks and openings, sometimes even through open windows. The reason why they swarm in the first place is when their colony has reached a certain limit. But not all termites swarm during the summer season, but for now, we will be focusing on the summer swarming termites.

Signs of Termite Infestation

1. Mud Tubes

The number one and the most obvious sign that you have an army of termites in your house is mud tubes. Mud tubes act as a roadmap the termites accessed your house and most often the termite nest is also nearby. Just removing the mud tubes is not enough to remove them, as they have already infested your house.

2. Damage to Wood

Wondering where a part of your wood door or window went? Does it look like it has been chewed away? The culprit is none other than the termites. But this sign usually comes in a later stage once the termites have increased in number.

3. Termite Mounds

The mounds are usually seen in either the attic or the basement, usually in places where they won’t be disturbed. But they can also be seen in the side of walls and doors like a small line, trace the line and it will take you directly to their nest.

Steps and Tips to keep Termites away

1. Moisture

Now, we all know how moisture is the number one culprit behind many problems that house owners face, starting from mold buildup to termites. Termites are attracted to damp conditions. Make sure the drainage pipes are not leaking, make sure there is no water build-up in any part of the house. Make sure to fix leaks, as internal leaks can weaken the structural integrity of the walls and lead to cracks and holes.

2. Safe distance between the ground and foundation

One of the easiest ways for a termite to enter is through the ground, where there is the least resistance. Once the termite latches onto the foundation it will start marching upwards. So it is essential to form a barrier between the soil and foundation like a layer of stone or even a layer of cement.

3. Termites breeding ground in the Attic and Basement

The attic and the basement if the two places that termites call their very own home. There is a reason for that because we don’t spend a lot of time there, giving them full freedom. Once they build their colony there, they will start eating into the wood and by the time we are aware of it, the damage has already been done. So make to regularly check the attic and the basement for termite colony buildup

Tips to remove Termite Infestation

1. Sunlight

Termites are not able to stand sunlight for a long time. So keeping your wooden furniture out in the sunlight will get rid of all the termites.

2. Boric Acid

Well, sunlight is helpful for all your furniture and everything can be moved. But what about the termites in the basements and the attic. Ret not, for all those places we have to use Boric Acid. Mix the borax powder with water and start spraying.

3. Cardboard Trap

Now, this guide wouldn’t be complete without the age-old cardboard trick, the cardboard bait trick. All you have to do is take a couple of cardboard boxes, wet them, and place them on top of each other. Now what attracts all the termites is the cellulose in the cardboard. Once their termites are attracted, all you have to do is just take the cardboard box outside and burn it. This is a time-consuming process and not all termites will be attracted, but it’s worth a try.

4. Pest Control

If all the above tips and tricks fail, then your last option is to call a professional pest cleaning service and let them do their job. This step will require two to three days of cleaning and recleaning to completely remove the termites.

The best way to avoid termites is to take precautions, like making sure the walls are perfectly free from cracks, there is no build of humidity due to leaking pipes and the attic and the basement are properly checked from time to time.