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Termites are a nuisance to any home or structure. Whether it’s a garage, shed, or the main living quarters, they will attack without prejudice. That is why termite prevention is so vital to a home’s safety. By understanding precisely what conditions termites prefer, and being able to spot potential termite damage, a homeowner can take the steps needed for effective termite prevention which leads to termite control.

One type of termite, subterranean termites, lives underground. Unlike drywood termites, they cannot live without access to moisture. They prefer to move directly from the ground into wood. Termite prevention begins by looking for any wood-to-ground contact. If the wood cannot be moved away from the soil, then the soil might have to be moved away from the wood.

Sources of moisture are another key to termite prevention. Moist wood attracts termites like a magnet. Look around your home for sources of moisture. If water collects anywhere near your home, find a way to divert it away from the structure. Often this results from rainwater runoff, or gutters or downspouts needing repair.

If your home has a crawlspace or attic, it should be checked for moisture or buildup of water. While not every house has a crawlspace, they attract moisture because of the nature of their construction. Construction often routes ventilation systems, such as from a laundry room or bathroom into these spaces, trapping moisture. Correction of these problems can go a long way towards termite prevention.

Many homes feature mulched beds. Anytime mulch is piled against the house, it causes two problems. It provides easy access for termites into the home, and it may also hold moisture against the wood making it even more attractive to termites. Good termite prevention requires all mulch to be pulled away from the house so as to leave a gap between the mulch and the wood.

Firewood can be another potential problem when it comes to termite prevention. Far too many homeowners collect and store firewood next to the house, even resting against wood siding. Move the firewood to a space in the yard away from the home.

One often overlooked step in termite prevention is to schedule an annual termite inspection. Termite damage may be overlooked or misinterpreted as rot or other factors. Left unchecked, termite damage can lead to serious, and expensive, repair problems. Termite professionals are well trained to detect potential damage.

Termite prevention starts by understanding that any home or wooden structure is at risk. By understanding these risks, and knowing what attracts termites, any homeowner can greatly reduce their risks. Termite control begins with knowledge, understanding and a healthy dose of termite prevention.

Termites eating you out of house and home? Call the Tampa termite experts at Florida Bug Inspectors for fast effective termite control solutions. They also offer termite prevention plans priced to fit your budget. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.